Feature Films
The classification system for visual content is largely standardised for television, videos, and feature films. The current guidelines, which have changed relatively little over the past few years, may be summarised as follows:
| The "E" rating indicates material that is exempt from classification. |
| The G rating indicates material that is suitable for all ages. Violence must "have a low threat and be justified by context", sexual activity, nudity and drug use may only be "very discreetly implied", and coarse language must be "very mild and infrequent". |
| The PG rating recommends parental guidance for young viewers. It is more relaxed in all categories. Violence should be mild and infrequent, and drug use and nudity should be justified by context. Coarse language must be mild and justified by context. This category allows the use of words such as "shit" and "bitch". |
| The M rating is recommended for people with a mature perspective but is not deemed too strong for younger viewers. Language is moderate in impact, allowing the use of words such as 'fuck,' but "aggressive or strong coarse language" should be infrequent, and sex may be moderately implied. Sexual violence must be limited. Drug use can be depicted in context. This is the highest unrestricted rating. |
| The MA15+ rating is restricted to those 15 and over, with those under 15 having to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to legally view the film. It may contain strong bloody violence if justified by context, strong implication of sexual activity, and strong impact coarse language (though "very coarse language" should be infrequent), and "strong themes". Use of the word "cunt" usually results in this rating. |
| The "R18+" rating is restricted to those 18 and over, meaning those under 18 cannot legally view the film. Themes, violence and coarse language are virtually unrestricted however sexual violence must be "justified by context", and sexual activity can be "realistically simulated". This is a general guideline rather than an explicit rule, and films such as 9 Songs, The Brown Bunny and Romance have contained unsimulated sex. |
A film is Refused Classification if it contains material that offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should not be classified, meaning that it is banned. The distribution and exhibition of unclassified films is a criminal offence that carries a fine of up to A$275,000 and/or 10 years jail.
Initially introduced solely for feature films and games, the icons shown above have been in use by Australian television networks since February 2006.
Read more about this topic: Censorship In Australia, Current Situation
Famous quotes containing the words feature and/or films:
“Blunders are an inescapable feature of war, because choice in military affairs lies generally between the bad and the worse.”
—Allan Massie (b. 1938)
“The cinema is not an art which films life: the cinema is something between art and life. Unlike painting and literature, the cinema both gives to life and takes from it, and I try to render this concept in my films. Literature and painting both exist as art from the very start; the cinema doesn’t.”
—Jean-Luc Godard (b. 1930)