The Following Content is Not Acceptable PDF Free Download
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It is frequently assumed that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
cuts very few films and DVDs at ‘18’ and ‘R18’. Indeed, this is the impres-
sion given by the board itself, which states that ‘adults should, as far as pos-
sible, be free to choose what they see, provided that it remains within the
law and is not potentially harmful’ (BBFC 2009a: 4) and that ‘in line with
the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and the Human
Rights Act 1998, at “18” the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally
override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own enter-
tainment’ (BBFC 2009a: 29). However, as the following table demonstrates,
a good deal of censorship actually takes place at ‘18’ and ‘R18’.
Compare this with the cuts made in the other DVD classification cat-
egories in the most recent year for which figures are available, namely
2009.
In June 2009 the BBFC released new guidelines, which list the kinds
of material most liable to cuts at ‘18’ and ‘R18’, namely:
Material which may promote illegal activity.
Material which is obscene or otherwise illegal.
Material created by means of the commission of a criminal offence.
Portrayals of children in a sexualized or abusive context.
Sexual violence or sexualized violence which endorses or eroticizes
the behaviour.
Sadistic violence or torture which invites the viewer to identify with
the perpetrator in a way which raises a risk of harm.
Graphic images of real injury, violence or death presented in a sala-
cious or sensationalist manner which risks harm by encouraging
callous or sadistic attitudes.
Sex works which contain material listed as unacceptable at ‘R18’.
(BBFC 2009a: 33)
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8
‘The Following Content is
Not Acceptable’
Julian Petley
F. Attwood et al. (eds.), Controversial Images
© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013
132 ‘The Following Content is Not Acceptable’
With a few exceptions, such as Idioterne/The Idiots (Lars von Trier, 1998),
Intimacy (Patrice Chéreau, 2001) and 9 Songs (Michael Winterbottom,
2004), scenes of unsimulated sex are forbidden at ‘18’. Films ‘whose pri-
mary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation’ are defined by the BBFC
as ‘sex works’, and if these contain ‘clear images of real sex, strong fetish
material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual
images’ (BBFC 2009a: 14) they will either be cut to remove the offend-
ing images or will be confined to the ‘R18’ category, unless the images
can be ‘justified by context’ (BBFC 2009a: 29). ‘R18’ DVDs may be sold
only in licensed sex shops or, in the case of films, shown only in spe-
cially licensed cinemas, which only the over 18s may enter. ‘R18’ DVDs
cannot be supplied legally via mail order, because the Postal Services Act
2000 prohibits the posting of ‘any indecent or obscene print, painting,
photograph, lithograph, engraving, cinematograph film, book and writ-
ten communication’.
Table 8.2 DVDs submitted in non-adult categories in 2009
Category DVDs submitted DVDs cut
U 1450 12 (0.8)
PG 2219 9 (0.4)
12 2453 2 (0.08)
15 2416 14 (0.6)
Source: BBFC Annual Report 2009.
Table 8.1 Total numbers of DVDs submitted in adults-only categories 2000–9
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
18’ 879
(110)
(12.5)
958
(167)
(17.4)
879
(106)
(12.1)
832
(112)
(13.4)
870
(132)
(15.1)
1048
(200)
(19.1)
1031
(262)
(25.4)
950
(206)
(21.7)
904
(129)
(14.3)
660
(96)
(14.5)
R18’ 211
(28)
(13.2)
651
(45)
(6.9)
1061
(163)
(15.3)
1401
(259)
(18.5)
1387
(286)
(20.6)
1231
(287)
(23.3)
1217
(293)
(24.1)
1159
(314)
(27.1)
897
(245)
(27.3)
862
(208)
(24.1)
Rejected 4 1 2 3 2 7 1 1 2 3
Note: Numbers and percentages cut in brackets.
Source: BBFC Annual Reports.
