I can still remember that famous comedy routine by comedian George Carlin where he recites the "seven dirty words" one absolutely cannot say on TV. The controversy was not so much that he used the ‘F” word or other profanity, but that should there even be a list of such words which “can not be spoken”. That is censorship in the eyes of many, and yet an issue of the right to free speech for others. Not surprisingly, in 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the FCC's indecency judgment on Carlin's comedy monologue about seven words one can never say on TV. Just 25 years later, U2’s lead singer Bono gets away with shouting the “F” word during the 2003 Golden Globe Awards broadcast - the FCC ruled it as not obscene shortly thereafter. What a difference a few decades can make!
Amazingly, it appears that the FCC does NOT have an official list of banned words. It is the CONTEXT in which certain profanity is used. Part of that context is the time of day in which the profanity (and sexuality and violence) is broadcast. A TV broadcast of harsh profanity at 2p.m. when children could be listening will almost certainly bring the wrath of the FCC. However, according to recent FCC’s Enforcement Bureau notes, material considered merely “indecent” but not obscene may be broadcast between 10p.m. - 6 a.m. And these laws don't apply to obscenity or indecency on cable-only channels! One only has to watch 15 minutes of Sex in the City and The Sopranos to realize that there are no holds barred on bad language.
To be honest, I believe that the current FCC codes are fair and very applicable to today’s viewing audience. With special ratings for TV programs and expanded ratings for films, people have more information from which to decide if their child should watch a program or not. It’s really up to the viewer to decide what is “obscene” or “indecent” or just plain entertaining.
Sex in the City? DUDE! I wouldn't say that was a perfect choice for an example of foul language. Definitely SitC is a perfect example of taboo language and sexual situations becoming acceptable in mainstream media because they were notorious for jumping all around the FCC regulations. The "rabbit" episode comes to mind....
ReplyDeleteCan you believe the crap they gave George Carlon? Just think about how heavy the oppression and burden was on him to have gotten to the point in his career when he found it necessary to defy regulations, to proudly and boldy go where no on-air personality was allowed to go. The seven words skit is iconic because, looking back, we can see it as a classic example of American creativity derived from revolution. The founding fathers focused on freedom of speach as a direct retaliation to England's decision to publicly gather and kill by beheading or otherwise anyone who spoke out against the ruling monarchy. Along with that came the separation of church and state because the monarchy had been so closely linked with the church and the governing of its people that again, the founding fathers nixed that too. Freedom of speach has been stretched beyond its limits of good reason. I don't think the founding fathers intended that "bad" language, oppressive language, insulting, derogatory or personally used language was what they were protecting. I really think they were protecting their lives in connection with what a person said. For that reason, I agree with you that the FCC is doing a good job in imposing some sort of standards, albeit that they have to continually be updated to keep up with present day, that provide an anticipated level of common acceptable speach. Hopefully individuals who are involved with raising their children are teaching them a lot of things, including how to view obscenity and how to analyze for themselves what they determine to be indecent. More than that, I hope they are teaching their children to be open minded and free thinkers.
oh man bad language is not just in shows like sex and the city and the sopranos but in many other regular shows and even in the news. you find it in cartoons like family guy, simpsons, futurama and many others. it is every where around us. and the sad thing is that there is really no limit to what they say or do on these shows. mainly because when they are cartoon characters they are seen as non violent and nice funny playful images that can really do nothing except be funny and cute. there may be a thing with censorship but it only works on the obvious forms of obscenities not the hidden ones like are in cartoons and other mini shows that go on. there is even bad language used in the media like everyday. whether we are aware of it or not its there. but the only thing we can do is not take it too seriously because if we do then we get obsessed with it and thats no fun.
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