Obscenity is a word used to describe indecency, and it packs a little power behind its meaning. Throughout history the definition of what is obscene has changed. In the 1950s Elvis Presley’s onstage hip-thrusting motion was considered vulgar and suggestive. In 1967 a naked—but covered—Allen Ginsberg on the cover of the Vanguard was enough to get the paper suspended.
Now, in the exciting year of 2010, we find Eric Cartman from the popular South Park television series blasting diarrhea into a bucket held by his mother; we may have to reexamine what we consider to be obscene.
The matter of obscenity will ultimately boil down to personal opinion, and what each individual feels is appropriate. Obviously, people feel differently about certain issues such as nudity. While some feel the human body is beautiful and not something to be hidden, others feel that any instance of a naked person is smut. Of course, there are people in between who have mixed feelings and would prefer not to be boxed into a black and white idea concerning nudity.
Entire communities can share opinions; in some cases—such as in Utah—you may find Women’s Fitness magazine is covered on the shelves. To anyone unfamiliar, Women’s Fitness is not a smut magazine by any stretch. The cover often features healthy women showing off their bodies while wearing athletic clothing not unlike the kind you see runners wearing on any warm day. This just means that in Utah they don’t think it is appropriate to show off any skin in the store where their kids might see. To some that might seem totally shocking, while others might wonder what happens when kids in Utah go outside and actually see the runners.
Content on television is typically varied by target audience. Disney will produce shows that cater to viewers who are about 15 years old or younger. The idea of seeing anything with blood or explosions would be shocking on the Disney channel. But on Spike TV, some would grow suspicious if The Man Show stopped showing girls jumping on trampolines.
So audience is a very clear and often indisputable factor in obscenity. If you show boobs on the Disney channel, it’s probably rude and indecent. If you show boobs on Spike TV, it’s probably okay.
Obscenity is different for everyone. Though in Utah, they might cover Women’s Fitness with a little black board, in Portland one can comfortably carry GQ with a very saucy Miranda Kerr on the cover down the street and there is a good chance that nobody will care.
It’s probably safe to say that just because some people think something is vulgar doesn’t necessarily mean it offends everyone. If someone finds one thing indecent, someone else may not be bothered by it. We are all different, after all. So what does it take to be totally unacceptable? When does content actually cross the line?
Some may remember in 2005 when Rockstar Games took heat for a minigame within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas which allowed the player to have virtual sex. The content, despite being sealed in the game and unplayable until a modification was developed to unlock it, was still built into the game. This caused quite a stir. Yet no controversy was roused from being able to use a chainsaw, or burgle homes or murder people. It’s as though the people behind the controversy grew tired of the “videogames turn you into a serial killer” argument.
Sex and violence is a debate for another time—the question here is if a game in which you play as a gangster and have sex with your digital gangster girlfriend is obscene or not. The answer is maybe, and it depends on who you are.
There are games that base their entire gameplay around rape. A controversial Japanese game titled Rapelay lets the player stalk and rape an entire family. Rape, like murder, is not something to be taken lightly. Since the purpose of a game is to have fun, playing a game based entirely around rape may be a good first sign that someone needs professional help.
Does a game where you stalk and rape people cross the line?
The debate could rage forever and social opinions will continue to change as they have always done, and in 200 years perhaps the only thing on television will be reruns of Little House on the Prairie, or maybe people will be more into movies like Murder-Planet 3: Titworld.
The beautiful thing about America is we have the ability to control what we feel is appropriate in the media. People have the right to regulate what their children watch or read, and our choices are not limited by the government.