What is it about?
This paper compares how Canada and the United States developed their film classification systems, and how those systems currently operate. The paper considers that history, and various approaches to comparing Canada and the United States, to speculate about the future of film classification in Canada.
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Why is it important?
The recent decision to end film classification in Ontario and rely on BC classifications is the latest example of film classification being considered less important by governments. However, it is desired by many people, and required in order to protect the rights of children. Furthermore, although film classification seems uncontroversial, it effectively functions as censorship, and can be used to ban films.
Perspectives
I have long been interested in how industrial and regulatory forces shape film content. I'm also intrigued by my discovery that the provincial government film classifiers in Canada routinely give lower age ratings than the industry operated film classifiers in the United States.
Tim Covell
Carleton University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Government versus Industry Self-Regulation: Film Classification in Canada and the United States, Journal of Canadian Studies, June 2020, University of Toronto Press (UTPress),
DOI: 10.3138/jcs-2018-0022.
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