The rating system isn't censorship, nor a step towards it - for movies, it was introduced in place of the original Production Code, which was blatantly and unrepentantly censorship. When movies had their content categorized under free speech in the early 60s they could no longer be censored. But everyone wanted a way to determine what kind of movie it is, so that people like parents might be able to prevent their kids from going to see it -- a personal decision and one no one should interfere with.
Notice that the current system is not enforced by law, and in any case only fully restricts certain people from going in the case of NC-17 movies, which probably were intended to not be viewed by children.
The alcohol thing (among COUNTLESS other laws) is a holdover from an earlier era in which the moral majority set up laws based on their religious and moral beliefs. They are still in place because that moral majority is still agreed with by most people in America.
Of course I agree that our country is composed mostly of ignorant morons, but it is still a democracy... or at least a republic, our actual form of governemnt.
I actually had my mind blown today - MTV might not be all total bullshit, musicwise. in the middle of some Real World MCDXMLXVII episode I recognized the background music. I thought, this can't be...but it was. A looped sample taken from the 2nd-to-last track of Songs:Ohia's 2000 album Ghost Tropic. This album is not popular. Songs:Ohia is not popular. It is one guy, an obscure irish(?) songwriter with no major label contracts. How did this guy end up as background music for a staged MTV dramafest? My conclusion: the people behind the cameras at MTV are many of them sophisticated music-lovers as well as smart businessmen. Back in the day, what was profitable was showing videos...that became less profitable and new programming was introduced...the purpose of the network was always to make money, and that you don't like what it shows today only implies that you have not fallen into the pop trough with most of America. The trends are still as relevant as before.
Well as the original MTV recognized it had stopped showing videos and was more E! than MTV, it started MTV2. And it was good. Over a year or so (how long has it been?) MTV2 also became crowded with non-music shows such as cribs, real world reruns etc. Now MTV has spawned another channel, called MTV-W if my memory serves me (which it may not) that is entirely music. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how it will end up?
Anyhow, they do what keeps the ratings high - MTV is a money machine, especially these days. However it is no longer limited to music, as we have seen. Its sphere of influence is Pop culture of all kinds: music, movies, fasion, political issues, etc etc. So basically it is the voice of Popular America...whether we like it or not.
You may question whether it speaks for young, hip america or if young, hip america merely acquiesces, but that is a topic for another thread.
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The rating system isn't censorship, nor a step towards it - for movies, it was introduced in place of the original Production Code, which was blatantly and unrepentantly censorship. When movies had their content categorized under free speech in the early 60s they could no longer be censored. But everyone wanted a way to determine what kind of movie it is, so that people like parents might be able to prevent their kids from going to see it -- a personal decision and one no one should interfere with.
Notice that the current system is not enforced by law, and in any case only fully restricts certain people from going in the case of NC-17 movies, which probably were intended to not be viewed by children.
The alcohol thing (among COUNTLESS other laws) is a holdover from an earlier era in which the moral majority set up laws based on their religious and moral beliefs. They are still in place because that moral majority is still agreed with by most people in America.
Of course I agree that our country is composed mostly of ignorant morons, but it is still a democracy... or at least a republic, our actual form of governemnt.
I actually had my mind blown today - MTV might not be all total bullshit, musicwise. in the middle of some Real World MCDXMLXVII episode I recognized the background music. I thought, this can't be...but it was. A looped sample taken from the 2nd-to-last track of Songs:Ohia's 2000 album Ghost Tropic. This album is not popular. Songs:Ohia is not popular. It is one guy, an obscure irish(?) songwriter with no major label contracts. How did this guy end up as background music for a staged MTV dramafest?
My conclusion: the people behind the cameras at MTV are many of them sophisticated music-lovers as well as smart businessmen. Back in the day, what was profitable was showing videos...that became less profitable and new programming was introduced...the purpose of the network was always to make money, and that you don't like what it shows today only implies that you have not fallen into the pop trough with most of America. The trends are still as relevant as before.
Well as the original MTV recognized it had stopped showing videos and was more E! than MTV, it started MTV2. And it was good. Over a year or so (how long has it been?) MTV2 also became crowded with non-music shows such as cribs, real world reruns etc. Now MTV has spawned another channel, called MTV-W if my memory serves me (which it may not) that is entirely music. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how it will end up? Anyhow, they do what keeps the ratings high - MTV is a money machine, especially these days. However it is no longer limited to music, as we have seen. Its sphere of influence is Pop culture of all kinds: music, movies, fasion, political issues, etc etc. So basically it is the voice of Popular America...whether we like it or not. You may question whether it speaks for young, hip america or if young, hip america merely acquiesces, but that is a topic for another thread.