Mock Exemplar 18/30 C3

Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technologies don't need to write out the question again, get straight into your answer/thesis statement to an extent, along with several other factors that influence it just as strongly. The main fear fuelling this being people of all ages being able to view videos with unsuitable content from video nasties. Good This became accessible after the invention of VCR. It became a fashion to watch films on VCR in the 1980’s instead of going to the cinema. The nature of these particular films was different to the footage shown in cinema at the time. Not only were they based on horrific and scary context, they were low budget too. Along with this, video nasties were seen as a scapegoat for the political and social problems in the 1980s. why is this motivating censorship – who is involved? The economy of multiplexes also became a concern.

This doesn't actually give any argument – you are not taking a position on this.

The invention of Betamax and VCR gave the public the opportunity to watch uncensored films at home. Explain why? Due to VCR? ~format wars was VHS & Betamax allowing longer recordings and becoming a fashionable item, it soon because the stronger product out of the two. During the 80’s it became fashionable to stay in and watch films instead of the previous trend of going to the cinema. This caused cinema attendance to drop massively. It was a popular option not only because it was during the time of a recession but because it was easy to pirate films. Due to the popularity and simplicity, pirated copies were mass produced and distributed across Britain. Good, but what were the fears about this technology? Relate to the question

At the time, easy access to video nasties caused allowed people of all ages to view footage with content that was seen as unsuitable and violent. Not only were they uncensored, they were not viewable through multiplexes meaning the only possible way to view was through VCR. Good – can you link this to your argument? The main audience for video nasties were teenagers. Not only did parents fear the way this affected their children but the government feared loss of control. This created a larger sense of fear in society due to a Moral panic that the video nasties would influence people negatively. Mary Whitehouse & her group caused the outcry – important you have this – traditional values. What argument does this bring up about censorship – do you agree that this is what prompted these fears, were they correct?

As a result of this, the which one? government used this as a scapegoat for all social and political problems that had risen at the time. Which were...? Margret Thatcher stated the videos should be banned due to the problems they caused. What problems? The government used media to share this opinion, creating more fear in society. Again – you must relate back to the question here.

Overall, i feel film censorship motivated the fears of audiences and technologies along with several other factors. The main one being the government and their fear of losing control. Because of technological advances the public do have access to uncensored footage, allowing them to view more brutal and possibly unsuitable videos, although over 30 years the brutality of video nasties is seen as weak and viewable in comparison to now. Desensitised It can be argued that these films are unsuitable but overall they have had a huge impact on today’s films and piracy. What about the directors of these films, critical acclaim, mainstream?

Your opinion is at the end but this should be included in your introduction – is it true that technology & audiences getting hold of these films caused the fear or was it a morality & conservative pressure group that blew it out of proportion? What happened to these films eventually? They were all banned in the UK – is this because of technology?

Very little in here about actual censorship until the last paragraph, no mention of the BBFC or regulation of Home Video. You must address the focus of the question otherwise it just become facts.

18/30