In the early 1980s' moral panic was spread through the
public by the conservative party as they feared that the progression of
technology would allow inappropriate film content to be seen. When cinemas were the only way of people
watching films the government were able to regulate and censor things
containing violence, sexual content or what they believed to be damaging to
people and therefore caused a concern. Mary Whitehouse was the person put in
charge to regulate films as part of the conservative party which at this time
Margaret Thatcher was in power.
As videos became for fashionable and people did not want to pay for the cinema because of the recession, piracy became more apparent. Video recorders meant that people were able to pirate films and sell them on illegally. The result of this meant that people of any age could buy films containing damaging content as the criminals selling them do not care about regulating the films as the government did. The most often censored films were "video nasties", these included things which the government at the time saw as obscene and therefore made it their aim to remove them from the viewing public. The argument of this is whether the people should decide what they watch themselves, but the people in power believed it could spark ideas for people.
The Video Nasties were scapegoated by Margaret Thatcher as during the time Britain was corrupt and in poverty as it had hit a recession, this was arguably her fault. By blaming the state of Britain on the video nasties, it took the attention off of her and also was removing the idea of rebellion as this is what they believed was included in them. The BBFC, was put in place by the government to regulate films and categorise into what ages they should be shown, they are still in place today. However in the 80's they were set up by people apart of the government meaning that their views were very biased on what was shown.
As videos became for fashionable and people did not want to pay for the cinema because of the recession, piracy became more apparent. Video recorders meant that people were able to pirate films and sell them on illegally. The result of this meant that people of any age could buy films containing damaging content as the criminals selling them do not care about regulating the films as the government did. The most often censored films were "video nasties", these included things which the government at the time saw as obscene and therefore made it their aim to remove them from the viewing public. The argument of this is whether the people should decide what they watch themselves, but the people in power believed it could spark ideas for people.
The Video Nasties were scapegoated by Margaret Thatcher as during the time Britain was corrupt and in poverty as it had hit a recession, this was arguably her fault. By blaming the state of Britain on the video nasties, it took the attention off of her and also was removing the idea of rebellion as this is what they believed was included in them. The BBFC, was put in place by the government to regulate films and categorise into what ages they should be shown, they are still in place today. However in the 80's they were set up by people apart of the government meaning that their views were very biased on what was shown.
No argument
ReplyDeleteWow, this is what passes for education these days? A ridiculously wrong mini statement about the Tory party and Video Nasties? There are so many errors in this that it quite literally unbelievable:
ReplyDelete- Mary Whitehouse was never put in charge of any regulatory body by any Government. She led an independent campaign that did lobby for certain laws to be introduced. She was not always successful in these campaigns. Where she was more so she was often backed by a majority of the public. Video Nasties being one. These were not pleasant videos and it was perfectly acceptable that, for reasons of simple moral decency, and no more, that they be banned.
- The Conservative Party did not 'spread moral panic'. Firstly because they had better things to do, secondly any alleged moral panic was instigated by independent campaign groups such as the one led by Mary Whitehouse (and then proliferated by the papers). These groups are wholly distinct & separate organisations from the Conservative Party. Thirdly, the term moral panic belies the belief that individual citizens lack their own personal agency and the ability to make decisions and think for themselves. The notion that people are 'sheep' is a grossly overstated one. Adults are capable of holding onto many different views and opinions. A moral panic is never really what it seems and is usually a bunch of media inflated hot air with little actual substance or effect.
- The suggestion that Video Nasties could be some sort of inspiration for a 'rebellion' is laughable. Thatcher was in charge for just over 11 years. In that time our economy grew at an outstanding rate. And that includes the recession. When she was first 'elected' (yes, people actually voted for her) our country was truly moribund and in deep decay. By the time she left office, the UK was a strong, confident nation once again with greater riches than ever before. This did not happen by accident but by the clever policies and strong leadership she advocated whilst Prime Minister. The fact she was twice returned to office by voters kinda demonstrates that collectively the British public believed in what she was doing and liked the results. It's called democracy.
Over 18 years of Tory Government, we were in recession for only 3 years. That's actually an impressive statistic given the normal pattern of economic development would suggest an even longer period of recession over such a time frame. Recessions are a fact of life in any economy. The one under her watch was not her fault any more than she could be blamed for the Earth spinning on it's axis.
- Lastly, censorship in the 80s is hugely over exaggerated. The BBFC has always been an autonomous body and free of Government control. One of the tenets of the Tory Party is in individual choice and personal freedom. While Thatcher made public noises in agreeing with Mary Whitehouse and others, in private and in reality, her belief in individuals liberty to make their own choices actually meant she did very little to support the cause of Whitehouse et al. If anything, Thatcher wanted more films, a bigger entertainment industry, more technology, more success. She was loathe to get in the way of anybody doing anything to make and do good things in their life and took care to keep in line with such a belief.
And as for the understanding that Britain was corrupt. The UK is actually one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Guess when our standing in global corruption tables started improving? Yes, you guessed it, under Thatcher.
That Thatcher was scared of Video Nasties is a joke. The woman was scared of nothing.
Wow, this is what passes for education these days? A ridiculously wrong mini statement about the Tory party and Video Nasties? There are so many errors in this that it quite literally unbelievable:
ReplyDelete- Mary Whitehouse was never put in charge of any regulatory body by any Government. She led an independent campaign that did lobby for certain laws to be introduced. She was not always successful in these campaigns. Where she was more so she was often backed by a majority of the public. Video Nasties being one. These were not pleasant videos and it was perfectly acceptable that, for reasons of simple moral decency, and no more, that they be banned.
- The Conservative Party did not 'spread moral panic'. Firstly because they had better things to do, secondly any alleged moral panic was instigated by independent campaign groups such as the one led by Mary Whitehouse (and then proliferated by the papers). These groups are wholly distinct & separate organisations from the Conservative Party. Thirdly, the term moral panic belies the belief that individual citizens lack their own personal agency and the ability to make decisions and think for themselves. The notion that people are 'sheep' is a grossly overstated one. Adults are capable of holding onto many different views and opinions. A moral panic is never really what it seems and is usually a bunch of media inflated hot air with little actual substance or effect.
- The suggestion that Video Nasties could be some sort of inspiration for a 'rebellion' is laughable. Thatcher was in charge for just over 11 years. In that time our economy grew at an outstanding rate. And that includes the recession. When she was first 'elected' (yes, people actually voted for her) our country was truly moribund and in deep decay. By the time she left office, the UK was a strong, confident nation once again with greater riches than ever before. This did not happen by accident but by the clever policies and strong leadership she advocated whilst Prime Minister. The fact she was twice returned to office by voters kinda demonstrates that collectively the British public believed in what she was doing and liked the results. It's called democracy.
Over 18 years of Tory Government, we were in recession for only 3 years. That's actually an impressive statistic given the normal pattern of economic development would suggest an even longer period of recession over such a time frame. Recessions are a fact of life in any economy. The one under her watch was not her fault any more than she could be blamed for the Earth spinning on it's axis.
- Lastly, censorship in the 80s is hugely over exaggerated. The BBFC has always been an autonomous body and free of Government control. One of the tenets of the Tory Party is in individual choice and personal freedom. While Thatcher made public noises in agreeing with Mary Whitehouse and others, in private and in reality, her belief in individuals liberty to make their own choices actually meant she did very little to support the cause of Whitehouse et al. If anything, Thatcher wanted more films, a bigger entertainment industry, more technology, more success. She was loathe to get in the way of anybody doing anything to make and do good things in their life and took care to keep in line with such a belief.
And as for the understanding that Britain was corrupt. The UK is actually one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Guess when our standing in global corruption tables started improving? Yes, you guessed it, under Thatcher.
That Thatcher was scared of Video Nasties is a joke. The woman was scared of nothing and was definitely not an authoritarian or oppressor of the people. She was a liberator in truth.
Anyway, all the best with your continued studies :)