Censor's role not one for mere mortals

Rating system

A ratings system is not a panacea. It won't be able to solve all problems related to the appropriateness of movie content. If a 30-year-old filmgoer is allergic to the visual presentation of, say, someone writing on the chalkboard, a film company or a ratings committee probably won't be able to raise a red flag for him. But for most of the public, a ratings system designed with the nation's underaged in mind will remove the bulk of the worries that plague parents and guardians.

In a sense, censors are playing the role of the guardian. But it overreaches when it wants to play God. Nobody is fit for that position - not we mortals. To shield children from unsuitable influences is to recognize that some elements are appropriate by age. But some people seem to have the mistaken notion that whatever is not good for children will not be good for all age groups.

When enforced rigorously, it essentially places everyone on the same line as those incapable of winnowing the chaff away, so to speak. The condescension is palpable in their eagerness to protect.

The irony is, Chinese children are exposed to so much unsavory material on screen that it would take children in other civilized countries by surprise. In the 2013 fantasy film Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, a river monster is shown swallowing a baby alive, a vivid process that would probably put the movie in the R category (barred to those under the age of 17). Not only was there no alert for parents at cinemas, but the TV station that bought its broadcast rights announced proudly that it would be aired without any modification whatsoever. There is no way any other country or responsible broadcaster would do that.

The difficulty of introducing a ratings system lies in the mentality throughout Chinese society that censorship is supposed to weed out slime. Actually, it is not in a position to pass judgment on the quality of a work or elements of it. It functions as a label that notifies consumers of its content so that the latter can make better purchasing decisions. Until a consensus is achieved about this function, we will have to put up with the Hays-like dilemma.