by Vanessa Wu
DO YOU think you’d enjoy watching a performer insert her finger into her vagina and then into her mouth? Or would you find it offensive?
Either way, you won’t get a chance to find out. The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) has rejected an application for two shows, one of which features the above scene, to be put up with an R18 rating for the upcoming M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. Arts groups and art practitioners have taken their rallies of support public.
Read what happened here if you missed the news this week.
At the heart of the controversy is whether the shows were suitable for the R18 rating found under the Arts and Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). FYI, the AECC is a different set of ratings from the ones used for film. You may be more familiar with the ratings used for film, which are G, PG, NC16, M18, R21.
The AECC ratings are G, Advisory, Advisory 16 and R18. To classify arts entertainment, the content is evaluated against six content elements: race and religion, social norms, violence, nudity, sexual content and language. We take a look at what the ratings mean according to AECC.
1. R18 – Restricted to persons 18 years and above
This the highest rating and it is given to events that feature adults themes with more explicit content than the Advisory 16 category. Events that fall into this category explores contentious racial or religious issues and uses strong racial/religious stereotypes or strong racially/religiously charged language.
It makes explicit references and depictions of issues or lifestyles which are contrary to prevailing social norms or violence. It also permits a non-excessive portrayal of full male and female nudity in a non-sexual context, strong sexual verbal references, stimulated heterosexual sexual activity and occasional sexual gestures in a homosexual context.
2. Advisory 16 – Content more suited for persons 16 years and above
This rating is for events with mature themes such as prostitution and sadism or alternative lifestyles which are more suitable for discriminating audiences 16 years and above. Events under this category use moderate racial/religious stereotypes or moderate racially/religiously charged language.
It makes references and depictions of issues or lifestyles which are contrary to prevailing social norms or infrequent violence. There is also the portrayal of female frontal upper body, back and rear nudity, sexual verbal references or gestures and infrequent simulated heterosexual sexual activity.
3. Advisory – Content may not be suitable for a general audience
The Advisory is for events that include some mature content that is sexual, violent in nature or expletives which may be upsetting or disturbing to some audience members. Such events use mild racial/religious stereotypes or mild racially/religiously charged language.
It makes implied references and depictions of issues or lifestyles which are contrary to prevailing social norms or violence that is not detailed or prolonged. There is also brief portrayals of full rear nudity, mild sexual verbal references or gestures, infrequent and brief implied sexual activity and non-excessive use of expletives.
4. G – Content suitable for a general audience
The General rating cover arts entertainment which is suitable for a general audience including children. Such events have infrequent use of mild racial/religious stereotyping, no references and depiction promoting issues of lifestyles contrary to prevailing social norms but allows mild violence. The portrayal of upper back nudity is allowed along with mild and infrequent sexual verbal references or gestures or expletives.
Not again
This is not the first time arts groups and art practitioners have disagreed with IMDA. Within this year, there were a few instances and it usually involves IMDA informing organisers at the last minute of censorship requirements or ratings, leaving them with limited time to react.
I Know Why The Rebel Sings by Newsha Tavakolian, an Iranian photojournalist and documentary photographer, was told by then MDA to censor 33 photographs three days before The O.P.E.N. exhibition which was a pre-festival event for Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA).
Cultural Medallion winner Ong Keng Sen criticised MDA’s censorship for being inconsistent and not transparent as they only read the official reason published in The Straits Times on June 24. Furthermore, these photos have already circulated in Singapore in print in the April 13 2015 TIME magazine (international edition). In the end, 15 photographs were removed from the exhibition and replaced with black cards.
Similarly for Five Easy Pieces, a play based on the life of Belgian criminal Marc Dutroux which was directed by Swiss dramatist and filmmaker Milo Rau and performed by children, was given an R18 rating three days before it staged.
MDA said the show was given an R18 rating as it explores the mature topic of paedophilia. Ticket holders below the age of 18 were refunded. However, SIFA director Ong Keng Sen commented that MDA’s decision was counterintuitive to the purpose of the play which was to present a cautionary tale about paedophilia.
Tony Manero by Chilean director Pablo Larrain and A German Youth by French filmmaker Jean-Gabriel Periot was in the movie line-up for The O.P.E.N. and was scheduled to be screened on June 20, 24 and 27. However, the organisers were informed on June 17 that both movies required a scene to be cut due to sexual and mature content. The organisers chose to pull out both films “to respect the integrity of the directors’ vision and craft”.
Featured image No Entry by Flickr user Håkan Dahlström Kevin Gill. CC BY-SA 2.0.
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The post Censors and sensibility: What does R18 mean? appeared first on The Middle Ground.