The following is a formal essay written by myself, Kodie Beckley.

The human species, like many other species on Earth, enjoy entertainment.  Unlike other species though, humans have evolved entertainment into a multi-billion dollar industry.  There are songs, movies, games, books, and television shows being produced every single day for the sole purpose of entertainment.  The only problem is regulating the content within our many different forms of entertainment.  There have been countless debates over this problem, but none have come to a conclusive, universal decision.

Right now there are separate ratings for all forms of media, which all vary from country to country.  Movies in Canada and the USA use the G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17 rating system, while Belgium uses the A, B, C, D, X rating system.  The same is true for video games.  Canada and the USA use the ESRB (Electronic Software Ratings Board) to apply ratings to their games, which are EC, E, E10+, T, M, and AO, while most of Europe uses the PEGI ratings, which are 3, 7, 12, 16, and 18.  Although there are sturdy systems in place for both video games and movies, there is not yet a rating system for music, with a “Parental Advisory” sticker on some of the more explicit albums.

Without a universal rating system, it is very easy to not be able to find a parallel between two systems of rating.  Also, without having an international standard, it is a much more complicated process for a video game, movie, or television show to be released than it would be with one worldwide system.  This form of system was discussed by United States congress, saying, “U.S. regulators will consider a single ratings system that would warn parents of programming on television, video games, and wireless telephones that could be inappropriate for children…” (Shields, ¶ 1) The current divides between each system and the enforcement of these systems can lead to inappropriate viewing by persons not yet mature enough to comprehend what exactly it is they are viewing.  These decade old systems also do not have a way of applying a rating to web based content such as blogs, streaming video, and other forms of Internet entertainment.

A very practical solution to this problem would be to eliminate all old systems, and create one rating system for all forms of media used in every nation in the world, or at least a system endorsed and enforced by a vast international body like the UN.  This system would apply to films, television shows, web based content, video games, music, and to some extent, periodicals.  This system would have a five step numerical rating system with one being the lowest rating and five being the most regulated rating.  The hope would be that a simple universal system would make rating systems much easier for people who are unfamiliar to the many different systems used worldwide.

The film industry has long used the MPAA ratings in North America.  This rating system would transfer to the proposed system with minimal changes. A rating of “1” would equal “G”, “2” would equal “PG”, “3” would equal “PG-13”, “4” would equal “R”, and “5” would equal “NC-17”.  For video games, the ratings would translate as such: a “1” rating for games with little or no violence, with a moral lesson, and a general aim towards children.  A rating of “2” would be applied to video games with some violence, or fearful elements, and mild language.  Video games with harsh language,  violence, and some blood and gore would be given a rating of “3”, while video games that include realistic blood and gore, intense violence, sexual content, and drug usage would be given a rating of “4”.  Games that have extremely graphic violence or pornographic content would have a rating of “5” applied to them.

The music industry currently has no form of rating scale, which can lead to young children listening to very inappropriate music.  This would be solved by giving music meant for children a “1”, music with mild lyrics or situations a “2”, music with harsh, suggestive, and racy lyrics would be given a “3”, music with extreme lyrics, and situations would be given a “4”.  Any music, which contains a vast amount of racist, sexual, or harsh lyrics, and extreme situations, would be assigned a rating of “5”.

The confusion over rating systems would cease to exist if a simple, universal system is implemented.  This would also allow for content producers to not worry about changing their content for certain countries or regions, and allow them to focus instead on producing quality content.  “The media rating systems that we have today are by no means perfect. After all, they rely on the subjectivity of other people who bring their own beliefs and morals to the table,” (Jessen) and in order to change that we would have to implement this proposed system as international law, with ratings issued by random people, selected from different countries using this system.

Works Cited

Jessen, Mark. “What’s It Rated? Understanding the Media Rating Systems.” GoogoBits. 8 July 2005. 22 Oct. 2009 <http://www.googobits.com/articles/p0-1386-whats-it-rated-understanding-the-media-rating-systems.html>.

Shields, Todd. “U.S. Will Consider Single Rating System for TV, Phones, Games.” Bloomberg.com. 26 Aug. 2009. 22 Oct. 2009 <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aP9DO.D35St0>.