BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

Beavis and Butt-head is a cartoon series about two American high school students

whose extreme stupidity and bizarre behaviour is the theme of each episode. The

episode on 7 July 1997 was broadcast by TV3 Network Services Ltd on TV4 at

8:25pm and was classified "AO".

Mr MacPherson complained to TV3 that the episode was violent and sent the wrong

signals about what was acceptable in today's society. He expressed his concern that

the programme could have been watched by impressionable younger viewers who

might emulate or be influenced by the violent behaviour of the characters. He believed

the programme had no redeeming features and wished to see it removed from

television.

TV3 responded by stating that it had classified the programme "AO" on the basis that

an adult audience would fully understand the cartoon genre and always be aware that

what they were viewing was not in any way connected to reality.

Dissatisfied with the broadcaster's response, Mr MacPherson referred his complaint

to the Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). On this occasion, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

An episode of the American cartoon series Beavis and Butt-head was broadcast by

TV3 Network Services Ltd on TV4 on 7 July at 8.25pm.

Two American high school students, Beavis and Butt-head, are the main characters

around which each episode of the cartoon series is developed. Each episode focusses

on their immature and often bizarre behaviour and the consequences of that behaviour.

In this particular episode, Butt-head, in an incident which emphasised the characters'

typically idiotic antics, threw a pencil which bounced up and stabbed Beavis in the

eye. Beavis was then depicted with blood spurting from his eye.

Mr MacPherson formally complained to the broadcaster that the "pencil in the eye"

segment of the cartoon, which he believed had screened at 8.00pm, had breached

standard V18 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice.

He claimed that showing this sort of behaviour as entertainment in prime viewing time

sent the wrong signals to viewers about what sort of behaviour was tolerated in

society. Mr MacPherson also believed that because of the programme's timeslot, it

was very likely to have been watched by younger children as well as teenagers for

whom, he presumed, the programme was intended. He was concerned that the violent

incident depicted could lead to copy-cat behaviour. Having seen parts of the cartoon

on several occasions in the past, the complainant asserted that the programme was of

an extremely low standard and, as far as he was concerned, had no redeeming features.

He would, he stated in conclusion, be pleased to see it totally removed from the

nation's television screens.

In declining to uphold the complaint, TV3 pointed out that Beavis and Butt-head was

an "AO" classified programme which had been broadcast at 8.25pm and, in that

context, it could not agree that it was excessively violent. The "AO" classification had

arisen from TV3's belief that only a mature adult audience would fully appreciate the

humour attached to the cartoon characters' extremely stupid exploits. TV3 stated that

the "pencil in the eye" incident was also an example of the overstated and unrealistic

nature of cartoon humour but, nevertheless, it was portrayed as being "painful".

Taking these factors into account, TV3 maintained that the action was unlikely to be

copied by any viewer.

In his final comment to the Authority, Mr MacPherson contended that TV3's

reasoning was illogical and contradictory when it admitted that the scene had been

illustrated in a manner showing that having a pencil in the eye was "painful", while

maintaining that it did not regard the segment as excessively violent. He referred to

TV3's description of the violent scene which had included the words:

And blood spurts from his eye and he screams in agony.

If this was not excessive violence in a cartoon, he responded, he did not know what

would ever qualify for that description.

In its report to the Authority,TV3 reiterated its earlier comments that it did not

consider the cartoon, which was broadcast at 8.25pm, to be violent in its "AO"

classified context, and it emphasised the totally unrealistic nature of cartoons. Mature

viewers would fully understand the subtleties of cartoon humour and would always be

aware that depictions of overstated violence are not connected to reality in any way, it

argued. TV3 referred to its statement that the incident had shown that having a pencil

in the eye was painful, and said that the intention of that statement had been to

explain why it believed that "copy-catting" of the incident by any viewer was most

unlikely.

The Authority assesses the complaint under standard V18 of the Television Code

which had been nominated by the complainant and considered by the broadcaster.

Standard V18 states:

V18   Cartoons must avoid excessive violence, especially those featuring humans

and human-like creatures and depicting realistic story-lines as opposed to

clearly fanciful or farcical themes.

Having viewed the cartoon, the Authority is of the opinion that the programme had

been appropriately classified "AO" by the broadcaster. It accepts that the allegedly

violent incident was featured in a cartoon which had been created for adult viewers

who would have an appreciation of the intrinsic qualities of cartoon humour, and who

would naturally be able to distinguish fanciful and farcical situations from reality. Mr

MacPherson had alleged that the cartoon was broadcast at 8.00pm. It had, in fact,

been broadcast at 8.25pm, five minutes before the agreed 8.30pm watershed for adult

programming. The Authority, however, does not consider this to be of major concern

when looked at in the context of the complaint overall.

The Authority notes that the theme of the Beavis and Butt-head cartoon series

revolves around the two main characters' extreme stupidity and the consequences of

their outrageous antics. It also understands that the cartoon, through its grotesque

characters and their extremely anti-social behaviour, presents the "world of the

absurd" for adult viewers' entertainment and amusement. The essence of much

cartoon humour, the Authority agrees, lies in the ridiculous nature of both the plot and

behaviour of its characters. The humour in Beavis and Butt-head is no exception.

While the Authority is able to appreciate that it is not inconceivable that a few

viewers may identify with some aspects of the characters' personae, it believes,

nevertheless, that this would not be significant enough to warrant concern. The

Authority was in no doubt that the overwhelming majority of adult viewers would

have viewed the programme with a complete understanding and appreciation of the

unrealistic and overstated nature of cartoons in general and, specifically, the "pencil in

the eye" incident contained in this episode of Beavis and Butt-head.

Given the above, the Authority concludes that the scene complained about in the

"AO" classified cartoon Beavis and Butt-head was not excessively violent in context

and, accordingly, does not breach standard V18 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice.

For the reasons above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
27 November 1997

Appendix

Andrew MacPherson's Complaint to TV3 Network Services Ltd - 26 July 1997

Andrew MacPherson of Wellington complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd about

the broadcast of an episode of the cartoon series Beavis and Butt-head which, he said,

screened on TV4 on 7 July at 8.00pm.

The programme, he wrote, breached standard V18 of the Television Code. It depicted

one of the cartoon characters stabbing another character in the eye with a pencil.

Showing this sort of violent behaviour as entertainment on prime-time television, he

claimed, sent the wrong signal to the programme's audience about what was

acceptable in today's society. It was also likely that the programme would have been

watched by young children as well as the teenagers for whom, he presumed, it was

intended. He expressed concern that the violent conduct depicted could lead to copy-

cat behaviour.

In conclusion, he stated:

Having seen parts of this programme on several occasions, I have come to the

conclusion that it has no redeeming features at all and represents the lowest ebb

in television standards. I would be really pleased to see it removed from

television completely.

TV3's Response to the Complaint - 27 August 1997

Mr MacPherson was advised that his complaint had been considered under the

nominated standard and that TV3 had declined to uphold it.

TV3 argued that Beavis and Butt-head was classified as an Adults Only (AO)

programme as the cartoon characters' exaggerated stupidity and extreme behaviour

could only be appreciated by a more mature audience. It was broadcast at 8.25pm and

TV3 did not regard the cartoon as excessively violent in the AO context.

In summary, TV3 stated that it had been totally appropriate to screen the programme

with an AO classification as adult viewers were always fully aware that cartoons, by

their very nature, did not depict real-life situations or behaviour and that the humour

aspect came from the overstated actions of the characters.

Mr MacPherson's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 7

September 1997

Dissatisfied with TV3's decision, Mr MacPherson referred his complaint to the

Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

He commented that the broadcaster was being both illogical and contradictory when it

asserted that the cartoon was not excessively violent while admitting that one scene

had shown that having a pencil in the eye was painful. He referred to TV3's

description of the scene which stated:

Blood spurts from Beavis's eye and he screams in agony.

Mr MacPherson concluded:

If this was not excessive violence in a cartoon I do not know what would ever

qualify for that description.

TV3's Response to the Referral - 10 October 1997

TV3 responded to the referral of the complaint to the Authority by pointing out that

the cartoon was rated AO and in that context was not considered violent. It said that

the theme of the cartoon revolved around the two main characters' extreme stupidity

rather than their violent behaviour or actions. Copy-cat action by younger viewers

was most unlikely as the unappealing "pencil in the eye" incident was typically

exaggerated and emphasised the totally unrealistic nature of cartoons.

TV3 quoted other examples of cartoons which reinforced the "over-the-top" nature of

cartoons. It was TV3's view that the scene complained about in Beavis and Butt-head

was perfectly acceptable given the historically accepted nature of cartoons and the

programme's AO context.

Mr MacPherson's Final Comment - 31 October 1997

By telephone, Mr MacPherson advised that he stood by his original comments and

had nothing further to add.

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