Foul language in Hollywood movies

Did the tail wag the dog? If so, can the dog reassert itself?

Movies used to have little to no foul language in them, though foul language existed in society. In the late 1960’s the restraints on foul language in movies changed to be more “realistic”. The logic seemed fair enough; it just reflected how we spoke anyway. And then it may have been a symptom of the counter culture having its way, again.

Somehow it morphed into foul language for shock value which often meant extra income for movie makers. And a regenerative effect seemed to take hold where movies and society both fed each other in the greater use of foul language for both shock value and just using language. Having been in the Navy and Marines, foul language is a familiar exposure whereby judging the increasing use of foul language in movies is a clear trend to many.

After the recent Live Earth concerts, it is notable how many entertainers commented on the use of foul language by fellow entertainers, and perhaps as a major change in society, vowed not to use foul language in their future public concerts. And the apparent ability of using shock value words to generate movie income is also on the decline. Whether the public is just tired of hearing foul language in movies, or just voting with their pocket books is for the historians to research and argue. The pendulum is definitely beginning to swing the other way.

Some will call the decline of foul language in movies censorship. Others will call it good business practice. Most will say self-censorship is also self-control and good manners.

These days, the most common complaint about the movies probably isn’t sex or violence, but the use of profanity, especially when it’s gratuitous or unnecessary. Is this simple enough?