Text 2 Rules and Regulations

Voluntary Censorship

In the early 1920s, Hollywood was rocked by a series of scandals involving major stars and directors. The film production companies were afraid that government censorship of films would be introduced, and to avoid this they set up a system of voluntary censorship. Will H. Hays, the U.S. Postmaster-General, was invited to supervise this system in December 1921, and took up his new job as president of the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) in 1922. After eight years of work, he produced a document which became known as 'The Hays Office Code' in 1930. The code was in operation until 1966, and as a result, American films were never classified (for adults, adults with children or for children) in the way they were in other countries. All films were supposed to be suitable for everyone. The code began with three general principles:

1 No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it, hence the sympathy of the audience shall never be thrown to the side of crime, wrong-doing, evil, or sin.

2 Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented.

3 Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.

This was followed by very detailed sections on 'Particular Applications', which included: (1) crimes against the law; (2) sex; (3) vulgarity; (4) obscenity; (5) profanity; (6) costume; (7) dances; (8) religion; (9) location; (10) national feelings; (11) titles; and (12) repellent subjects; together with three sets of extra 'Special Regulations' on (1) crimes in motion pictures, (2) costumes, and (3) cruelty to animals.

The Hays Code was often the subject of jokes, very often because it was so specific. For example, the 'Profanity' section listed 28 forbidden words, and in one case a Shakespearean story had to have its text altered because it used one of them. The 'Vulgarity' section explicitly forbade jokes about 'travelling salesmen and farmers' daughters'. However, since the code disappeared, many people have been worried about the effects of violence, sex, and bad language in the cinema, and there have been calls for a new 'Hays Code'. In Britain, the British Board of Film Censors still exists, but its job is not so much to ban films as to grade them (‘U’: unrestricted, 'PG': parental guidance, '18': over 18, and '15': over 15). Recent publicity has been directed not so much at the cinema as at video 'nasties', and violence has been more worrying than sex on video. And after all, anyone with £1.00 in cash can rent a video film.

Different Types of Regulations

BOURNE HALL

UNIVERSITY OF WESSEX

Regulations for Residents

1 All residents are obliged to produce a medical certificate, which shall include the results of a recent chest X-ray.

2 All bills are to be settled within 15 days of presentation.

3 No guests are allowed in students' rooms after 11 p.m.

4 Radios, cassette players, etc. are not to be played between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. At all other times, the volume must be kept low so as not to disturb other residents.

5 Pictures, posters, etc. are not to be attached to the walls. They may be displayed only on the notice board provided.

6 Residents are not permitted to interfere with the heating controls. Any difficulties must be referred to the resident caretaker.

7 Cars may be parked only in the designated spaces.

8 Tampering with fire extinguishers or the fire alarm system is strictly forbidden. Any breach of this regulation will be referred to the Dean of Students, and may result in expulsion.

9 Smoking is prohibited in all hallways and passages.

TADWORTH CITY TRANSPORT

Buses: Regulations

1 Do not stand in such a way as to obstruct the driver's vision.

2 Passengers must not talk to, or otherwise distract the driver whilst the bus is in motion.

3 Smoking is prohibited on the lower floor.

4 Standing is not permitted on the upper floor.

5 Dogs not allowed (unless carried by passenger).

By Order

Transport Manager

Borough of Sandpool

Parks and Beaches Department: Regulations

1 No ball games on the promenade.

2 Camping is strictly forbidden on the beach. The overnight parking of caravans is prohibited on the promenade.

3 Dogs are permitted only in the specified 'Dogs Allowed' sections of the beach.

4 You must not swim when the red flags are flying.

By Order

Town Clerk

For Critical Analysis

1 Which is/are true?

a Social customs and rules are both enforced by governments.

b Many laws reflect social customs.

с Unlike social customs, laws are usually international.

2 Why do some laws appear to differ from common sense?

3 Give the definitions of the following terms: rule, instruction, regulation and law.