CEA UPDATE 20082409: Clarifying Mature Content

Clarifying Mature Content Guidelines; Nudity and Erotic Work

Over the years we have been functioning with a set of Mature Content guidelines which have been extremely general and open to a great amount of interpretation. With recent reporting behaviors demonstrated by members of the community I believe it is time that we refined the general set of guidelines by publishing the more specific set of circumstances which are available to the staff members who review the reports. By making these more specific guidelines available we hope that the community in general will better understand what requires a Mature Content tag and which will also provide more consistent voluntary tagging of works and more accurate reporting of works which should be tagged but were not at the time of submission.

This article specifically addresses nudity and erotic works where confusion and indecision is most dominant and where we are currently seeing the highest percentage of inaccurate deviation reporting..

The categories below will attempt to address the various situations in which mature content tags are required, may be required, and are not required. In cases where circumstances are listed as "Maybe" artists may omit the placement of a tag on the work with the understanding that the staff responsible for site moderation reserves the right to place a tag if a review of the work deems it necessary.

Please also bear in mind that these guidelines are just that, guidelines and some flexibility remains for staff to judge individual works on a case-by-case basis.

And of course, as always, the presence of a Mature Content tag does not allow the posting of content which is considered to be pornographic and does not allow those under the age of eighteen (18) to be depicted nude or in an erotic fashion.

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Nudity
The standard of judgment for nudity should always be to examine exactly what portions of the anatomy are visible and not visible. We wish to seek equilibrium with a level of modest nudity which is, and has been, shown on the covers of popular family oriented magazines or used in advertising. We wish to avoid placing Mature Content tags on photographs or scenes in which there is clearly nudity but in which little anatomical detail is actually visible

• Mature Content Yes; Nudity and Erotic Work These circumstances call for the addition of a Mature Content tag  regardless of any other factors which may or may not be present.
• Penis, vaginal area, anus or nipples (female) clearly visible.
• Penis or vagina not visible but pubic hair clearly visible.
• Anus not visible but full, uncovered buttocks visible.
• Nipples (female) not clearly visible but clearly indicated.
• Vaginal area not visible but contours of vulva clearly indicated.
• Penis not clearly visible but clearly indicated by shape and /or contours.
• Nipples (female) covered but majority of breasts exposed to viewer.

• Mature Content Maybe; Nudity These circumstances occur when a subject is depicted nude but due to posing, props or other factors the nudity is not explicit but falls short of being considered completely obscured or hidden. In these cases due diligence should be given to judging whether or not a Mature Content tag is truly warranted. Please err towards placing a mature Content tag in cases of indecision.
• Female model topless with breasts partially, but not completely covered.
• Pose of model mostly, but not completely, obscures view of genital region or buttocks.
• Lighting conditions make viewing of genital region, buttocks or breasts (female) difficult but do not completely obscure the region(s).
• Diaphanous or transparent covering make viewing of genital region, buttocks or breasts (female) difficult but do not completely obscure the region(s).

• Mature Content No; Nudity These circumstances occur when a subject is depicted nude but due to posing, props, or other factors the nudity is not explicit. In these cases the simple fact that nudity exists should be considered secondary to what is actually visible and what is not visible to the viewer.
• Female model topless but breasts fully covered in some fashion.
• Model completely nude but posed so that genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) are not directly visible due to pose or lighting conditions.
• Model clearly nude but genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) hidden completely by opaque props or coverings.
• Model clearly nude but genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) covered by diaphanous or transparent prop or covering which renders those areas featureless and without detail.

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Provocative Dress and Undergarments
Standard for determination for modes of provocative dress and undergarments should always be to draw comparisons with “standard” swimwear and what would be considered appropriate for wear in a beach or swimming environment. We wish to avoid placing Mature Content tags on photographs or scenes which can easily be found in any public place occupied by a large number of swimmers.

• Mature Content Yes; Provocative Dress and Undergarments These circumstances occur when the model is posed in a clearly provocative or sexual manner or is dressed in a manner which could be considered more provocative and revealing than “standard” swimwear. These situations should receive a Mature Content tag.
• Model is posed in a provocative or erotic manner and is dressed in a manner which is clearly designed to emphasize the sexual nature of the pose.
• Model is dressed in bondage gear and presented in a bondage or sadomasochistic scene.
• Model is dressed in lingerie which is clearly sexual in design and intention.
• Model is dressed in undergarments which is clearly more provocative and revealing than “standard” swimwear and which is clearly intended to emphasize the model sexually.

• Mature Content Maybe; Provocative Dress and Undergarments These circumstances occur when the model is not posed in a clearly provocative or sexual manner but may be dressed in a manner which is clearly not “standard” swimwear but also is clearly not sexually provocative.  In these cases use “standard” beachwear, magazine covers (USA), and prime time television programs (USA) as guiding examples along with the previous guidelines given for nudity.  Please err towards placing a Mature Content tag in cases of indecision.
• Model is dressed in “thong” style undergarments.
• Model is dressed in undergarments or swimwear with extremely minimal coverage.
• Model is dressed in “modest” lingerie and is not posed in a clearly sexual or provocative manner.

• Mature Content No; Provocative Dress and Undergarments These circumstances occur when the model is not posed in a clearly provocative or sexual manner or is dressed in a manner which could be considered no more provocative or revealing than “standard” swimwear. In these cases the manner of dress should be considered secondary to whether or not the model is intended to be presented in a clearly sexual manner.
• Models dressed in what could be considered “standard” swimwear.
• Models dressed in undergarments which are essentially indistinguishable from “standard” swimwear.
• Minor visibility of undergarments which can be considered incidental in a scene which could be considered devoid of sexual intent.

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Fictional and Anthropomorphic Characters
Fictional characters present unique difficulties in that a large percentage of anthropomorphic characters are presented without clothing, which is nearly standard for all children’s cartoons featuring “funny talking animals”. Characters ranging from Bugs Bunny to Sonic the Hedgehog have been presented to the public “naked” on untold occasions and should be considered the “standard” for judging acceptable anthropomorphic or fictional character nudity.

• Mature Content Yes; Fictional and Anthropomorphic Characters These circumstances call for the automatic addition of a Mature Content tag regardless of any other factors which may or may not be present.
• Penis, vaginal area, anus or nipples (female) clearly visible and detailed.
• Penis or vagina not visible but pubic hair clearly visible.
• Anus not visible but full, uncovered buttocks visible and emphasized.
• Nipples (female) not clearly visible but clearly indicated.
• Vaginal area not visible but contours of vulva clearly indicated.
• Penis not clearly visible but clearly indicated by shape and /or contours.
• Nipples (female) covered but majority of breasts exposed to viewer.

• Mature Content Maybe; Fictional and Anthropomorphic Characters These circumstances occur when a character, with or without anatomical accuracy, is depicted nude but due to posing, props, lack of detail or other factors the nudity is not explicit but falls short of being considered completely obscured or hidden. It also applies to characters lacking accurate anatomical details but who are clearly presented in a sexual manner. Please err towards placing a mature Content tag in cases of indecision.
• Female character topless with breasts partially, but not completely covered, and posed in a provocative or sexual manner.
• Female character topless with breasts completely lacking anatomical detail, and posed in a provocative or sexual manner which presents the breasts to the viewer.
• Pose of character clearly presents the buttocks or genital region to the viewer but such regions lack any anatomical detail or emphasis.
• Pose of character clearly provocative and mostly, but not completely, obscures view of genital region or buttocks.
• Diaphanous or transparent covering make viewing of genital region, buttocks or breasts (female) difficult but do not completely obscure the region(s).

• Mature Content No; Fictional and Anthropomorphic Characters These circumstances occur when a character, with or without anatomical accuracy, is depicted nude but due to posing, props, lack of detail or other factors the nudity is not explicit. In these cases the simple fact that nudity exists should be considered secondary to what is actually visible and what is not visible to the viewer.
• Female character topless but breasts fully covered in some fashion.
• Female character topless but breasts lack visible nipples or any indication that such a feature is present.
• Character completely nude but posed so that genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) are not directly visible due to pose or lighting conditions.
• Character completely nude but genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) completely lack anatomical accuracy and detail and not presented in a clearly sexual manner.
• Character clearly nude but genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) hidden completely by opaque props or coverings.
• Character clearly nude but genital region, buttocks and breasts (female) covered by diaphanous or transparent prop or covering which renders those areas featureless and without detail.