Movies and Television Programs had once been constrained by the Hay’s Code for Motion Pictures which consisted of different sets of rules that forbade nudity and violence. These rules defined acceptable screen behavior and shaped the American cinema for over three decades. However, as the time passed, TV ads and movies broke certain rules and created their own taboos. They promoted sex and nudity to sell everything from soda pop, cigarettes, medicines to even food items.
Now in the age of Internet, where everything is accessible in seconds, it is nearly impossible to impose rules. Taboos are seen as a challenge to be broken, a target to be met, rather than something to be upheld. However, television series and movies still fall under the Motion Picture Association film rating system. The MPA rating system is a voluntary scheme introduced in the 1968, but majority of the people don’t care about the rating system.
Here below are some pages from a 1949 guide to Television Taboos which illustrate certain taboos for actors, actresses and directors.
She mustn’t swoon
You Can’t Do That On Television had a lot more slime than this does.