The Cultural Algorithm

The moment fans have been waiting for is finally here! "Hamilton" is coming to Disney+ ! Fans of the Broadway favorite that "uses hip-hop to tell the story of founding father and America's first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton" have been clamoring for a televised version for years, and it's finally a reality. “Hamilton” is coming to Disney+ ! Fans of the Broadway favorite that “uses hip-hop to tell the story of founding father and America’s first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton” have been clamoring for a televised version for years, and it’s finally a reality. You thought it was quiet uptown? Not after fans got a hold of the news! The historically based show has been hailed a masterpiece for Lin-Manuel Miranda. From its costumes to its musical lyrics, the show is visually stunning and the king of all earworms. But, as most fans will attest, Miranda does not shy away from language—with three instances of the F-word throughout the musical. By making “Hamilton” available on Disney+, Miranda’s hit show must abide by the ratings system set forth by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). This means that the musical’s iconic lyrics, though fun to sing at home, must be censored for a wider viewing audience. Lin-Manuel Miranda confirmed on Twitter that two swear words were censored in order to get a PG-13 rating. “In Yorktown, there’s a mute over “I get the f___ back up again” he wrote, adding that the other line is now, “Southern *record scratch*kin’ Democratic Republicans.” According to the MPA website, any type of content containing more than one strong expletive gets at least a R rating: “A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating.” Based on the Ron Chernow book of the same name, “Hamilton” has won many awards, including 11 Tony Awards (2016) and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. While it is heralded as a modern breath of fresh air on Alexander Hamilton’s history, it is also applauded for casting Black, Latino, and Asian American actors for its original cast. Grab some popcorn and a seat on the couch, it’s showtime!

Netflix released the popular historical drama series “Vikings” in India in May 2020. However, to viewer’s shock it was a censored version. The show, released uncensored in US and Italy, comes with several cuts and blurs as reported by users. The scenes censored depict nudity, violence and even meat!

The impact of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis is reverberating across the world. In the entertainment industry, the incident and subsequent movement are compelling broadcasters in many countries to reassess available content for racially insensitive material. In the UK, an episode of the 1975 comedy sitcom "Fawlty Towers" was temporarily removed from BBC owned UKTV's streaming service as it contains offensive racist language. Scenes show an exchange between characters Major Gowen and his female friend where they refer to Indians using the 'N-word.'

HBO Max, the newest incarnation of the channel’s popular streaming platform, has removed “Gone with the Wind” (1939). This, the company claims, is because it portrays “ethnic and racial prejudices” that “were wrong then and are wrong today.” The film, based on the Margaret Mitchell novel set during the American Civil War, is about a slave-owning family who retain the loyalty of their slaves after the war has ended and slaves are freed. It was first released to streaming in March 2020. “The movie had the very best talents in Hollywood at that time working together to sentimentalize a history that never was,” said John Ridley, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “12 Years A Slave.” Hatti McDaniel, who played Mammy in the film, was the first black actress to be nominated for and win an Academy Award for her role. The movie won 10 Oscars and was one of the highest grossing films of its time. But does that make it a staple of American filmmaking, or is it time to take a long, hard look at what is allowed on streaming platforms? “Gone with the Wind” stands high on the Rotten Tomatoes scale at 91%, and has a G rating. This means it has been deemed acceptable for audiences of any age. By removing it from their streaming platform, HBO Max is not only calling out a film that “glorifies the antebellum south,” but is raising an important question about how films are rated. In his Los Angeles Times op-ed , John Ridley asserts, “I would just ask, after a respectful amount of time has passed that the film be re-introduced to the HBO Max platform along with other films that give a more broad-based and complete picture of what slavery and the Confederacy truly were.” “At a moment when we are all considering what more we can do to fight bigotry and intolerance, I ask all content providers review their libraries and make a good-faith effort to separate programming that might be lacking in its representation from that which is blatant in its demonization.” Some have strongly protested HBO’s actions and proclaimed their support for the film by propelling its DVD edition to the top spot on the Amazon’s online sales charts. Megan McCain, TV host, expressed shock and dismay at HBO’s decision, tweeting, “Are we going to pull all of the movies in which women are treated as sex objects too? Guess how many films we’ll have left? Where does this end??” According to Forbes, “Gone with the Wind” is not retired from HBO Max forever, but instead “temporarily removed…with the intent on returning it alongside contextual content.” The film is expected to return to the streaming service at a future date with an introduction from Jacqueline Stewart, a Turner Classic Movies host and professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago.

According to PWC's M&E outlook for 2018-2023, the U.S. entertainment marketplace is expected to reach more than $825 billion. The report includes revenues from a wide range of sources, including global content creators (Disney, Warner Bros., Starz, CBS, AMC, etc.), multichannel video programming distributors (Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, etc.), digital stores (Apple iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, etc.), and streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc.). In total, these segments represent approximately one third of global revenue in this category. This also considers increasing adoption of various access options, like AVOD, DTC subscription-channels, and SVOD. Given the paradigm shift away from traditional programming forms and access methods, it's hard not to wonder if there is such a thing as "nontraditional" anymore.

Flying DeLoreans, stolen plutonium, and pornographic magazines might seem like classic tropes from an episode of the adult animated science fiction sitcom , "Rick and Morty." But those images are from the 1985 film, "Back to the Future." The 1980s was an interesting time, particularly for movie goers. Are you hungry? You can have bowls of monkey brains for lunch in "Indiana Jones And the Temple of Doom." Do you enjoy animated musicals? Check out Jessica Rabbit's sensual performance in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Are you looking for love? I hear ghosts are giving oral sex in "Ghostbusters." By today's age ratings standards, it's shocking these films were featured in theaters with a PG rating. Back then, audiences had a much different perspective on what they considered lewd and offensive.

There are many different video games to choose from, but they all must receive an age-appropriate rating before being sold. As with movies and television shows, parents want to know what they are purchasing for their children. Ratings help them know exactly what they are buying and how that content is consumed. So, it was surprising Nintendo Switch released the indie game “Do Not Feed the Monkeys” in North America with an “E for Everyone” rating.

Thailand is a melting pot of different people and cultures. At present, over 52% of the population resides in cities. Primarily a Buddhist country, about 94.6% of its citizens follow the Theravada tradition and the remaining 4.3% and 1.1% observe Islam and Christianity respectively . While Thailand is more open and welcoming than other Asian countries, it too, has points of cultural sensitivity. Presented below are a few examples of its conservative side. Respect for Buddhism Religious respect is deeply rooted in Thai culture. Buddhism and its belief symbols are revered, and any gesture of disrespect is unacceptable by person or in media. In 2015, the Thai Culture Ministry banned horror movie “Arbat” citing contempt for Buddhism. The movie depicted Thai monks engaging in misconduct including drinking, consuming drugs and having improper relations with women. Moreover, the Thailand Film Censorship Board stated that some scenes disrespected Buddha. This is not an isolated incident. Over the years, the Board banned several films it deemed disparaging to Buddhism and Buddhists. Political Sensitivity Thailand is quite politically sensitive and films with political content undergo cautious scrutiny in the country. Consider the 2012 film “Shakespeare Must Die.” This adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth was banned by the country’s culture minister citing it would “cause divisions between Thai people” due to its underlying references criticizing Thai politics and monarchy through characters such as a dictator named Dear Leader. In “Symmetry of Splendour,” the independent filmmaker did not release this film in Thailand in fear of government reprisals due to its references to the 1965 military crackdown, albeit it received critically acclaimed reviews around the world. Moral Sensitivity The film “Syndromes and a Century” also received global critical acclaim. However, the director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul pulled the release rather than comply with the Thailand Film Censorship Board’s demand that four scenes be cut. Those contentious scenes depicted characters kissing and using alcohol and Buddhist monks playing the guitar and with a remote-control toy. LGBTQ Representation The 2010 film about a transgender father, “Insects in the Backyard,” was banned for “violating the moral values of society.” This inspired the movie maker, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit to join politics and become the first transgender parliament member in the country. A seven-year-long legal battle for the movie’s release resulted in screening approval for audiences aged 20 and above after a three-second nudity scene was cut. Tanwarin Sukkhapisit also sought an amendment to the Film and Video Act to improve freedom of expression and better gender equality. Thailand is a place of majestic natural beauty with a vital and varied culture. While change is potent and inevitable, Thai citizens strive to maintain traditions and preserve their heritage as they enter each new era.

The Walt Disney Co. might be new to the streaming game, but it is not new to representing the LGBTQ community in its content. It's latest piece , streaming exclusively on its Disney+ platform, is called "Out."