One of the interesting perks of my profession is the opportunity to become aware of some shifts and trends due to regular discussions of sensitive and spiritual subjects with teenagers. Sometimes I am surprised to learn that a large number of people are not aware of such trends. For example, it amazes me how few people know about the changes the MPAA rating system has instigated over the last few months. Ratings that used to always be safe cannot always be trusted. We, as a society, have reached a point when the determination to watch or avoid some movies now must be based on content in addition to completely avoiding R-rated movies.
If you are not aware, here are some of the changing pg-13 "standards":
- They are now allowed to have waist-up frontal female nudity, and full side and rear nudity for both sexes.
- Extended "bedroom scenes"are now permissible.
- The taking of the name of God in vain is no longer considered swearing if it is used in the context of surprise or in a situation where a person would potentially be speaking with God (i.e. horror films?!?!). [Sadly, this is now true all the way down to g-ratings, where they can take God's name in vain without a rating change.]
- They are now allowed to contain graphic violence and scenes of torture.
- Sensitive subjects and extensive descriptive dialogue that should only occur between husband and wife are also now permitted.
The list goes on. The other ratings have likewise "lowered the bar".
I've found a way to be safe. There is a website I use, and highly recommend. It is a group of parents who preview movies and list all of the things that could be disconcerting to a parent from nudity to calling people names like "jerk". They are very accurate and I have never been "unfortunately surprised" by a movie since I learned of the site about a year and a half ago. It is the safe way to preview a movie's content without seeing or hearing things that would cause you guilt. Please check it out for yourself:
www.kids-in-mind.com
1 comment:
We invested about $60 in a ClearPlay dvd player. It cuts out *all* the swear words and taking of the Lord's name in vain. It also cuts out nudity, violence, bedroom/suggestive scenes, etc (basically anything we would find objectionable plus some). I have tested it to see how much it will cut out and I have not been disappointed at all. You update through the internet with a thumb drive you plug into the player. It has been great!!!!!
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