Smart Signs Questionnaire

Question 1.1.1: Is the production a cartoon or animation for all ages?

Examples of productions for all ages are: Teletubbies, slapstick cartoons like Popeye, Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes.

Question 1.1.2: Is it another type of cartoon or animation?

This includes cartoons or animations targeted audiences other than small children and can contain harmful elements. Examples of cartoons or animations are: Spider Man, The Lion King, Chicken Run, Finding Nemo, Bob the Builder, Shrek and Pokémon. South Park

Question 1.1.3: Is the program a cinema film or a serial?

Question 1.2.1: Is the Programme a talk-show, reality-show, game show, discussion or a magazine (paparazzi) programme?

Question 1.2.2: Is it a documentary, documentary -drama or a news program?

Examples: Arena, Bilim ve Yaşam, FBI Dosyaları, Adli Tıp Dedektifleri.

Question 1.2.3: Is it a cultural-art or a life-style program?

Examples: Life Style, Evim Evim, cooking or car programs.

Question 2.1.1: Are there threats of physical violence or is physical violence used?

Question 2.1.2: Is there an audience that provokes physical violence or approves of its use?

Question 2.1.3: Does the presenter immediately and explicitly disapprove of physical violence or the threat of physical violence?

Question 2.1.4: Are participants mocked by others? (Unexpectedly embarrassed, made to feel ashamed by the presenter, audience or other participants)

Question 2.1.5: Is there a provocative audience that approves of mockery?

Question 2.1.6: Does the presenter immediately and explicitly disapprove of mockery?

Question 2.1.7: Are film clips used that have been made prior to the talk show?

Question 2.2.1: Do the following types of violence occur in program?
1. Physical hand-to-hand violence like hitting, kicking, stamping, wrestling and strangulation
2. Physical torture
3. Violence with fire, beating or stabbing weapons
4. Violence during war

If any of these kinds occur than sign “yes”.

Question 2.3.1: Can the physical violence in the program be actually seen in real life?

N.B.: Some productions may contain both feasible and unfeasible acts of violence. In these cases, pay attention to the feasible acts of violence when answering this question.
Examples of feasible acts of violence are:
the karate fights in Power Rangers or The Karate Kid, the fist fights in Hercules and Xena, fire fights with pistols or an attack using a tank.
Examples of acts of violence that are unfeasible are:
the laser fights in Star Wars and people being blown away

Question 2.4.1: Are there acts of violence that are intrusive?

Violent acts may be more or less intrusive in productions. In the case of intrusive acts of violence, the viewer is given the impression that the violence is in earnest and that this is the intention of the aggressor.

Question 2.4.2: Is the effect of the violence stimulated with images, music or sound special effects?

If you said “no” to the former question, also sign “no” to this one.

Question 2.4.3: Is the act of violence shown in detailed or in extended scenes?

If you said “no” to the former question, also sign “no” to this one.

Question 2.5.1: Are there images of injuries?

Question 2.5.2: Are there images of serious injuries?

Gushing blood, cut throats, chopped or torn off limbs and people who have been badly beaten up.
Examples of productions which include such injuries:
The Passion of the Christ, Pulp Fiction and Saving Private Ryan.

Question 2.6.1: Is there sexual harassment or assault?

Question 2.6.2: Is there a rape or an attempt to rape?

Question 2.7.1: Is the violence act legitimized?

If the violence act performed in the name of social values like justice, equality etc, or performed by an authority – like security foces is legitimized, left unpunished or encouraged sign “yes”.

Question 2.8.1: Does all the violence take place in a slapstick context?

Question 3.1.1: Does the production contain any of the frightening images listed below?
1. fantastic frightening creatures
2. frightening animals
3. Humans, animals or plants transforming in to a frightening creature
4. frightening scenes of natural disasters or accidents where humans or animals are suffered
5. Suicide attempts or suicides
6. execution

Question 3.2.1: Are there images of extremely frightened people?

The term extremely frightened includes: people who are very obviously in a state of fear, with physical characteristics such as panic, sweating, shaking, shock, speechlessness, mass hysteria, screaming and crying.

Question 3.2.2: Are the extremely frightened people always, so in all cases, saved immediately or can they manage the situation by themselves?

This means that the frightening situation in all cases must be solved immediately or in the next scene.
The answer to this question is no if the positive outcome or solution only takes place at the end of the production or in the following episode.

Question 3.3.1: Are there very frightening sounds or sound effects in the production?

Question 3.3.2: Are there dead human bodies?

Question 3.3.3: Are there images of mutilated dead human bodies, like bodies in a state of decomposition, bodies with limbs severed by tearing or cutting swollen by water, or burnt and alike?

Question 3.3.4: Are there horrible scenes caused by supernatural powers, creatures, monsters or familiar living creatures (human or animal)?

Question 3.4.1: Do the frightening situations occur in realistic environments of children?

If you say “no” to the other questions of Fear category then sign “no” in this question.

Question 4.1.1: Does the production contain sexually oriented language?

Example: frequent instances of language referring to sexual acts, sexual insult, coarse sexual jokes and expressions alike.

Question 4.1.2: Does the totality of sexually oriented language occupy a large proportion of the production?

Question 4.1.3: Are there portrayal of sexual acts in the production?

Example: sexual intercourse, portrayal of nudity calculated to cause arousal in the actor himself, another person in the production or the viewer.

Question 4.1.4: Does the totality of sexual acts occupy a large proportion of the production?

Question 4.1.5: Are the sexual acts portrayed in a manner calculated to make the greatest possible impact?

E.g. by extended shots of erogenous zones, moving the camera along the body with particular attention to breasts or buttocks, slow motion or close-ups.

Question 5.1.1: Does discriminatory language or behavior occur in the production?

The term discrimination includes any expression that implies the inferiority of any group on the basis of race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic background.
Discrimination may be: an ‘us and them’ thought process, jokes about foreigners, women and ethnic groups. Sexism or discriminatory depictions of women is also discrimination.

Question 5.1.2: Are the expressions of discrimination or discriminating behavior neutralized by explicitly rejecting discrimination?

Explicit rejection means that it is clearly stated during the production that discrimination is unacceptable and wrong.
An example of a production that explicitly rejects discrimination is 12 Angry Men

Question 5.1.3: Are all expressions of discrimination and racist behavior made by a ridiculous antihero in a comedy?

Question 5.2.1: Is there use of drugs or excessive use of alcohol?

In case of drugs even if it is shown only one time, the answer to the question should be “yes”.
If there is no drug then to say “yes” to this question you should seek the “Excessive” use of alcohol and alike.
Excessive use of alcohol means; the actors consume alcohol in a large proportion of the program and they show vulgar behaviors while under the influence of alcohol.

Question 5.2.2: Is this situation presented in a favorable light?

By presented in a favorable light, we mean situations that clearly express the view that the use of drugs or the excessive use of soft drugs/alcohol is something good and that only has positive effects.

Question 5.2.3: Are there explicit warnings or fight against the use of drugs and excessive use of alcohol?

Question 5.3.1: Is there any unlawful acts like blackmailing, burglary, voyeurism, exhibitionism, detainment, or oppression?

Question 5.3.2: Are these actions presented in a favorable light or the persons committing these crimes presented like a hero?

Question 5.3.3: Are there explicit criticism or condemnation against these actions?

Question 5.4.1: Is coarse language (like slang, swearing, curse, obscenities) used?

If this kind of language is used one/two times and if it is not a heavy one sign “no”. But if this kind of language is maintained throughout the program in a widespread way then say “yes”.