Annotated Bibliography

Christopher Bryan

02/05/2015

English Composition 2

Annotated Bibliography

Abelman, Robert, and E. Jean Gubbins. "Preaching to the Choir: TV Advisory Usage among Parents of Gifted Children." Roeper Review 22.1 (1999): 56-64. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.

This article from 1999 is a  lengthy study on the parental act of guarding children from more mature rated television and film, dependent on whether the child was “gifted” or not. This can present a bias in what kind of parent, a necessary trait to be a judge for the MPAA, will have on their value of not only what a child should see, but how much value there is in what their child sees. This can be applied to talking about the parents, the reviewers of MPAA ratings, and how their judging can be biased according to their children and what they’d normally let them watch. I will also use it to show how the ratings provided to parents influence their decision to allow children to watch the content.

Bates, Roy E. "Private Censorship of Movies." Stanford Law Review. Stanford Law Review, (Feb. 1970) Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

This is a dated article that gives a well stated history and position at its time on the demand for higher regulation on movies and those who stand against it. It will not only help the topic feel greater than it’s been portrayed recently, but can also give insight on more controversial court cases and their rulings / reasoning. It will help set the backdrop for how long films have been contested against for their freedom and where the MPAA started. I will use it for quoting the cases of yesterday and today, then present a pre-existing problem that has yet to be solved.

Bully. Dir. Lee Hirsch. The Weinstein Company. 2011. Film.

This film is a documentary about the bullying in the US, interviewing and covering several students in different schooling levels. Not only a good topic on its own, but also had to censor itself in order to be seen by the audience affected. This is attached to multiple articles on MPAA censorship and views on film. It’s worth talking about what this film represents and the message it brings in comparison to how the MPAA would block it from children in exception to other examples.

Coyle, Jake. "MPAA Defends Ratings System: Parents Are Happy." The Huffington Post. 13 (Nov. 2013) Web. 21 Jan. 2015. < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/mpaa-ratings-system_n_4269665.html>.

This is an online news article taking a fierce stance against the recent ruling of R-rated films whereas PG-13 films have become far more explicit. It works into my research paper by providing emotion and reaction to events which if I stated myself would look biased. It basically represents the protesters for the MPAA, and their reasoning for it. Quotable, but not a major development on its own. When applied to certain highlights of the research paper, it can swat rebuttals or parade criticism. It will be used in conjunction with the opening paragraphs and wherever applicable for rebuttal.

Ebert, Roger. "Getting Real About Movie Ratings." WSJ. (11 Dec. 2010) Web. 28 Jan. 2015.< http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703766704576009343432436296>.

An article that comes from a highly regarded movie critic, criticizing the MPAA for its ratings and reviewing the taste of cinema in his past 40 years of work. It doesn't have much factual statements, and his rating system is below serious, but he’s legendary to movie critics anywhere. It will probably be another article to emotionally support the surveys and scientific conduction. Since the name is synonymous for film, it’ll be a good source to end the research paper with when stating the current affair with the MPAA.

Nalkur, Priya, Patrick Jamieson, and Daniel Romer. “Movies From 1950 to 2006." ScienceDirect. Elsevier, (1 Nov. 2010) Web. 21 Jan. 2015.< http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X10000790>.

A study published in Journal of Adolescent Health concerning the screening process of violent and sexual content, based upon judgment from the MPAA. The study concludes that although sexual content is segregated from R and PG-13 movies, violence that would have been rated R has "creeped" into PG-13.

Franklin, David. "The Professor As Censor: Creative Limitation and Film Production Pedagogy." Journal of Film and Video. Journal of Film and Video, 53.1: 25-39. (Spring 2001) Web. 29 Jan. 2015. 

An article about a film professor that censors his students for a year, then relates it to others who have censored their students and achieved interesting results due to it being a challenge. This can be used when talking about how censorship / the MPAA could be channeling the best content out of how films restrict themselves. Used in the middle, after statements discrediting the MPAA's efforts are made.

Gunner Palace. Dir. Michael Tucker. Palm Pictures. 2004. Film.

A war documentary about U.S. soldiers in Iraq, released in 2005 as PG-13 on appeal of 42 uses of "fuck", more than any PG-13 movie ever. A great debatable point on the ethics and standpoint of the MPAA, regarding what they rate and the content of why it's rated such. Will be used in the right point of the argument, since using it too soon can use up a great arguing point and too late will make it a last ditch effort.

Hebert, Thomas P., and Daniel R. Hammond. "Guided Viewing of Film with Gifted Students: Resources for Educators and Counselors." Gifted Child Today 29.3 (2006): 14-27. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.

An article that discusses the uses of movies on educating gifted children, based on discussion and context. This isn't too applicable to my topic, but a few statements on the MPAA and how movies reflect to the rating can be quoted. This should be used when discussing the effects of movie ratings, how children see similar rated movies at different levels of maturity, and whenever discussing the brief versus real content inside a movie.

Kehrberg, Amanda. "Bully Ratings Controversy Sparks Criticism of MPAA System." NewTimes Phoenix. (5 Apr. 2012) Web. 21 Jan. 2015.< http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2012/04/bully_phoenix_film_festival_ra.php>.

An opinion piece about how Bully was rated, due to its language, and how it reflects to what happens in real life to what we see through a camera. This piece is very quotable, and can be connected to other articles and debated with other movies such as Gunner Palace. This will be used later on in the research paper, after the statements from surveys have been used, because it has a lot of points and statements that can stick to readers for the rest of the paper.

The Kings Speech. Dir. Tom Hooper. Perf. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter. The Weinstein Company. 2010. Film.

Another film rated R for its strong language, which was cut down to meet PG-13 standards. This is becoming a trend, but it will apply to how the MPAA sees language as a more damning factor than violence. This will be used in conjunction to the articles that talk about it or when discussing movies struck with similar issues.

Krcmar, Marina, and Joanne Cantor. "The Role of Television Advisories and Ratings in Parent-Child Discussion of Television Viewing Choices." Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media 41.3 (1997): 393-411. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.

A study placed on adults to younger children, determining whether they had noticed what the ratings to the movie they saw was, if it deterred them or enticed them to watch it, and hypothesis about what this could mean for the ratings system. This is a very good article for discussing the non-commercial side of the ratings system, rather how people watch movies based on rating or if it matters at all. This study can be used when discussing the effectiveness of ratings.

Krule, Miriam. "A.O. Scott’s Explanations of MPAA Ratings Are Even Better Than His Movie Reviews."Browbeat. (28 Mar. 2014) Web. 21 Jan. 2015.< http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/03/28/new_york_times_mpaa_rating_explanations_how_a_o_scott_turns_pg_13s_into.html>.

A brief article about a movie reviewer who bashes the MPAA for its ratings on movies of genocide to language. Good for a quote or two, just to sound snappy without being outright so. Will probably be used after a rebuttal on the MPAA's side about its ratings, but with good taste.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Dir. Peter Jackson. Perf. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Viggo Mortensen. New Line Cinema. 2003. Film

A movie worth discussing due to not only it's excessive violence and maturity, but having the highest on-screen body count of any movie ever, G through NC-17. It's worth discussing, because a lot of articles don't bring up its violent nature, and it can balance the heavy language-argument that most news pieces / opinions discuss. Will be used after discussing the multitude of language-related movies, probably siding next to Saw 3D for its violent nature as well.

Nowell, Richard. ""The Ambitions of Most Independent Filmmakers": Indie Production, the Majors, and Friday the 13th (1980)." Journal of Film and Video. University of Illinois Press, 63.2 (Summer. 2011) Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

Article from an Online Database or Subscription Service - A revealing research paper about someone who'd talked to various artists in Hollywood, the indie scene, and how both parties are treated when it comes to revenue and MPAA. It's a good beginning piece, but since it's subjects are dated and not too related to PG-13 ratings, it stands for a few quotes in the overall paper I'm writing.

Phillips, Michael. "There's a Word for the MPAA...." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing, (4 Nov. 2010) Web. 15 Jan. 2015.< http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-04/entertainment/chi-talking-pictures-1105_1_joan-graves-r-rating-mpaas>.

An article about a writer whose recent outrage of The King's Speech and Saw 3D being both rated R, and how other countries have rated it. He quotes others and riffs on the PG-13 movies with more mature content, and it makes for a very quotable article. It will be used in the beginning, possibly the first paragraph, when igniting the topic of the research paper.

Ravid, Abraham Ravid S. "Managerial Objectives, the R-Rating Puzzle, and the Production of Violent Films." The Journal of Buisness. The University of Chicago Press, n.d. Web. 29 Jan.

An article that discusses the revenue of violent films, not PG-13, but still in relation to the topic at hand. It reveals that movies with higher violence and sexual content have better predictability at the box office, regardless of reviews. This can be used when discussing the ways we watch films based on their rating instead of their value.

Saw 3D. Dir. Kevin Greutert. Perf. Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, and Betsy Russell. Lionsgate. 2010.

A movie referenced in a few articles on how movies compare to other movies in MPAA ratings. Horrifically graphic and deprived of unique or noteworthy plot (If you dare contest me and a hundred top critics on Rotten Tomatoes), it shows how we rate violence to language in the same area. This will be discussed in conjunction to the articles that bring it up.

Schmidt, C. James. "Sex-and-Violence Ratings: What's in Them for Libraries?" American Libraries. American Library Association, 31.4 (Apr. 2000): 44-46. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.< http://www.jstor.org/stable/25637581>.

This article discusses a few court cases concerning cities and government attempting to apply consequences to higher rated MPAA movies and defines ratings of all media. The article is focused on permitting content in public libraries, but it also shows the lengths people will go to express their distaste towards movies, if given the chance. This can be used when describing how the MPAA sets up a target for people to hate and discriminate against, filing mature rated films with things that should be shunned. The article can also be used in elaborating on previous struggles for independent, low budget film makers to release their uncensored version of their movie.

Sneed, Tierney. "Don’t Expect Any Major Changes to the MPAA Ratings System in 2014." US News. U.S.News & World Report, (7 Jan. 2014) Web. 15 Jan. 2015.< http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/01/07/dont-expect-a-new-movie-ratings-system-in-2014>.

A news article that not only states the semi-current status of the MPAA's stance on its criticism, but also gives a brief look over and understanding of the MPAA and how it affects movies. It'll be a good introductory source, plentiful on everything my research paper’s about and lots of ways to launch off into several planned topics.

Thompson, Kimberly, and Fumie Yokota. "Violence, Sex, and Profanity in Films: Correlation of Movie Ratings With Content." Medscape. Medscape, 6.3 (3 June 2004) Web. 15 Jan. 2015.< http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/480900>.

A well-studied paper on the connection of violence and ratings to content, and the "ratings creep" that has moved controversial content downwards. This article can be utilized in giving a professional statement about the various ways the MPAA is letting detrimental behavior leak into younger ratings and how the purpose of the acts are not taken into consideration. This can be used when discussing "ratings creep", profitability, and ignoring the purpose of violence-- in the research paper.

Wilson, Barbara. "What's Wrong with the Ratings?" Center for Media Literacy. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.< http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/whats-wrong-ratings>.

An article that discusses the repercussions of children at different ages experiencing violence in media, from a professional's point of view. This article doesn't focus on studies or surveys, but comes from well-advised word-of-mouth about the topics that need to be thought of when violent acts occur on screen. This article can be used near the beginning to establish how violent acts aren't as simple as gore, and near the end when advice can be given on how to resolve this dilemma.

Worth Keilah, Sonya Cin, and James Sargent. "Prevalence of Smoking among Major Movie Characters: 1996-2004." Tobacco Control. 15.6 (Dec. 2006): 442-446. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.< http://www.jstor.org/stable/20748060>.

A study published in Tobacco Control about the amount of movie characters in the top 100 box office, for the years 1996 to 2004, that smoked and how it reflects to the MPAA rating and the public's smoking status at the time. It shows how smoking has become a bigger part of PG-13 movies, making it more accessible to children. In the same study, it shows that smoking is on the decline and may not be applicable to fighting against the MPAA's rating. The study will be used to face MPAA supporters and then criticize their judgment with the same source.