From Film Censorship To Film Classification:Exploration On Theory,History And System

Film classification system means that different films should be divided into different levels,according to certain criteria made by the movie rating agencies,and each level of films is available only to the viewers of right age.Many countries in the world have established the film classification systems,including the United States,Britain and South Korea,in order to realize the flexible management of their film markets.Although the film classification system has not been implemented in our country,the appeals for this system are louder in recent years.On the one hand,it is due to the current film censorship system which is harsh and contains many disadvantages;on the other hand,the classification system is needed to promote the sustainable and healthy development of film industry in this era.Research on film classification system has been involved in a multi-disciplinary area,which includes journalism,law,sociology,economics and other subjects.This paper has mainly used the perspective of law,supplemented by necessary specialized knowledge of journalism,sociology,economics,applied "film" "film censorship" and "film classification" as breakthrough points,discussed theoretical significance and historical value of the film censorship and film classification,systematically analyzed the necessity and feasibility of establishing the film classification system in our country,and ultimately explored the China’s film classification,which is suitable to our national situation.The overall structure of this paper contains four parts:The first part introduces the concept of film,film censorship,and film classification,comparative analyzes the film classification and film censorship system,and explores more positive meanings of film classification.It is important that the author has discussed the legal meaning of "film",which is commonly known as an art gimmick.In essence,"film" is a kind of way to freedom of expression,and freedom of expression is the legal protection of basic rights,which is also a key factor to generate film classification system.In addition,this part briefly explains the research methods and research framework of this paper.The second part,using the perspective of theory and history,states the system change from film censorship to film classification.First of all,this part applies the freedom of expression,the interests of game,procedure of natural law,and organic unification of rights and obligations to lay the theoretical foundation for gradually replacement to film censorship by film classification;Secondly,it systematically clarifies the 1989 historical try of film classification in our country,the evolution to set up the film classification system in other countries and regions,and indirectly confirms the inevitable trend from film censorship to the film classification.The author has listed the related regulations in five countries,and these regulations have both commonness and subtle discrepancy.The different characteristics of legislation have provided many references for our country to establish this system.The third part interprets the situation of our country and studies the necessity and feasibility to set up film classification system in contemporary China.As for the necessity,it is reasonably testified by analyzing the Chinese movie industry environment and institutional drawbacks of current censorship system.As for the feasibility,it is mainly stated by explaining the development of film industry and self-discipline organization,and the classification attempts of cinema chains.It should be noticed that the author has used questionnaires to investigate the public opinion of establishing the film classification system in our country,and the results show that approvers has taken up the vast majority of all the participants.The fourth part explores the film classification system in China.The implementation of film classification cannot be finished at once,and this implementation must exist difficulties.Aiming at these difficulties,preparing necessary supporting measures can bring the film classification great benefits.At the same time,the author has studied the path to set up the film classification system in the future of our country,investigated the public opinion through questionnaires,and enriched the institutional framework according to the results.Combined with the situation of our country and experience of other countries,the author has built the film classification system framework from five aspects,including the rating system,the rating standards,the rating subjects,the rating procedures,and relief rights afterwards,in order to realize the reasonability,fairness and democracy of film classification.