Two LGBTQ films were slapped with R and NC-17 ratings. Critics say queer sex scenes are treated differently
Two LGBTQ films were slapped with R and NC-17 ratings. Critics say queer sex scenes are treated differently
When adapting the 2019 LGBTQ romantic novel Red, White & Royal Blue for the screen, Matthew Lopez was careful to circumvent an R-rating. The film has a handful of sex scenes that stop short of full-frontal nudity — there's some bare butts and, naturally, shirtless men.
But it wasn't enough. Red, White & Royal Blue was rated R, meaning people under 17 would need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to see it.
Another recent film with LGBTQ leads, the French romantic drama Passages, received an even harsher NC-17 rating, which would restrict people under 18 from seeing the film at all, and also keep it from playing in certain theatres.
Part of society’s implicit notion that LGBTQ is inherently sexual in a way that heterosexuality (or being cis) isn’t. Telling kids that some kids have A mommy and a daddy is fine, two daddies is a kink that shouldn’t be mentioned. Ok well it’s either all inherently sexual or none of it is.
Exactly!
Deviance from the norm must be exaggerated in order to be rejected, otherwise it might be mistaken for appealing by the population.
Well said.
This problem comes from gay men too. I have read a couple of times how gay men dont "announce" that they are gay, because whatever happenea in their bedroom is their business, as if being gay meant only getting dick in the bed. That's a mentality that is taught in our world.
The MPAA needs to go anyway.
Movie ratings are based off antiquated bullshit.
A system that discloses what's in the movie would be better. You see an R-rated movie and that doesn't really tell you anything about it. Is it R-rated because you see boobs one too many times? Or because someone says "Fuck" a few more times than is 'acceptable'? Or is it because two men kiss? Or is it because 3/4 of the movie is graphic torture?
If there were (for example) icons for each category of "objectionable" thing, that were color coded green / yellow / red based on how many instances of that there are / how severe it is, it would let parents make actual informed decisions about what they want their kids watching (and additionally, let adults make informed decisions about what they want to watch).
Even switching to the same rating system as US TV would be a big step up.
We have something like that in the Netherlands. It’s called “Kijkwijzer” (loosely translated as viewing guide) and has icons for sexual content, violence, drug/alcohol use, scary content, bullying/intimidation, etc. and age advisories.
PEGI already seems to do the system with showing what content there is
The ratings do disclose why they got that rating. It's a bit basic, just says things like nudity, or sexuality, but it gives you an idea:
https://www.filmratings.com/Search?filmTitle=oppenheimer&x=0&y=0
Abolish ratings boards
I think there is a reasonable argument for "appropriate for young children," "appropriate for older children" and "appropriate for adults" as ratings. They don't have to be adhered to strictly or anything, but having had a young child, knowing if a film is G or PG can make a difference, not to mention PG or R.
Films should be thought provoking at times. "Whats that daddy/mommy?" Should often be a question asked after the movie ends. But it's gotta be in doses, you can't show a 6y/o kid all of the reasons a film is rated R all at once and expect them to process it enough to ask questions
they mention a long track record of harsher treatment of queer content but I wish they linked to that data or mentioned a couple comparisons for context.
A quick search finds this ... which states
The MPAA argues the constituency for its ratings system is parents in traditional families who may find queer themes inappropriate for their children. Paradoxically, a number of organizations serving adolescents identifying as LGBTQ or as questioning their sexualities have created lists of recommended films, many of whose MPAA ratings make them virtually off-limits to teens unless their parents approve.
edit to add link
Yeah, the MPAA is a bunch of fundies.
Ya, theyll get more views! I cant even count how many times ive seen Blue Is The Warmest Color.