Film regulation and the BBFC

Film regulation and the BBFC 

1) The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), previously the British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works. Its income is solely from the fees it charges for its services, calculated by measuring the running time of films or DVDs submitted for classification. 

2) The Board's age ratings rate films by viewing the general context such as  plot, characters, outline of individual scenes. The timings of key moments, including camera angles, type of shots, on- and off-screen moments and bad language, sex and drug references.

3) The issues faced when classifying a film is Whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence. If the material is either  on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature, may cause any harm at the age rating concerned. The availability of the material and the age group concerned and the overall tone of the work.

4) I do agree with the certificate the Dark Knight was awarded to an extent. The film has many scenes that are violent and can appear vulgar and horrific to younger audiences. However due to our society violence is more available to view through things such as TV shows and games making people desensitised to violence at a young age meaning that the scenes that occur within the Dark Knight might not affect the young audience to an extent.

5) Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.


Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.


Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.


Language
There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

Nudity
There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail.

Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.


Threat
There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.


Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.



6) Chicken didn't have things such as Nudity however the film did have things such as Violence, Threats, Language, Imitable behaviour and Discrimination.