Showing Breasts On Television
We know that if you are going to show a woman's breasts in any media then it is Rated-R. However, if the movie is about natives in Africa or the Amazon then showing a woman's breasts is allowed. The rational is that in the latter it is a normal custom of that place, but does this means it is a 'green light' for public television? What is your view?
I believe in proper dress standards but if you are showing how the natives of a tribe in Africa are and you plan to put the women on a dress (even though some may not wear it) just because you do not want to show their breasts on TV, it means you are a prude. I do not have an issue at all as long as is culturally (like the example given) or showing a woman breastfeeding. I just do not agree with "unnecessary" topless just for the sake of "fashion" or for a sexual scene.
Rather off topic, but... This reminds me of something someone said when people think women should not breastfeed in public for the same reason. He/she said: "If it bothers you, is probably because you are staring too much". |
The reason I brought up this Topic is because of a recent viewing of the film 'Roots' which also reminded me of 'Shaka-Zulu' where they showed all the women topless. Honestly I think you can use a covering without having to be fully clothed or totally bare. You can be realistic only so much and then after that it is just a movie.
JB:
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Honestly I think you can use a covering without having to be fully clothed or totally bare. |
Well, it is public television I am talking about here. Do you feel okay with children watching that? I could just imagine the many questions they will have. Let us take it a notch further... should we make the women on live stage productions go topless just because it was the native style then? If you do not think so then what is the difference?
I personally don't have a issue with it, but in all fairness...one rule should be applied to minimize the arguments. For instance, let's say there is a movie or TV show (say Baywatch-esque) that takes place on a public beach that allows topless sunbathing. It is part of the normal culture, but we take pains to make sure it usually doesn't hit the airwaves. What if that was shown weekly? It is bad enough that David Hasselhoff and crew stayed in business that long! Imagine their ratings if they had topless sunbathers as well! It would be a favorite show of every teenaged boy. They wouldn't even actually have to write a script if they didn't want to. That would be too close to giving the world soft-core porn for free...
Rather off topic, but... One of my first managers always took the trips to Brazil instead of letting me go. One day I asked a co-worker why he did that...what was so great about Brazil. I then got a lecture of my managers love of the public beaches in Brazil...guy was a total pervert. When he got back, I found that is basically what he and his buddies did during the free time there (and they made sure to have plenty of free time)...no wonder why those meetings produced very little in the terms of work! |
First, I believe it honorable and noble to display a woman's upper torso whenever possible.
Second, I can see why people would NOT want to portray naked people who take that form "naturally" or as their normal attire, when broadcasting to an audience that is NOT accustomed to it.
For example, while doing a documentary of strippers and showing them in their natural best is noble and appealing (please see first comment in this post), it likely isn't appropriate and you can get the point across without broadcasting them stripping to the world.