Updating

[aesmael]

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Forgot to say last night about the burden expansions to Australia's classification scheme would have on artists, who would have to submit their work for review and pay to have it rated. A similar situation recently threatened to stifle the app industry for smartphones in Australia, with the prospect of having to have those rated before sale. According to the current OFLC fee structure, geting a computer game rated costs $470 at cheapest.

If a similar fee structure is implemented for the fine arts, I wouldn't be surprised to see those disappear or go underground. The best case scenario would probably be sponsored exhibitions becoming more expensive to stage. Not that I know so much about these areas of the arts - maybe I am fortuitously mistaken?

On the related note of Australia's video game classification stopping at MA15+ [2] (meaning anything that would be restricted to adults only is instead refused classification unless an edited, less 'adult' version is produced [1]), I've been told that is largely due to South Australian Attorney-General vetoing every attempt to introduce an adult classification into the scheme. Mind, he retired in 2010 so hopefully there will be some action on this soon. Better that than new excuses.

[1] Or the title is released at a lower rating than it 'ought' to have, thereby destroying the minds of countless highschoolers.

[2] Since these posts pass through three sites, one of which so far as I am aware does not support LJ-style name links, I find myself avoiding referring to people by name. Should really resolve a policy for that.

Comments

[coniferous_you]

If a similar fee structure is implemented for the fine arts, I wouldn't be surprised to see those disappear or go underground.

This bothers me. I admittedly don't care that much about popular media in the same way (although I will never understand social conservatism in any way, as censoring things only makes them more attractive to consumers), but seeing the fine arts be sanctioned so heavily is dangerous. Artists are in a unique position in that they are well-equipped to challenge the current social structure, and engage the populace at the same time. But maybe that's why the government would want them to disappear.

[coniferous_you]

[1] Or the title is released at a lower rating than it 'ought' to have, thereby destroying the minds of countless highschoolers.

I forgot to add that I love your prolific posting lately! Also, I've said this before, but banning things is what will destroy the minds of teenagers. They'll become more super-fixated on playing some shooting game, when they might not have bothered in a free society where shooting games are not contraband.

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I have been trying to resume posting the things I want to say or remark on, instead of letting them slip by.

And, agreement. Was being a bit sarcastic with that footnote there.

[coniferous_you]

Well, I personally like when you give into those impulses. It seems to result in some really substantive posts.

Also I understood that you were sarcastic, but I assume that those policy-makers are not. Scary and/or misguided stuff, this social conservatism.