X-Rated Films

As I was researching about the film rating system (CARA) for my Junior Theme topic during class today, I came across a very interesting article. The article talked about a rating system that once existed in the past but is gone now. Once famous in society for it's unique name as a rating system back then, the X-rating has completely vanished lately.

When the original film rating system was launched in 1968, there were only four ratings: G, M, R, and X. Off course, X-rated movies were meant for adults only because it contained extreme sexual or violent content. It was originally aimed at viewers over the age eighteen but it later got lowered to seventeen. We now recognize X-rated films as NC-17 rated films. When I asked Mr.Bolos about it, he said that X-rated movies were a common thing when he was a teenager. He also said that not many people bothered to watch X-rated movies in the theaters because they wouldn't want to be judged by people around them.

So what was the reason behind the X-rated film's disappearance? The poor industry booms in the 70's played some role in it but the main reason for it's demise was the failure of trademark. When creating the X-rating system, the MPAA didn't copyright it. Because of this, the pornography industry exploited the X. Adults films started to use multiple X's to promise it's increase in the adult material. Soon the X became tied with the meaning "hardcore", and mainstream film industries distanced themselves from the X. Shortly after the X-rating got changed to NC-17.

The irony that the name of a system created solely for the purpose of warning the viewers of adult content is now used to represent modern pornography is incredible.