Inappropriate Music

A co-worker of mine asked the other day whether I believed a song was appropriate for a child of a certain age. I don't have children myself, so I find that I am not qualified to make any form of concrete decisions; but I do feel that I have good judgement on what is appropriate. I deemed the song highly inappropriate, but I wanted to ensure that my beliefs were sound. I found a review for the song on a website called, http://www.commonsensemedia.org/, and the site agreed with my findings as well. This site has in-depth and detailed reviews for movies, games, websites, television, books, and music. Below is a review for the new documentary entitled Bully. As you can see, it covers everything that I would want to know about a movie before I allow my (hypothetical) child to see it. It is a shame that parents do not take the time to make sure that their children are not being corrupted. There is so little that parents can do when they are not around their children that it is important that they try to instill morals while they are around their children.

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Bully

(R, 2012)

AGE

2

4

6

8

10

13

1

4

1

61

1 

   

common sense media says

Powerful docu addresses critically important issue for kids.

  

parents & educators say

• 50% say there are positive messages

See all 8 reviews | Review it

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Bully is a no-holds-barred documentary that intimately portrays bullying victims' daily lives. While it's often heartbreaking and deals with tough issues like suicide, the movie addresses an incredibly important, timely topic -- bullying -- in a frank, relatable way that's age appropriate for teens and relevant for middle schoolers if an adult is present to guide discussion. Bully's strong language (including a brutal, profanity-laden scene in which one boy says to another that he'll "shove a broomstick up your a--" and "cut your face off and s--t") earned it an R rating, but none of the swearing is gratuitous. Like it or not, it's a realistic portrayal of what every middle schooler and older hears every day. This gives the film veracity and credibility with kids, and it will justifiably shock parents.

Bully's most challenging material isn't just the language, but the suicides. Seeing grieving parents and friends could potentially be upsetting to teens and preteens, so they should definitely watch with adults. Bully also addresses the concepts of cutting, physical abuse, and more, but in a way that presents the consequences as well as the behavior itself. Victims' parents are generally portrayed as supportive and loving, while school administrators come off in a much less positive light. Ultimately, Bully encourages kids to stand up to bullies, not stand by, and reinforces the fact that everyone can make a difference when it comes to this essential issue.

Positive messages: Bully's powerful, important message is that...

Positive role models: Bullying victims are portrayed sympathet...

Violence: The movie makes clear that the most severe bullying ...

Sex: Not applicable.

Language: The most brutal language appears in a threatening sc...

Consumerism: Various labels/brands are seen, but since this is...

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

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Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

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More on Bully

• what to talk about
• what's the story?
• is it any good?
• movie themes & details

Talk to your kids

• Families can talk about an individual's responsibility to stand up, not stand by. Is that easy to do? How do you think people can really make a difference against bullies?
• Parents, talk to your kids about teen suicide. This is an incredibly tough topic, but one that needs to be addressed. What makes some people think that it's their only option? What impact does their decision have on their friends and family? Where can kids in despair turn for assistance?
• Bullying is often seen as physical abuse, but Bully shows that words are just as powerful. Talk about the different ways that people can bully others; what has the most lasting impact?
• Bully doesn't spend too much time discussing the online/digital side of the issue. Teens: How does cyberbullying impact you and your peers?
• School administrators come off very poorly in Bully, and there's lots of blaming the victim. Do you think administrators leave victims feeling completely discounted? Who else can bullying victims turn to for help?