Is MTV's 'Skins' too explicit for TV?
I dislike shows like this because of the exploitation factor. And the fact that parents are allowing their underage children to be portrayed in this manner just goes to show the degredation of values in parents. I'm a 35 yr old single mother and can't IMAGINE allowing my teenager to participate in a show like this. In my opinion, MTV's statement regarding their intentions with this show is nothing but smoke and mirrors to make money.
I don't have cable and do not WANT cable if this is the type of stuff being shown ...
#1 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:01 AM ESTAs someone who has actually watched the show, it's not exploitative. The UK version of the show is actually a griping, sometimes dark, sometimes sweet look into the lives of teenagers. However, it is considerably more disturbing and pornographic than US television.
The US version of the show does not show any pornographic content that is included in the UK version. It is either slyly hidden (the frame of the window panes concealing an adult woman's body for example) or not filmed at all.
Have any of you even seen the U.S. version of skins? The first episode wasn't even racy. I've seen episodes of Nip/Tuck that made this episode look like Leave it to Beaver. I mean people are just jumping on the bandwagon because they love something to complain about.
If your young teenager is up at 10:00 at night watching a TV-MA show that contains very little nudity and some very minor drug use (so far) then I would call that a parenting problem, not a television problem. The fact is, TONS of channels play much worse. Everything on FX is more graphic. The Walking Dead is extremely violent, Mad Men has sex, I just don't think I understand. These actors/actresses are 17 and 18, and I'm sorry, as a resident of Florida you see 15-16 year old girls walking around in tiny "barely there" bikinis for the sake of drawing attention to themselves, while perverts and child molesters watch. I hardly think a scantily clad 17 year old girl can qualify as child pornography.
Just another reason this show shouldn't have been remade in the states, should have left it as it was....which was perfect.
Have you seen the 16 and Pregnant show?
I think a little preventative medicine may be in order here.
WHICH one is expoitive?
I'm a 41 year old father of a 17 year old girl and I think Americans are mostly a bunch of sexually repressed hypocrites that don't have a clue what teens are really up to.I have an inside look into teens social lives.Besides I have a very good relationship with my daughter . Maybe if you people had a clue.Don't you people know when you tell people 'teens' that they can't do something they are going find a way to do it behind your backs.IF SOCIETY didn't make sex such a forbidden taboo, and cover women from head to toe like the female form is something disgraceful disgusting to be hidden from everyone.If society lightened up there would be less rape and sex crimes.
If this is truly how you feel then you are living in a fantasy world. I have sat down with my teenager to watch this and it has opened up a very useful and honest dialog. This is what teenagers face very day and it shows a realistic and accurate picture of the lives they lead when parents are not about. The key is to arm them with insight and support to help them make sensible decisions. To pretend that this behavior doesn't exist leads to many other problems, drug abuse, teen pregnancy etc, etc. Open communication is the key - not pretending that they will never have to face these decisions.
When will the population wise up and realize that the decay of a civilization is usually not the result of outside intervention, but rotting from the inside. TV programs, unless funded by public sources, must attract viewers to stay on the air. To accomplish that each successive program has to be more 'racy' (aka offensive) than its predecessor. We started with Ozzie and Harriet, progressed to 'All in the Family and finally, to the puke that is on the air now.
Bring back the Hays Code...
#2 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:00 AM ESTRight on. These shows are a direct result of US. We asked for it. We watch it. We make them money for airing it. You want blame for this stuff, look in the mirror. If it had no viewers, no advertisers would fund it.
The Hays Code was ridiculous. A sexually repressed, puritanical old man (well, he LOOKED old) telling the American public what was good for it.
He was probably a closet homosexual like J Edgar Hoover.
The reason America is "rotting from the inside" is certainly not a realistic portrayal of problems, attitudes, and activities of teens in America. If anything, America is decaying due to neglect of its citizens' basic human needs, intolerance of lifestyles that do not harm others, and trigger happy cops. The only reason issues like this gain any attention is to make sure the spotlight stays off of the real problems. As rich as this country is there are people that cannot feed themselves or their families. If you want something to complain about, take up that cross. It could actually improve the lives of your fellow Americans in a real way.
1) Why do they need to use actual minors for a show that is rated MA which means in theory it's directed at an audience of 17 and up. If the show is for adults, there should not be minors involved. Acting isn't a defense to child porn otherwise child pornographer's would have a field day with that loophole.
2) If the show is aimed at teenagers, then why are you putting in content that rates it adult only?
3) Even if you used adult actors, why on earth do have a show for adults about teens having sex? There are plenty of adult options dealing with the same issues as the show, so it seems weird they need the option of a show about sexually active minors as well.
#3 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:12 AM ESTIf we were speaking about the UK version of show, as applied to US laws, there would be a great argument for the show violating child pornography laws in the US. We aren't. The US version of the show is tame. The one use of swearing in the show is censored. There is absolutely no nudity. Not to mention the nudity that does exist in the UK version of the show cannot exist in any US basic cable show.
Also, this isn't a show about sex. It's a show about the lives of a group of somewhat privledged teens. The sex life of one teen is depicted in the entire first season (UK). Otherwise, it's pretty much the monotony of daily life.
So this is nothing but making a mountain out of a mole hill.
@Adinnieken, I agree with much of what you say, but the UK version of Skins has already been aired on BBC America, which I would consider basic cable.
America is still very prudish in our thoughs and actions. We need to come around and realize that we do not live in the 1800's and values and morals have changed. Why does shows like these cause such a problem in the United States, but over seas they do not cause that much of a problem? This show dipicts acuratly what our kids are doing! I have seen and heard about many of these types of things going on in high schools, junior high schools and even in the elementary schools. Skins should be used as an educational opportunity for parents to talk to their kids. Yes, it may be hard for a parent to watch this with their kids, but it will help open a dialog into the what are kids are up to!
#4 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:38 AM ESTIf you have a teenager (and they go to school), they are going to read a really nasty, exploitative play by a guy named William Shakespeare called Romeo and Juliet--it has sex and violence that would drive most of you crazy. So can they read it?
#5 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:46 AM ESTDon't give the prudes any more ideas. They'll demand that their high school ban Romeo and Juliet as well.
You forgot about the depiction of a minor having sex. Juliet is supposed to be 14. Sex is definitely implied.
This is a really good example actually. Proof that art/entertainment can be truly beautiful, even when it is a little "racy".
Art imitates life. Teenagers experiment. Sex, drugs, even *gasp* rock and roll.
With this attitude it's no wonder the prisons are busting at the seems, females being sexually abused has increased and the the world is going down the toilet.
Really? Down a toilet? Because of sex? It has nothing to due to wars, pervasive world poverty or pollution? Really?
Supposed do-gooders like this make me laugh.
Also, teens get on the internet. See this controversy. Think, I should watch Skins. Open up a torrent site. Search: skins. Download. Now they have the U.K. version, with twice as much nudity, at least 5 times the amount of swearing, and I don't even know how much more drug use, because that is really all they do in the UK version, is a LOT of drugs. Now your kid is exposed to something you consider much worse. All this controversy has done is made it more interesting to watch Skins. Creating a controversy like this could not be any more pointless, especially in this particular case because even if you could possibly get the terrible MTV version of Skins canceled, there are (soon to be) 5 glorious seasons of U.K. Skins to watch, available on torrents and Netflix all over the country.
Whoops.
#6 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:19 AM ESTBut remember, we're the country with "true" freedom of speech. I guess it's only applicable if you agree with the content of said speech. Trust me, if the show was truly child porn it would have never made it past their legal team.
Nudity does not equal child pornography. It's this type of mentality that has resulted in parents being arrested for taking nude photos of their toddlers. Grow up folks.
We as a nation cannot keep pushing the limits with our youth as if we want this to be the norm. At the same time we have increasingly strict laws concerning sex crimes. Look at court dockets historically across the nation you might find that sex crime cases are way up, as well as teen pregnancies. Psychologically the adolescent mind is still in the formative stages of development still trying to come to grips with their emotions and bodily functions. Teens have enough exposure just growing up--- they don't need to be pushed over the edge by the entertainment industry. If we as a society do not get a handle on this now we will have hell to pay later in overwhelmed courts and overcrowded jails.
As far as comparing our age with that of permissive times such as Shakespeare's --well why not just go all the way with Sodom and Gomorrah--why not---they did it. Even Augustus had the common sense to banish Ovid. It's not just this issue at stake but the health of the nation--- do we no longer have any respect for each other, or is it all just relative?
#7 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:21 AM ESTWe as a nation cannot keep pushing off the responsibility of raising our children upon the gov't, businesses or others. If you don't want your child watching it, don't let them. If "they'll watch it anyway" then it's YOUR responsibility to fix that action. I'm sick and tired of people like you wanting to force me to meet your moral standards when you won't even require it of your own children!
Civilizations generally collapse, not by "moral decay", but because of military adventurism. Yet, when Bush Jr. sounded the trumpet and purused an illegal war in Iraq the majority of the sheeple supported it. People have things bass ackwards.
I think a huge problem with our society is that someone is always looking to blame someone else for their problems. Most things on MTV are not fit for kids to watch anyway, but it is the parent's responsibility to monitor what their children watch not the Govt. I hear a lot of Conservatives complaining about this, you all don't want the govt involved in your personal life except when you need someone to parent your kids for you. You can't have it both ways, do you want more govt interaction or less. Make up your mind! And for those who call it child pornography, haven't you broken the law by watching it in the first place?
#8 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:59 AM ESTI'm sure the vast majority of the complaints come from people who've never even heard of the show until seeing this article. I wish I had read further and I wouldn't have repeated everything you said in the post above.
Parents that are "outraged" - maybe you could sit down WITH your child and watch this, and explain to them why what's going on is not acceptable behavior in your household. Spend some time with your kids and you'll find that the behaviors that are depicted in the show are far more prevalent than your mind will obviously allow.
And for those who call it child pornography, haven't you broken the law by watching it in the first place?
I think you could only get in trouble if you recorded it on your DVR since the actual crime involves possession and not consumption.
My 15-year old daughter watched a portion of the show out of curiosity (new TV show). She turned to another channel (family oriented programming) and said to me, "Mom, that show (Skins) should be rated X! It's disgusting!"
#9 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:59 AM ESTGood for her. If she feels it's not appropriate she is learning discernment. For others, it's just a good ole family show. Different strokes.....
"Mom, that show (Skins) should be rated X! It's disgusting!"
I'd worry about that girl. The "pious" ones usually go crazy once they break loose. Did you know that the pregnancy rate for girls who wear purity rings, long-term, is the same for those that don't?
Someday when all teenagers have become parents they just might understand why we as adults/parents are up in arms about all of the "skin" that is shown on TV. Most of the "teen" programming, whether it be MTV or regular TV, is way to graphic and I personally think it promotes promiscuity.
#10 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:14 AM ESTHow about you help them understand now, rather than force others to live by what YOU consider appropriate. Waiting until they are parents themselves is a bit late. Or maybe not - if you ignore the fact that this behavior is very prevalent they might be parents before you know it.
Raise your kids, stop depending on others to do it for you.
If you don't educate your kids about sex, they will be parents sooner rather than later.
That is very true, but what does that have to do with sleazy tv shows?
Sticking your hands in your ears and saying "lalalala" doesn't amount to sex education.
A little skin isn't going to harm anyone. Violent video games that constantly drive home the killer instinct are far more destructive. I watched the British version and it was excellent, well written and well acted. Those young actors were amazing. The Brit version also contained more "F bombs" per sentence than anything I've seen on TV. The US version has been scrubbed.
If we ban Skins, then we need to ban the Bible because I seem to recall a story about two daughters discovering their father's nakedness. And, there's the story about the pregnant teenager who ended up in Bethlehem.
Gotta love the Puritans who are so concerned with what the public reads or watches. Would love to see their trove of books and videos! What needs to be banned from early hours TV and sports programming are all those "male enhancement" drug ads. After 11pm would be acceptable. How would you like to be sitting with your young daughter or son enjoying a sports event when one of these ads appears. What to do if you have a tween; do you really want to have this conversation with an 8-9 or 10 year old? I would think not.
My concern is not content, but age appropriate; what people do behind closed doors is their business, I object when blue noses try to limit what I can see or read. If I want "on demand" adult programming so be it, if I want 24 hours of televangelists, so be it. I don't like people who say, I don't want it, so you can't have it. MTV is a cable channel; therefore, it is not over-the-air transmission as conventional TV stations. Guidelines are little tighter; although, the FCC is relenting a little. When I worked in radio-Tv we couldn't even say "hell" or "damn" on the air, and could never mention body parts or even sex crimes. Had to call it "criminal assault"
#11 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:16 AM ESTMy favorite story is about how Lot tried to offer up his teen virginal daughters so that people would rape them rather than some male visitors he had in his house. Great family values, that is.
Granted, I would much rather my kids watch sex than the horrible violence that is on tv and movies today. But why does it have to be so GRAPHIC?
What is the point?
They aren't required to have a point. It's a TV show.
We have just about every channel imaginable. MTV is one of them. So is Showtime which shows programs at night that could definitely be considered pornographic. How do I sleep at night with my children in my house with such "filth"? I have a lock on the cable box that blocks anything unrated or over PG-13/TV14. It's as simple as that. My kids know the boundaries. Guess what? I also block Youtube on their laptop along outright porn sites and I have software on the machine where I can go in and see everything they did on the machine down to every keystroke. It's called parenting.
But do you know what your kids are watching when they go to a friend's house?
I've armed my kids with the tools to handle just about anything. They know what I do and don't approve of. If they did see this at a friend's house, I doubt their precious little minds would be warped.
So-called "parents" rate the influence of society and media on their kids actions rate their own influence too low. It's a cop out. Start standing up and being parents instead of trying to pretend you can keep your kids away from every influence.
Whatever MTV wants to show is fine, we do not watch it in our household. I get upset when I am sitting with my children watching America's Funniest Home Videos on ABC Family, and promos for this show, and the like, are shown. NOT appropriate.
#12 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:38 AM ESTMTV started out showing music videos back in the 80's. Now all it shows is crap.
MTV started out showing music videos back in the 80's. Now all it shows is crap.
You are very correct. That's why we don't watch it in our household. I have less problems with the "sex" shown on it then I do with the overall materialistic, shallow values that it promotes.
The British Skins is one of the best series that I have ever seen. I've seen the first four series on dvd. The initial episode of the MTV version was a tame and pale comparison to the original. Anyone who thinks the MTV episode one was scandalous would likely suffer brain damage if they saw the British version. Perhaps if the complainers weren't still living in the 1950's, they would know that modern TV sets have remote controls, the ability to have their channels changed, and parental lockout options. In case you are wondering, I am American, not British.
#13 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:04 PM ESTCould not agree more! Thank you for validating my view that the British "Skins" was an excellent show as are most British shows. The one core principle we should use as a guide is: AGE APPROPRIATE Content.
Parental lock out seems to be the ticket.
Be afraid be very afraid, we are desensitizing our children to actions that they are not ready for emotionally. We as parents have a responsibility to let our children be children and grow into responsible adults. Life is not about instant gratification. Are we sending our youth a message that this is ok??
#14 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:34 PM ESTYes, fear is always the answer. /facepalm
In case you haven't noticed, this show is TV-MA, it is not a message to your kids that this is OK. It is a message to you that this is what your kids are doing, have done, or will be doing.
Use the V-Chip. All of our TVs would lock this show (we only allow up to PG-13/TV14) and require an adult to enter in a code to unlock.
Our society is desensitizing us all to violence. The "slasher" movies they put out now are disgusting.
Our society is desensitizing us all to violence. The "slasher" movies they put out now are disgusting.
You know something? They watch the same movies in France. They don't have a school shooting a week. It's not the media.
So many perverted desensitized people. Sick world. Kids don't have a chance to grow up descent anymore!
#15 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 1:21 PM ESTI am ever glad I live in Europe. No hang-ups, LOTS less violence, no self-propagating racism, affordable Health care, etc. Get a life, people, and stop telling others how to live theirs. Afraid of Skins? I'm afraid of YOU...
#16 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:00 PM ESTAfraid would be the wrong word. To me, afraid is someone holding a gun to my head or driving my truck off a cliff. I have seen only the trailer, so I really cannot judge the show. I was a wilder kid and young adult then the twits I saw in the trailer, so that is not the issue either. The issue is that they shock and exploit with sex and drugs. There is much more to life then that. It's basically looks like a badly written soap-opera for people who don't have real lives. Though that would account for 75% of all TV shows. As for Europe, "You are welcome that you all don't speak German as your native tongue."
As you might have assumed if you had read my screen name I am originally from Chicago. I do, however, speak German. ^^ You are correct. Neither the UK version, which I have seen most of, nor the American version will win any prizes, but that's not the point. I am afraid of politically corrective righteousness leading to a generation which may, in turn, lead to Europe speaking american (as opposed to english).
bh, that "You Europeans owe us Americans a debt of gratitude" crap is getting old.
thechicagoexpat, ausgezeichnet!
For some reason I doubt your 15 year old said that, UNLESS she has only seen ABC Family her entire life. If so, good for her! But sheltering your kids from the truth only hurts them down the road also... To many other people, they found the show nothing out of the ordinary...
#17 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:22 PM ESTOkay, can someone, anyone tell me why parents of kids who are watching MTV are all upset over this show? Let's see, they have Jersey Shore, The Real World, other shows that are catering to this generation of MTV viewers. This is probably the 'clean' version of the British version that they took from. With all that is on TV these days and that is utter garbage, why are these parents making such a big deal of this show? It really is just STUPID. You know that at least one of these two household parents homes are making such a big deal about it, is because they are home, unemployed and can now pay closer attention to what shows their kids are watching. Just a sign of the times.
#19 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:18 PM ESTthank you.
we have sexist, mysandrist, men-hating, abusive women on Teen Mom beating their child's father, right in front of their babies - and no uproar. no cries for censorship. no advertiser boycotts.
we have privileged, petty, barely-literate alcoholics on Jersey Shore drinking themselves into blackouts and engaging in casual unprotected sex with steroid-pumped, violent, aggressive strangers on a nightly basis - and again, no uproar. no cries for censorship. no advertiser boycotts.
but MTV airs a show about fake people - not real people - pretending to go to a house party and drinking booze ... and suddenly the born again christians come out of the woodwork.
give it a rest you clowns. you want to boycott crappy tv with a crappy message, boycott John & Kate Plus 8. boycott American Chopper. hell, boycott pro wrestling.
I'm watching an ad for Toddlers and Tiaras right now. now THERE'S a show that needs to be boycotted! its got 5 year old girls in sexy, revealing bikinis and obese mothers bragging about how they're trying to sell their children's sexuality while spraying on fake tans.
Skins is a crap show, with horrible acting, but its content is incredibly mild when compared to a lot of other teen dramas. and most importantly, its not reality tv. its FAKE tv. its fiction.
You hit a nerve with Toddlers and Tiaras. I believe any mother who subjects her child to such crap is guilty of child abuse.
And the whole premise of these teen mom shows is disgusting. Their children ought to be taken away.
What you're seeing is the real world, nothing more nothing less. Get over your unease and prudishness. This is real life!
#20 - Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:33 PM ESTPeople having sex with animals is real life, too. Should that be broadcast on tv?
If it were a reality for a good proportion of people, then maybe so.
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How about YOU moitor what YOUR kids watch and stay out of what other's children watch?