Ideas for Monitoring What We See on the Screen

Re “Time for an Adult Conversation About R’s Failure” (by Kenneth Turan, Oct. 2):

I hope Hollywood doesn’t come up with an A rating for “adult” movies. I am an adult, and I don’t want that label attached to movies filled with nudity, violence and profanity.

What about a little truth in advertising? Why not rate these movies according to content: SPS for soft porn and sleaze; UGVN for unnecessary graphic violence and nudity; NSP for nonstop profanity; TGD for thoroughly gross and disgusting.

As for Hollywood’s cry that movies don’t influence our youth, don’t they read the papers? Do they really believe that a constantly increasing diet of sex and violence has no impact on our society?

As for me, I hope The Times will continue with its parental guide to the movies. I find it very helpful in determining which movies I want to see.

M. BAKER

Whittier

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I would like to compliment Kenneth Turan for his column on the flap about movie ratings. It is the single most intelligent, balanced thing I have read or heard in the last several years. I hope it gets wide circulation outside of your normal readership.

C. DEWALD

Los Angeles

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Bravo to Patrick Goldstein for his commentary exposing the hidden and not-so-hidden agendas of the entertainment industry and politicians (“Time for Industry Execs, and Congress, to Own Up,” Sept. 25). However, it is not enough for each side to own up to the truth. Leaving American culture to the whims of the free market can only lead to further degradation of our culture and some form of lame or draconian censorship.

The solution is a National Film and Television Board paid for by a federal lottery for the arts similar to the ones being held in Britain today. With funding that is not tied to the Congress or a corporation, writers and producers will have an alternative source to fund their projects and exercise a creative freedom they have not enjoyed in a very long time. The money from an arts lottery could also help stem the rising tide of unemployment created by runaway productions. I urge the board members of the WGA, DGA and SAG/AFTRA to begin to study the arts lottery in the U.K. and how it can be implemented in America.

And the next time a politician cries crocodile tears while bemoaning the state of popular culture, ask them if they will actively support an arts lottery that would employ and empower American creatives.

NANCY WEEMS

Santa Monica

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In response to Goldstein’s commentary, I have one thing to say: Wake up, parents! Do you seriously believe that legislation or guidelines alleviate you of your responsibilities to monitor your children? There’s no denying the fascination kids have with sex, violence and sugar-sweetened cereals, but no marketing executive is forcing me to let my kids wallow in things that are hardly appropriate for children, or adults.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m still the mother, and that’s more powerful than any ruling Congress can come up with.

KERRIE WHITE

Rancho Palos Verdes