Independent UK: The hypocrisy of America’s moral outrage

[marmar]

The hypocrisy of America’s moral outrage
US pressure groups are up in arms over the racy British TV import, Skins. But why the moral panic? Teenagers are no more likely to be brainwashed by it than they are by shows about teenage mothers, or films about romantic vampires, argues Harriet Walker

Monday, 31 January 2011


Sound the alarum! Lock up your daughters! Return the remote control to behind the bullet-proof plexiglass and tell the kids to get back to their prayers; there's nothing to see down here.

The outrage and kerfuffle sparked in America last week upon the airing of teen drama Skins, a series originally shown on British television in 2007 and subsequently remade for US audiences, was nothing short of Victorian hysteria.

It was described by the Parents Television Council, an organisation to give even Mary Whitehouse a run for her money, as "the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen". Five days after it aired, significant advertisers, the fast-food chain Taco Bell withdrew their support, stating that some scenes did "not match with its vision" of what teen entertainment ought to be. And execs at MTV, the channel which broadcast Skins on 16 January, are concerned that elements of the show might contravene federal child pornography statutes.

Like fun they are. They're laughing all the way to the bank. The puritans and the prudes might have been purse-lipped and goggle-eyed at the sight of a 17-year-old's bare bottom running down a road, some recreational drug use or a recurring erectile dysfunction joke, but their wards certainly weren't. The first episode of Skins drew in viewing figures of 3.3 million, and broke the record for a new show in the 18-35 demographic – a tricksy internet – and smartphone-obsessed age bracket that television moguls are desperate to drag back to the sofa. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-hypocrisy-of-americarsquos-moral-outrage-2198873.html