# Thematic elements

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{{Short description|Films ratings board terminology}}
thumb|Poverty and corruption are common thematic elements in film.
thumb|Grief and dysfunctional households are also common thematic material.
{{More citations needed|date=January 2023}}
"'''Thematic elements'''", or "'''thematic material'''", is a term used by the [Motion Picture Association](/source/Motion_Picture_Association) and other film ratings boards to highlight elements of a film that do not fit into the traditional categories such as violence, sex, drug use, nudity, and language, but may also involve some degree of objectionable content.  This rating reason raises a warning to parents and guardians to learn more about a film before they allow their children to view it.<ref name=MPAA/> 

In [Australia](/source/Australian_Classification_Board), the term is equivalent to '''"adult themes"''', '''"mature themes"''' or just '''"themes"''' (which has been in use since 2005).<ref>[https://www.classification.gov.au/about-us/media-and-news/news/what-are-themes What are “themes”?] By the [Australian Classification Board](/source/Australian_Classification_Board). 13 November 2019.</ref>

==Subject matter==
These thematic elements may include [abortion](/source/abortion), [addiction](/source/addiction), [animal cruelty](/source/animal_cruelty), [breastfeeding](/source/breastfeeding), [child abuse](/source/child_abuse), [corruption](/source/corruption),  [coming-of-age issues](/source/coming_of_age), non-violent crimes, [death](/source/death), defiance, [disability](/source/disability) (physical and/or [mental](/source/Autism)), [discrimination](/source/discrimination), [disease](/source/disease), [driving under the influence](/source/driving_under_the_influence), [dysfunctional families](/source/dysfunctional_family), [dystopian societies](/source/Dystopia), [disaster](/source/disaster)s, [existential crises](/source/Existential_crisis), [gambling](/source/gambling), [hate](/source/hatred), [hazing](/source/hazing), [homelessness](/source/homelessness), [infidelity](/source/infidelity), [miscarriage](/source/miscarriage), [mental illness](/source/Mental_disorder), [politics](/source/politics), [poverty](/source/poverty), [religion](/source/religion), [self-harm](/source/self-harm), [social issue](/source/social_issue)s, [suicide](/source/suicide), [STDs](/source/sexually_transmitted_infection), [teenage pregnancy](/source/teenage_pregnancy), [truancy](/source/truancy), [verbal abuse](/source/verbal_abuse), [war](/source/war) and other serious subject matter or mature discussions that some parents and guardians feel may not be appropriate for their young children.<ref name=MPAA>{{cite web|title=Reasons for Movie Ratings (CARA) FAQ|url=https://www.filmratings.com/filmRatings_Cara/#/ratings/faq/|work=|publisher=MPAA|accessdate=30 May 2012}}</ref>

Thematic elements appear in many PG and PG-13-rated [drama](/source/drama_film)s and, primarily, [documentary film](/source/documentary_film)s. In addition, they can also be present in a number of [animated](/source/animation_film), [fantasy](/source/fantasy_film) and [romantic comedy](/source/romantic_comedy) films, and as well as [psychological horror](/source/psychological_horror) and [supernatural horror film](/source/supernatural_horror_film)s.

==References==
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Category:Film theory

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thematic elements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thematic_elements) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thematic_elements?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.