Oct. 27, 2023

The Battle for Creative Freedom and Look at Censorship Challenges

In many parts of Southeast Asia, creative freedom and censorship in cinema is increasingly marked by a labyrinth of regulations and constraints. By: Wee Yan Ling

The salient factor in crafting an authentic and top-tier film is undisputedly, creative freedom. It is the factor that empowers filmmakers to churn out intrepid works that capture both the attention of the audience and stimulate their intellectual engagement. The lack of creative freedom poses a potential risk of rendering films as mundane, repetitive and overly structured.

The creative freedom is however heavily limited and restricted especially in Southeast Asian nations, with Singapore being one of them. Filmmakers grapple with stringent content regulations enforced by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. This in turn poses an adversary effect in terms of their artistic latitude, frequently impeding the filmmakers from exhibiting their desired and intended narratives. As a result, this slows down the advancement of the local film industry.

On top of that, there is a classification rating system in Singapore which entails, Parental Guidance, Parental Guidance 13, No children under 16, Mature 18, and Restricted 21. These ratings are imposed to help viewers decide whether a film or series is appropriate for their children.

Censorship is another major issue that is prevalent in the film industry. Media giants such as Netflix are a victim of this issue as it faces heavy regulations from governments especially in Southeast Asia.

The key reason behind why censorship is detrimental is because it portrays a more close-minded attitude as opposed to Western countries. While it is salient to note that not all Asian countries harbour the same approach to censorship, there are still general concerns being raised.

Artistic expression can be stifled by stringent censorship. In the name of cultural preservation and societal values, Asian filmmakers often find themselves constrained by rigid guidelines that limit their ability to explore diverse and thought-provoking themes. This results in a narrower spectrum of narratives and artistic expression, which can hinder the growth and development of the local film industry.

For example, Netflix has to put up with more than a dozen government requests to remove titles from their service and this is happening as they are losing subscribers from America and are looking increasingly to the emerging economies of Southeast Asia to expand.

A professional in the streaming industry with knowledge of Netflix’s operations in Southeast Asia said that while the company often pushes back on takedown requests, it believes it’s better to comply with them than risk having its entire catalogue blocked. The professional spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had not been authorised by their organisation to speak about Netflix.

So this boils down to the question, what is being censored and why?

Explicit sexual content and nudity are strictly prohibited, leading to the censorship of such scenes in series and movies. Homosexuality is unlawful in Southeast Asia and, consequently, is not tolerated. Any depiction of same-sex romance or kissing is subject to strict censorship. In fact, intimate mouth-to-mouth kissing is viewed as equally inappropriate as sexual content, resulting in specific guidelines on its acceptance or prohibition. In addition, strong language are also strictly censored however some channels are selective about it.

To add on, censorship can perpetuate stereotypes and biases as the act of suppressing certain topics or perspectives will encourage a singular narrative. This in turn enforces existing prejudices and misconceptions. It also impedes open discussions about touchy subjects such as LGBTQ+ rights and perpetuates ignorance or intolerance.

Though it is monumental to consider the cultural context and local values in film making, the overly stringent and restrictive censorship present in films in Asia can stifle artistic expression, maintain stereotypes and impede the growth of the industry. As a result, limiting the richness of cinematic experiences for both local and international audiences.

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