Sex and the MPAA

by Jesse Nussman

Recently I watched a documentary on Netflix called This Film Is Not Yet Rated, which examined the many problems with the MPAA rating system. I am sure we have all at one point thought “why did that movie receive that rating?”1. Jack Valenti founded the MPAA in the late 60’s; however, in many cases the MPAA system is flawed. The subject that the documentary put the most emphasis on was how the MPAA is so strict on sexual content. Many find this baffling, as the MPAA seems to be more lenient on violence than they are sex. In fact, the rating system in Europe works in the opposite way. 1.Europeans are stricter when it comes to violence but are more open minded when it comes to sex on screen. It seems ironic that something as destructive and negative as violence can be seen as more suitable for audience members than two people enjoying sex. 2. Just last year the French film Blue is the Warmest Color received controversy because of its NC-17 rating, which prevents because of one sex scene between two girls. For those readers who don’t know a NC-17 rating basically means that anyone under the age of 17 is allowed to see it, even with a parent or guardian. 1.In fact, nearly four times as many films received and NC-17 for sex as opposed to violence. In the documentary director Kimberly Peirce describes her frustration with the MPAA over the initial rating of her movie Boys Don’t Cry. She explains how, in her opinion, there is a taboo in the movie industry about showing female pleasure on screen seeing as several films given NC-17 ratings, including hers, got them for scenes involving a close up of female orgasm. In the documentary Kevin Smith also discusses his opinions about the MPAA’s negative attitude toward sex. He exclaims that it he finds it ridiculous that the system finds sex so damaging to the psyche of younger viewers that they feel they should stamp it with a rating that would prevent audience members from even seeing the movie with a parent. 1.Mark Urman, head of US theatrical and thinkfilm suggests that what makes a sex scene worthy of an NC-17 is all in the hip. 1.Sex scenes in R rated movies are generally up close and from the shoulder up, while anything where you can see thrusting results in an NC-17. Whatever the reason it seems clear that sexual content has been considered taboo by the MPAA and is highly criticized.

11.     Dick, Kirby, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," DVD,    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8N3EztyOoA.

22.     Susman, Gary. "Whatever Happened to NC-17 Movies?." Rolling Stone,    November 26, 2013. http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/whatever-happened-to-nc-17-movies-20131126 (accessed March 31, 2014).