Hollywood: Hays Code vs Woke/Political Correctness Code

[August1991]

Same difference.

The Hays Code is no different than the current Woke/Political Correctness Code.

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The Hays code was fun, a challenge to test.

[August1991]

I have been watching late 1940s/early 1950s movies. On Youtube.

They are predictable in the same way that current "Netflix/HBO/MSNBC etc. shows" are predictable. Predictably Correct.

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Here's the difference:

Woke is boring. The Hays code was fun.

 

[Michael Hardner]

6 hours ago, August1991 said:

 

Woke is boring. The Hays code was fun.

 

You had 'liberals' against the Hayes Code but supporting the Woke Code.  That's the difference I see first off.

There is some value in establishing humility and decorum as a cultural standard.

1 minute ago, Michael Hardner said:

You had 'liberals' against the Hayes Code but supporting the Woke Code.  That's the difference I see first off.

There is some value in establishing humility and decorum as a cultural standard.

Another thought @August1991 is that maybe the artists buy in to the woke code ?  That would be a different dynamic

[herbie]

Who the hell is going to define what is "woke" in media? The current lot of whiners that think anything they don't like is woke?

The stupidest, most arrogant excuse for a rule I can imagine.

[August1991]

On 7/21/2025 at 11:12 PM, herbie said:

Who the hell is going to define what is "woke" in media? The current lot of whiners that think anything they don't like is woke?

The stupidest, most arrogant excuse for a rule I can imagine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_H._Hays

Hays defined it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays_Code

 

 

Edited July 23, 2025 by August1991

[herbie]

Speaking about entertainment codes and wokeness, I decided to binge out on the old Outer Limits series. Back in the days when a season was over 30 episodes. That show used to scare the shit out of us when we were like 10 years old.

OMH 30+ episodes of the same repeating theme and plot with minor setting changes. Jpsef Stephano produced it and there was a monster which he referred to as 'the bear' in every episode. 
People are critical of Star Trek aliens all having 2 arms, 2 legs and a head but holy shit what an improvement over rubber masks and suits. Sometimes the mask was all there was!
The main characters all drove 1963/64 Lincolns or Thinderbird convertibles but city ahots were all bathtub Nashs and prewar sedans, the mysogny was beyond belief - my God I never saw my Mom faint in my whole life but these women fainted over every minor stress, twisted their arms about their heads and screamed over blown fuses and anything more.

Worst of all every episode ended with a voice over sentimentalizing the morality of worshipping the State defined status quo above all else.
The wokest shows on the air these days are a comparative breath of fresh air.

Talk about total submitance to some authoritarian code!

June:Cleaver "Ward..." (pause) "Don't you think you're being a bit hard on the Beaver?

Edited August 3, 2025 by herbie

[Michael Hardner]

8 hours ago, herbie said:

Speaking about entertainment codes and wokeness, I decided to binge out on the old Outer Limits series. Back in the days when a season was over 30 episodes. That show used to scare the shit out of us when we were like 10 years old.

OMH 30+ episodes of the same repeating theme and plot with minor setting changes. Jpsef Stephano produced it and there was a monster which he referred to as 'the bear' in every episode. 
People are critical of Star Trek aliens all having 2 arms, 2 legs and a head but holy shit what an improvement over rubber masks and suits. Sometimes the mask was all there was!
The main characters all drove 1963/64 Lincolns or Thinderbird convertibles but city ahots were all bathtub Nashs and prewar sedans, the mysogny was beyond belief - my God I never saw my Mom faint in my whole life but these women fainted over every minor stress, twisted their arms about their heads and screamed over blown fuses and anything more.

Worst of all every episode ended with a voice over sentimentalizing the morality of worshipping the State defined status quo above all else.
The wokest shows on the air these days are a comparative breath of fresh air.

Talk about total submitance to some authoritarian code!

June:Cleaver "Ward..." (pause) "Don't you think you're being a bit hard on the Beaver?

Indeed pervasive social values stand out when you watch old entertainments. 

Star Trek was an advocacy campaign for positivism, rationality, science, lots of things.

I personally found it ridiculous the way Hollywood used to overstate the power of the corporate /intelligence complex and running things. I feel a big problem with the judge as they got their civic education by watching conspiracy theory, head of state, and those silly movies.

 

[August1991]

9 hours ago, herbie said:

Speaking about entertainment codes and wokeness, I decided to binge out on the old Outer Limits series. Back in the days when a season was over 30 episodes. That show used to scare the shit out of us when we were like 10 years old.

.....

Talk about total submitance to some authoritarian code!

June:Cleaver "Ward..." (pause) "Don't you think you're being a bit hard on the Beaver?

Disagree.

The scripts of 1950s TV first tested the Hays Code. Pushed the envelope.

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Nowadays, Trump can break the Code because of the internet.