Nudity on TV
Nudity on TV is in the news headlines again, as Australian Members of Parliament (MPs) talk about whether there is too much in Big Brother on free-to-air television.
And that seems to be the complaint, that it is on regular TV, which is accessible by anyone. There seem to be two extreme solutions: (1) a complete ban of nudity on free-to-air TV (2) for people to chill.
While a complete bans solves the "problem" since nudity could still be available on cable-TV, it would make sense to apply this solution to any aspect of free-to-air TV that offends people. I could argue that I don't want free-to-air TV showing any activity that my adversely affect my kids, such as smoking, drinking, loutish behaviour, bad language or even bad grammar! And other groups may argue for even more chaste behaviour.
On the other hand, chilling out and switching channel takes just a few moments. But where do we draw the line. Do we allow full-on sex on free-to-air TV, and expect people to chill and change channels if offended?
Is there a compromise? Either you see nudity or you don't. One solution I can see is better classification of televised material. I wouldn't be surprised to see nudity in Big Brother, but if I wasn't, how could I check?
It does not seem unreasonable that programmes should be classified, by the programme makers, according to their contents, on a scale of 1 to 10, for sex, language, violence, lawful activity, etc. Online digital TV guides would make it possible to screen programmes based on such critia.
But then again, perhaps those who are offended by the human body should question their perspective. Surely they don't avoid mirrors when naked, and ask their spouses to avert their eyes. So perhaps the nudity is not the issue?
I think people are offended by TV nudity because they are embarrassed, and if they are with company, they do not know what to say or how to behave. I wonder whether people who watch TV alone, would be offended by nudity on free-to-air TV?
2 Comments:
Violence is ok but nudity heaven forbid. I wish the conservative Christian would just go back to whipping themselves and let the rest of us get on with out lives(TiC)
It isn't nudity on TV that causes the problem. It is violent sexual activity! In scenes where no actual naked bodies are fully exposed, there are lots of scenes of violence toward other people in which sex is central. But for persons of both sexes, and all ages, to be portrayed on TV completely naked should be a good thing, given that there is no violence of any kind. The human body is completely decent, despite what the Christian Fundamentalist say, and should be shown, even exhibited at appropriate times and places. I would like to see some TV stations brave enough to visit nudist clubs and beaches and show the persons that are there without any airbrushing-away of "offending" body parts. I particularly enjoy some of the "travel" shows which show persons from more primitive cultures standing about totally naked before everyone else, without a trace of shame. It's too bad we have lost this basic innocence in our own culture, and must resort to watching porn instead of natural nakedness.
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