How important is swearing in Films and TV shows and programmes?

Andy From Sligo

How important do you think swearing is in films & TV shows?

Would you enjoy the film the film or programme any less if the swearing was removed/edited out/bleeped? - would you know if you had never tried it?

Take Gogglebox for an example say on TV3 - if they bleeped out the swearing , would people find it as funny or not as funny?

I watched 'get out' Film at the cinema last night , 15a - quite a few expletives .. would I have enjoyed it as much or about the same if they cut out most of the expletives I wonder ? I am used to hearing and reading expletives in real life but I wonder (if there was ever a scientific experiment done) if people would enjoy the film or TV programme just as much or like it less if expletives were removed -

would it make you angry if TV chiefs decided to edit out swearing in TV programmes even after the watershed?

would it make you angry if the cinema edited out swearing in 12a/15a films - and even edited out sex scenes and just left it up to the viewers imagination - and just maybe keep the swearing, sex scenes and heavy violence to 18+ films at the cinema?

would be a good interesting experiment if one was carried out I think, maybe a TV programme showing a pretty liberal family and showing them a film with expletives in and then and edited version and see which one they prefer or whether they just preferred it the same (not talking about bleeping out the words throughout the film because that really would drive people nuts and put them off, I am just talking about editing the words out or replacing the words with other dialogue)

sorry for all the questions.

Arghus

It depends.

Jack the Stripper

Fcuk it Andy I don't know.

PTH2009

When Ms Browns curses in Ms Browns Boys to get the cheap laugh

Turtyturd

You're not sorry at all. If you were sorry for the annoying questions you wouldn't start threads constantly.

Fleawuss

Jesus

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I'll let Walter answer that one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcKBcZzGdA

Jack the Stripper

Turtyturd wrote: »

You're not sorry at all. If you were sorry for the annoying questions you wouldn't start threads constantly.

Oh look at me all faux annoyed :pac:

Andy From Sligo

PTH2009 wrote: »

When Ms Browns curses in Ms Browns Boys to get the cheap laugh

i am the minority one - I have yet to watch a full episode yet of Ms Browns Boys - I just dont find it that funny ... I dont find it funny with the swearing left in , I dont think I would find it funny even if they took all the swearing out. I wouldnt find it funny either way, cannot understand the hype about it, found Fr Ted episodes much funnier comedy.

but maybe with a show like Ms Browns Boys they have to keep the swearing in it to give it more oomph and make it funnier than it is. I suppose its swearing in an un-offensive funny way instead of a violent swearing way and thats what makes things different maybe .. if you get my meaning

Andy From Sligo

Turtyturd wrote: »

You're not sorry at all. If you were sorry for the annoying questions you wouldn't start threads constantly.

do I start threads constantly? - I hadnt noticed.. does that mean I start threads more constantly than all the other users on boards then?

If so.. are there any prizes if I am the winner?

Sam Kade

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

How important do you think swearing is in films & TV shows?

Would you enjoy the film the film or programme any less if the swearing was removed/edited out/bleeped? - would you know if you had never tried it?

Take Gogglebox for an example say on TV3 - if they bleeped out the swearing , would people find it as funny or not as funny?

I watched 'get out' Film at the cinema last night , 15a - quite a few expletives .. would I have enjoyed it as much or about the same if they cut out most of the expletives I wonder ? I am used to hearing and reading expletives in real life but I wonder (if there was ever a scientific experiment done) if people would enjoy the film or TV programme just as much or like it less if expletives were removed -

would it make you angry if TV chiefs decided to edit out swearing in TV programmes even after the watershed?

would it make you angry if the cinema edited out swearing in 12a/15a films - and even edited out sex scenes and just left it up to the viewers imagination - and just maybe keep the swearing, sex scenes and heavy violence to 18+ films at the cinema?

would be a good interesting experiment if one was carried out I think, maybe a TV programme showing a pretty liberal family and showing them a film with expletives in and then and edited version and see which one they prefer or whether they just preferred it the same (not talking about bleeping out the words throughout the film because that really would drive people nuts and put them off, I am just talking about editing the words out or replacing the words with other dialogue)

sorry for all the questions.

You actually watch gogglebox :D:D:D
You really need to find better things to occupy your mind instead of brain rotting tv programs.

Andy From Sligo

Sam Kade wrote: »

You actually watch gogglebox :D:D:D
You really need to find better things to occupy your mind instead of brain rotting tv programs.

when I have watched Gogglebox (i dont watch all episodes religiously) I laugh at the participants reactions mainly and them commenting on what they are watching so thats more funny I think than the expletives - so (and I havent tried this) maybe as an experiment it would be good to try editing out the swearing and see if I still find it as funny - I dunno, maybe I wont, maybe the swearing makes it funnier. What do you reckon yourselves?

MilesMorales1

It really depends on the tv show/film. Context is everything. In gogglebox, I think its just fine though. Long as its a genuine reaction, as opposed to just swearing for the sake of it.

riffmongous

In movies, too much swearing is off putting for me, but some is necessary for realism.

I really like the censoring beep in comedies when it's done well

Cantona's Collars

Yippee Kayay Kimosabe.

Gotta love the time ITV used to censor movies even late at night.

RayM

riffmongous wrote: »

I really like the censoring beep in comedies when it's done well

And also when it's not done well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-1PiU-ivfY

Also, the "****in' hell" moment in Father Ted was great because it was so unexpected. I remember not being entirely sure that I heard it correctly (no rewinding live tv back then) until they said it a second time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvUt2kUg0c

riffmongous

'****in Hell!' is a classic moment

seamus

It's all down to realism and what you expect of the character tbh. If the character is pretty reserved or measured, you don't expect them to be f'in and blinding all over the place. If they're Irish, you do.

If you watch soaps, they're very good at stepping around this. They don't omit the swearing, they just use inoffensive but everyday "swears" in place of the usual. So "fnck" is often any variation on "bloody hell", "christ sake", etc. "sh1t" replaced with "damn". "Cvnt" replaced with "numpty" or "idiot", or even bitch/bastard.

JackTaylorFan

For frack's sake!!

mickrock

An appropriate swear word at the right time can be very effective:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H3KaLZsbv0

Tokyo

Depends on the movie or TV show TBH. Sometimes it seems quite gratuitous - saw a couple of episodes of "The Good Fight" recently, and the swearing only seems to have been added to make it seem 'edgier' than its parent show, "The Good Wife".

On the other hand, I can't imagine sitting down and watching "Goodfellas", and having the 300-odd ****s edited out of it, because it sets the tone for the characters within the movie.

All comes down to whether you think swearing is an accurate representation of that the character would be like in real life, I suppose...

mike_ie

mike_ie wrote: »

Depends on the movie or TV show TBH. Sometimes it seems quite gratuitous - saw a couple of episodes of "The Good Fight" recently, and the swearing only seems to have been added to make it seem 'edgier' than its parent show, "The Good Wife".

On the other hand, I can't imagine sitting down and watching "Goodfellas", and having the 300-odd ****s edited out of it, because it sets the tone for the characters within the movie.

All comes down to whether you think swearing is an accurate representation of that the character would be like in real life, I suppose...

Oddly enough, I was in the states a few years ago. Threw on the tv during the day, and Goodfellas was on, but they had removed all cursing. It was bizarre.

gramar

It should be used in soaps anyway. People from working class areas like Weatherfield or Albert Square and not a swear word in over 50 years in the case of Coronation St and Eastenders in over 30 years.

gramar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2ZgaQ_H-Y

Unearthly

It's very important in Deadwood. Those of you who have watched it will know what i mean. A PG Al Swearengen just wouldn't work

valoren

****ing ironic that bad ****ing language is already ****ing censored on boards dot ****ing ie :pac:

Maximus Alexander

They're just words really.

Giblet

gramar wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2ZgaQ_H-Y

Sounds like Swedish muppets after a while

Andy From Sligo

I think the thing is, and this is the way I look at it, is that the TV and radio broadcasts into your home whereas with a cinema you go out specifically to watch that film and decide with its rating's or with its content (by reading up reviews or watching trailers) you decide whether you want to watch that film , its not like TV where it could be on a suitable channel programme one minute with no profanity and unusual sexual or violent scenes and then you could as I say have the TV left on and you could be in another room, and at 9pm say the watershed is over and a programme or film comes on relitevely with strong language and violent scenes or sex scenes - then a child could come down from upstairs , cant sleep or wants a bedtime story or your nan could walk in (maybe not as conservative as katherine tates gran charachter LOL) and get the shock of her life.

The TV companies stance on it is to relieve themselves of any blame and say that it is up to the parents to control what the family watch and what time they have the TV on rather than say we can look to try and make sure where we can broadcast certain things or look to editing to make it suitable just in case minors do happen to be awake at that time or if someone has left their TV blearing at 8.30 PM and and are in another room and it hits 9pm and a programme or film with a run of expletives comes on

If you go to see a film at cinema thats OK because if its a 18 Film and (providing the cinema staff are doing their jobs properly and checking ID of age of person/child) then thats a different story I think.

I do think TV companies need to reign in sometimes what content they broadcast to viewers - but on the other hand I think we are past the stage now, its no longer 3 channels that people get broadcast into their homes these days now, its hundreds of channels. so even if RTE/TV3 said OK we are going to edit our broadcasts in a more family friendly way or in a way people can watch the broadcasts without being offended by bad language or sexual or violent scenes , then will they loose viewers if the other plethora of cable/satellite channels do not follow suite? thats the thing.

What a strange way we have ended up with though with many parents frightened that their children might be watching some unsuitable porn on the Internet but others will think nothing of sitting down with their children and watching a film with heavy expletives and near the knuckle sex scenes and violent scenes and taking them to see a 15a film to a cinema

Then we have fallen into "well these are words they hear on the streets every day and in school" - almost like saying "lets give in to all forms of censorship on stuff broadcast because they see/hear this and worse every day any way" - so in certain cities children might be subject to seeing people take hard drugs every day , what are those people gonna say "ah, sure let the kids take drugs, they see it on a daily basis" - I still think there should be boundaries still these days personally ...

I really think if things go on the way they are going , I think the 9pm watershed on TV programmes will be gone totally soon, I really can see that happening and TV broadcasters being able to show any type of film or programme or reality programme at absolutely any time of the day - unedited at all. And the way some parents mentality I doubt if many will even blink an eyelid... shame that

ohnonotgmail

RayM wrote: »

And also when it's not done well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-1PiU-ivfY

Also, the "****in' hell" moment in Father Ted was great because it was so unexpected. I remember not being entirely sure that I heard it correctly (no rewinding live tv back then) until they said it a second time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvUt2kUg0c

Most people already know this but it is Graham Linehan who says the "f*ckin hell" bit

Deadwood is the perfect example of a show where swearing was necessary and, out of the mouth of Ian McShane, can sound so damned poetic.

DaeryssaOne

I have found Irish films with the swearing removed to be completely unwatchable - I was in the states years ago and the Commitments came on during the day, delighted with myself I sat down to watch it and then quickly realised it was just not as funny and sounded wrong with all the cursing removed. Same with The Guard - tried to watch it on a flight and it was so heavily censored that it almost wasn't making sense!

Cantona's Collars

It's odd that stuff made by mainstream American networks will show violence and sex but the nearest to bad language is p1ssed off or sh1t. Take Sons Of Anarchy,s great show with badass bikers.It has some fairly rough scenes but swearing is a no no.
In the satellite forum we had one poster complain over having to enter a pin on movie channels during the day.A small inconvenience to keep kids from watching inappropriate content and allowing adults to watch stuff they want without having to wait until after 9pm.

RayM

gramar wrote: »

It should be used in soaps anyway. People from working class areas like Weatherfield or Albert Square and not a swear word in over 50 years in the case of Coronation St and Eastenders in over 30 years.

"Get the fuck outta my pub, yiz cunts"

Andy From Sligo

RayM wrote:

"Get the **** outta my pub, yiz *****"

Ha, how did u manage to do that cursing without boards starring it out?

ohnonotgmail

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

Ha, how did u manage to do that cursing without boards starring it out?

different text colours for the u's.

Andy From Sligo

zerks wrote: »

...In the satellite forum we had one poster complain over having to enter a pin on movie channels during the day.A small inconvenience to keep kids from watching inappropriate content and allowing adults to watch stuff they want without having to wait until after 9pm.

so someone orders a film that could be an 18 film and can watch it at 3pm in the afternoon on the satellite? - sorry for my ignorance but i have never ordered the box office things on SKY or anything ever, I dont even have the film pack, I just have the basic sky channels.

ohnonotgmail

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

so someone orders a film that could be an 18 film and can watch it at 3pm in the afternoon on the satellite? - sorry for my ignorance but i have never ordered the box office things on SKY or anything ever, I dont even have the film pack, I just have the basic sky channels.

Its not the box office. the regular movie channels on sky require a pin before 8PM.

Andy From Sligo

OK so someone in a block of flats or someone in a house with the window open can order and watch/listen to a film high at volume with people's surround sound systems they have with TV's these days with very strong language and expletives at any time of the day/afternoon and very young children can be in the area playing outside the open windows or flat above or below and hear all this audio from the movie just because someone decides they want to listen to a 18 classified movie in the middle of the day with no problem or governing/restrictions ... it just doesnt seem right to me - something pretty disturbing about it , for minors to be able to hear all this language and content freely like this - and dont even go there where children emulate when they hear swear words and continue to repeat it. No wonder children these days are growing up too quickly!

wakka12

Yeh I think its important. In shows about serious issues like crime/murder/cheating/drugs etc where emotions would run high and people would naturally curse a lot out of frustration/anger then its needed to add a layer of realism to the show/movie. If Im watching a horror or thriller and a character gets a fright or something and they shout oh DAMN IT or some other non curse word, in place of a curse word that a person would use in that situation, I think it weakens it overall

.........

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

How important do you think swearing is in films & TV shows?

Would you enjoy the film the film or programme any less if the swearing was removed/edited out/bleeped? - would you know if you had never tried it?

When I was younger, not knowing any better, I used to think it was great to hear and see it on TV and film along with violence. Now I'm so sick of hearing and seeing it.

I think a lot of film and tv "drama" relies heavily on it to make up for poor writing.

In the real world it's a classic sign of a lack of argument/vocabulary combined with a lack of self control.

Andy From Sligo

......... wrote: »

When I was younger, not knowing any better, I used to think it was great to hear and see it on TV and film along with violence. Now I'm so sick of hearing and seeing it.

I think a lot of film and tv "drama" relies heavily on it to make up for poor writing.

In the real world it's a classic sign of a lack of argument/vocabulary combined with a lack of self control.

actually I think your right - the 'shock factor' of "oh look at all the swearing in that film" has now long gone and its become the norm and it doesnt shock people as such any more , but it really does feel like writer/production teams use it as a tool now for laughs or substitute for good lines in a movie rather than effect most of the time and its well overused sometimes

BuilderPlumber

It depends. For certain films like The Commitments it makes the film. Same with series like Love/Hate. One is getting inside the dialogue of how such characters talk. For others, it is unnecessary and often modern American cop films have too much of it and it is not needed and seems overexaggerated and in there for the sake of it. Bleeps for swear words or silenced out is the other extreme. They should be in there if it serves the story or the film's humour.