Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nudity is the norm. Because
of strict FCC regulations
on nudity, we have to even
be careful of which art we
show. Because I show art fea-
turing naked bodies, my shows
are l agged by the network and, in
some more conservative markets,
programmers play it safe by air-
ing my shows after 10 p.m., when
things are less restrictive. In recent
years, programmers actually got a
list of how many seconds of marble
penis and canvas breast were showing in each episode. h ey couldn't inl ict
a Titian painting or a Bernini statue on their viewership in those more con-
servative communities without taking heat.
Compared to Europe, America has long been laughable in its modesty.
Only American tourists are biking into trees as they explore Europe's city
parks, which are littered with topless sunbathers. But things got serious dur-
ing the last decade (with naughty Howard Stern; Bono, soldiers, and football
players swearing on TV; and Janet Jackson's notorious “wardrobe malfunc-
tion” all pushing the envelope).
“Decency proponents” complained that i nes imposed by the FCC for
these transgressions had been inconsequential. So, in 2004, Congress approved
a tenfold increase, raising i nes from $27,000 per incident to $275,000 (with
many conservative Members of Congress pushing for even higher i nes). Any
station airing anything potentially of ensive (between all the ads for erectile
dysfunction medications) on the public airwaves can be made to pay dearly
if some of its viewers complain.
h e issue of classical art on TV—a nude
David,
for instance—seems okay
for now. But these days, the power of America's moral guard should not be
underestimated—especially with politicians from conservative regions quick
to do what they can to “shore up” their moralistic base. h is has a chilling
ef ect: To be safe, producers are more likely to avoid ideas, words, or images
that some Americans could i nd of ensive.
As public broadcasting stations lack the resources to survive a major i ne,
they are particularly careful in this regard. Many of us who produce broadcast
