Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema

Barker, M., Mathijs, E., Sexton, J., Egan, K., Hunter, R. and Selfe, M. (2007) Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema. Project Report. British Board of Film Classification, London, UK.

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Publisher's URL: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/policy-and-research/Audiences%20and%20Receptions%20of%20Sexual%20Violence%20in%20Contemporary%20Cinema.pdf

Abstract

This project was commissioned by the British Board for Film Classification, the BBFC. It investigated the naturally-occurring audiences to five films – À Ma Soeur, Baise-Moi, The House on the Edge of the Park, Ichi the Killer, and Irreversible – chosen because the BBFC had cut scenes of sexual violence. The central issue for the project was to explore how audiences’ response to the films were affected by the existence of different versions of the films, and the impact of the cuts required for four of the films. Other questions the research team were particularly asked to explore included: in what ways do audiences draw upon ‘contexts’ in the processes of making sense of scenes of sexual violence? How do audiences with the most positive responses to the film arrive at their understandings and judgements, and what kinds of pleasure do they derive from these films? The study analyzed 243 websites, 760 questionnaire responses, and 20 focus group discussions.

Item Type:Research Reports or Papers (Project Report)
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Selfe, Dr Melanie
Authors: Barker, M., Mathijs, E., Sexton, J., Egan, K., Hunter, R., and Selfe, M.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
Publisher:British Board of Film Classification

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