Since 1968, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has been in charge of rating the films which are distributed in the United States. Films which are suitable for viewing by children receive a G or PG rating, whereas those requiring adult supervision receive an R rating. Until 1990, the X label was used to designate films intended strictly for adults. Because of the violent or sexual content of such films, an X rating banned all children from seeing them, with or without parental approval. In 1990, a controversy over the MPAA's X rating arose. Because of its association with pornography, many filmmakers and viewers felt that it was unfair for the X to be used in labeling serious films with adult themes. Certain films, such as Henry & June, were seen as having serious artistic content; however, they were receiving X ratings because of their treatment of sexual issues. As a result of the rating system, directors of such films were forced to either re-edit their work in order to earn an R rating or else face limited distribution as a result of the X rating. In the fall of 1990, the MPAA announced a change in its rating system and the X label was replaced with NC-17. Responses to this change have been varied. Some people believe that the new NC-17 rating helps distinguish hard-core pornography from artistic films with adult themes. Others feel that the NC-17 is nothing more than a replacement for the X and that the same problems which plagued the rating system before will continue as a result.
In the late 1960's, there were growing demands for a movie rating system such as the one that exists today. Groups like the Protestant Film Office, the Legion of Decency (run by the Catholic Church), and the Production Code Administration (run by the film industry itself), were all interested in having a single regulatory body serve as "the arbiter of movie morality." This issue became especially important with the rise of...