Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
PEN America Calls for Flagging US Films Piggybacked by Chinese Propagandists
Almost every six months, Americans are reminded once again of how communist China influences their popular culture. In Top Gun: Maverick, for example, the flag of the Republic of China on Tom Cruise’s jacket is made to disappear. But James Tager, author of a recent report on China’s cultural power published by the New York-based literary society PEN America, notes that Americans are apt to put behind China’s impact on the US cinema as irritated as they were at first.
In his report Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing, Tager points out that Beijing’s censorship works differently from that in the US, where sensitive material is simply cut out at the start of the editing process after the shooting is completed. With Chinese-style censorship, changes are, frustratingly, often not made clear at the outset and take place in the middle of the shooting. For the most part, though, it does not go as far as it did in MGM’s 2012 film Red Dawn, where digital technology had to be employed to change the Chinese villain into a North Korean in post-production.
But Tager adds that over time, writers and producers will start to engage in self-censorship. Seeing its futility, they will refrain from generating ideas, stories, or characters that break the rules. It is not easy to produce and distribute a film in Hollywood without taking into account the foreign market. Given also the plight the Wuhan virus pandemic has left the US in, the Chinese audience is increasingly important to American studios.
With a quota in place for foreign films distributed in China, competition among them is fierce. The last thing a studio wants is a potential mistake that leads to its production’s being kept out of release in China. It is unthinkable nowadays that a major studio would make a film like the 1997 thriller Red Corner, where a businessman, played by Richard Gere, is framed for murder by the Chinese Communist Party—let alone a film about pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong or China’s anti-Uyghur concentration camps. No studio would dare to take such a risk in face of the 1.4 billion Chinese consumers. It would be commercial suicide.
And not only does this shift prevents Chinese consumers from getting in touch with innovative ideas, but it also allows for a dictatorship to piggyback its propaganda onto American films. Take as an example the 2012 film Looper. Abe, the future leader of the killers played by Jeff Daniels, says to a younger killer, “I’m from the future; you should go to China.” The average viewer will not realize that this is propaganda, much less that it is a major victory for the Chinese government in its effort to increase its authority and elevate China’s status.
In view of this, Tager suggests putting a permanent label at the beginning of all films funded and, in turn, censored by China. It will serve as a warning that counteracts the brainwashing effect the film has on the audience—the same way the Motion Picture Association’s (MPA) rating, shown before every film, warns the audience of the film’s adult content and smoking scenes.
Source: Apple Daily #Aug29
#US #China #PENAmerica #Film #Culture #Propaganda #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iN5w68
Almost every six months, Americans are reminded once again of how communist China influences their popular culture. In Top Gun: Maverick, for example, the flag of the Republic of China on Tom Cruise’s jacket is made to disappear. But James Tager, author of a recent report on China’s cultural power published by the New York-based literary society PEN America, notes that Americans are apt to put behind China’s impact on the US cinema as irritated as they were at first.
In his report Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing, Tager points out that Beijing’s censorship works differently from that in the US, where sensitive material is simply cut out at the start of the editing process after the shooting is completed. With Chinese-style censorship, changes are, frustratingly, often not made clear at the outset and take place in the middle of the shooting. For the most part, though, it does not go as far as it did in MGM’s 2012 film Red Dawn, where digital technology had to be employed to change the Chinese villain into a North Korean in post-production.
But Tager adds that over time, writers and producers will start to engage in self-censorship. Seeing its futility, they will refrain from generating ideas, stories, or characters that break the rules. It is not easy to produce and distribute a film in Hollywood without taking into account the foreign market. Given also the plight the Wuhan virus pandemic has left the US in, the Chinese audience is increasingly important to American studios.
With a quota in place for foreign films distributed in China, competition among them is fierce. The last thing a studio wants is a potential mistake that leads to its production’s being kept out of release in China. It is unthinkable nowadays that a major studio would make a film like the 1997 thriller Red Corner, where a businessman, played by Richard Gere, is framed for murder by the Chinese Communist Party—let alone a film about pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong or China’s anti-Uyghur concentration camps. No studio would dare to take such a risk in face of the 1.4 billion Chinese consumers. It would be commercial suicide.
And not only does this shift prevents Chinese consumers from getting in touch with innovative ideas, but it also allows for a dictatorship to piggyback its propaganda onto American films. Take as an example the 2012 film Looper. Abe, the future leader of the killers played by Jeff Daniels, says to a younger killer, “I’m from the future; you should go to China.” The average viewer will not realize that this is propaganda, much less that it is a major victory for the Chinese government in its effort to increase its authority and elevate China’s status.
In view of this, Tager suggests putting a permanent label at the beginning of all films funded and, in turn, censored by China. It will serve as a warning that counteracts the brainwashing effect the film has on the audience—the same way the Motion Picture Association’s (MPA) rating, shown before every film, warns the audience of the film’s adult content and smoking scenes.
Source: Apple Daily #Aug29
#US #China #PENAmerica #Film #Culture #Propaganda #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iN5w68
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Hanbok or Hanfu? Chinese Dress Up Game Sparks Debate, South Korean Professor Demands Apology from Developer
Shining Nikki, a dress up game by the Chinese developer Papergames, has caused controversy earlier for launching a Korean-style outfit named “Gunyun Chonghua”. The outfit drew criticism from a number of Chinese players, who claimed it was not Korean hanbok but hanfu from the Ming dynasty, while some Korean players insisted that it is hanbok. As the row intensified, the developer closed its newly opened server in Korea while slamming some of its Korean players for having “insulted China” and stepped over the line. The shutdown did not put an end to the quarrel. According to the Yonhap News Agency, Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at South Korea’s Sungshin Women’s University, has written to Papergames in protest of the way it handled the incident and demanded that it apologize to South Korean netizens.
Source: Stand News #Nov26
#SouthKorea #China #Papergames #ShiningNikki #Games #Culture
https://bit.ly/3g5ebk8
Shining Nikki, a dress up game by the Chinese developer Papergames, has caused controversy earlier for launching a Korean-style outfit named “Gunyun Chonghua”. The outfit drew criticism from a number of Chinese players, who claimed it was not Korean hanbok but hanfu from the Ming dynasty, while some Korean players insisted that it is hanbok. As the row intensified, the developer closed its newly opened server in Korea while slamming some of its Korean players for having “insulted China” and stepped over the line. The shutdown did not put an end to the quarrel. According to the Yonhap News Agency, Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at South Korea’s Sungshin Women’s University, has written to Papergames in protest of the way it handled the incident and demanded that it apologize to South Korean netizens.
Source: Stand News #Nov26
#SouthKorea #China #Papergames #ShiningNikki #Games #Culture
https://bit.ly/3g5ebk8
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
South Korea plans to build a “Chinese Cultural City”, more than 600,000 people jointly signed against, denounce China’s stealing of kimchi and other culture
Some reports stated that South Korea Gangwon do plans a project of building “Chinese Cultural City”, which caused local people to oppose. According to Korea Blue House’s petition website, there were already more than 601,000 people signed as of Monday morning (19April) in Hong Kong time, which claimed the local government revokes that project. Since the petition number is more than 200,000, the government needs to response.
According to Korea English media The Korea Herald, Gangwon do and Chinese People signed a business agreement in 2019. That is, to build a Chinatown in Chuncheon Si and Hongcheon Si, the scale will be 10 times of the Incheon’s. That project is being stated for using revitalizing domestic tourism.
The organiser of the petition judged why it must build a small China inside Korea and stated that the publics do not understand why people need to experience Chinese culture on their land, they strongly oppose the project. The organiser also stated, they opposed Gangwon do build hotels for Chinese tourists, and said the site is the largest historical site in the world, and many cultural relics have been excavated. He said, China tries to steal kimchi, hanbok and other culture which are unique to Korea, they should against China.
Source: Stand News #Apr19
https://bit.ly/3dBx1Qg
#Korea #Culture #China #Chinatown #Petition #Kimchi #Hanbok
Some reports stated that South Korea Gangwon do plans a project of building “Chinese Cultural City”, which caused local people to oppose. According to Korea Blue House’s petition website, there were already more than 601,000 people signed as of Monday morning (19April) in Hong Kong time, which claimed the local government revokes that project. Since the petition number is more than 200,000, the government needs to response.
According to Korea English media The Korea Herald, Gangwon do and Chinese People signed a business agreement in 2019. That is, to build a Chinatown in Chuncheon Si and Hongcheon Si, the scale will be 10 times of the Incheon’s. That project is being stated for using revitalizing domestic tourism.
The organiser of the petition judged why it must build a small China inside Korea and stated that the publics do not understand why people need to experience Chinese culture on their land, they strongly oppose the project. The organiser also stated, they opposed Gangwon do build hotels for Chinese tourists, and said the site is the largest historical site in the world, and many cultural relics have been excavated. He said, China tries to steal kimchi, hanbok and other culture which are unique to Korea, they should against China.
Source: Stand News #Apr19
https://bit.ly/3dBx1Qg
#Korea #Culture #China #Chinatown #Petition #Kimchi #Hanbok
立場新聞 Stand News
韓國擬建「中國文化城」 逾 60 萬人聯署反對 斥中國偷取泡菜等文化 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
有報道指韓國江原道擬建設「中國文化城」項目，引起當地市民反對。韓國青瓦台請願網站顯示，截至香港時間周一（19 ...
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
China bans celebrity rankings in bid to ‘rectify chaos in the fan community’
Chinese authorities have banned online lists ranking celebrities by popularity, as regulators continue a drive to “clean up” fame and fandom culture.
According to regulations published in state media, all existing lists that rank Chinese stars must also be removed from the internet.
Only lists that rank works such as songs, films and TV shows can be published but they must reduce the emphasis on likes and comments, and instead “increase the weight of indicators like work orientation and professional evaluation”.
Source: The Guardians #Aug27
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/27/china-bans-celebrity-rankings-in-bid-to-rectify-chaos-in-the-fan-community?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #Chaos #Fan #Culture
Chinese authorities have banned online lists ranking celebrities by popularity, as regulators continue a drive to “clean up” fame and fandom culture.
According to regulations published in state media, all existing lists that rank Chinese stars must also be removed from the internet.
Only lists that rank works such as songs, films and TV shows can be published but they must reduce the emphasis on likes and comments, and instead “increase the weight of indicators like work orientation and professional evaluation”.
Source: The Guardians #Aug27
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/27/china-bans-celebrity-rankings-in-bid-to-rectify-chaos-in-the-fan-community?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #Chaos #Fan #Culture
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PopMusic #Censorship
Top Ranking Song Mocking Chinese nationalists Banned in China and Delisted from HK-based streaming app
Malaysian rapper #Namewee and Taiwan-based Australian singer #KimberlyChen Fang-yu rolled out a Mandopop song titled "#Fragile" (玻璃心, or literally meaning "#GlassHeart"), on Youtube in mid-October 2021.
The term "glass heart" is commonly used to describe nationalist Chinese netizens who become easily upset when a social media post attacks the Chinese Comminist Party (#CCP).
While the song can be interpreted as a love song, the music video satirizes the CCP and nationalist Chinese netizens
(aka "#LittlePinks") through the extensive use of the color pink, simplified Chinese subtitles, and a giant and clumsy panda.
References are made to China's claims to Taiwan, bat soup representing COVID19, the Great Firewall, and #XiJingping's latest political campaign Common Prosperity.
The song hit the internet with an overwhelming popularity, receiving over 10 million Youtube views in just first few days.
The pro-China netizens criticized the lyrics for "inflicting insults on China", leading to both the ban of the singers in China and the removal of their #Weibo accounts.
In response, Namewee wrote on his Facebook page pointing out that the song has reflected a general trend as more people are realizing CCP's oppression and encroachment. The artist said, "[this song is] not so amazing, it's just a mirror."
Commenting on the freedom of expression in artistic creation, Namewee said, "If I have to give up creative freedom and my ideals, this goes against any artististic pursuit. I would rather stop creating."
Namewee added in his comment that with the growing number of supporters, he would consider leveraging their influence to resist and protest against authoritarianism.
He said, "I believe if one remains silent in the face of iron fist, it would foster and reinforce them [authoritarianism]. Until one day, the iron fist hits your head as it spares no one."
On October 27, 2011, the Hong Kong-based music app, #MOOV, was found delisted the song from its app. Netizens slammed the music app, calling it "#FragileMOOV".
Source: Stand News #Oct25; as1 entertainment #Oct27
https://thestandnews.page.link/v8e74czAgLL9oV6Z8/
#PopCulture #PopSong #MandoPop #MOOV #Delist #Creativity #Art #Culture #MusicVideo #Ban
Top Ranking Song Mocking Chinese nationalists Banned in China and Delisted from HK-based streaming app
Malaysian rapper #Namewee and Taiwan-based Australian singer #KimberlyChen Fang-yu rolled out a Mandopop song titled "#Fragile" (玻璃心, or literally meaning "#GlassHeart"), on Youtube in mid-October 2021.
The term "glass heart" is commonly used to describe nationalist Chinese netizens who become easily upset when a social media post attacks the Chinese Comminist Party (#CCP).
While the song can be interpreted as a love song, the music video satirizes the CCP and nationalist Chinese netizens
(aka "#LittlePinks") through the extensive use of the color pink, simplified Chinese subtitles, and a giant and clumsy panda.
References are made to China's claims to Taiwan, bat soup representing COVID19, the Great Firewall, and #XiJingping's latest political campaign Common Prosperity.
The song hit the internet with an overwhelming popularity, receiving over 10 million Youtube views in just first few days.
The pro-China netizens criticized the lyrics for "inflicting insults on China", leading to both the ban of the singers in China and the removal of their #Weibo accounts.
In response, Namewee wrote on his Facebook page pointing out that the song has reflected a general trend as more people are realizing CCP's oppression and encroachment. The artist said, "[this song is] not so amazing, it's just a mirror."
Commenting on the freedom of expression in artistic creation, Namewee said, "If I have to give up creative freedom and my ideals, this goes against any artististic pursuit. I would rather stop creating."
Namewee added in his comment that with the growing number of supporters, he would consider leveraging their influence to resist and protest against authoritarianism.
He said, "I believe if one remains silent in the face of iron fist, it would foster and reinforce them [authoritarianism]. Until one day, the iron fist hits your head as it spares no one."
On October 27, 2011, the Hong Kong-based music app, #MOOV, was found delisted the song from its app. Netizens slammed the music app, calling it "#FragileMOOV".
Source: Stand News #Oct25; as1 entertainment #Oct27
https://thestandnews.page.link/v8e74czAgLL9oV6Z8/
#PopCulture #PopSong #MandoPop #MOOV #Delist #Creativity #Art #Culture #MusicVideo #Ban
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Art
#Brescia Exhibits #Badiucao's Artwork that Mocks Beijing’s #Propaganda
Defying the calls of the Chinese government to cancel an exhibition in a northern Italian city, #Brescia is hosting the first international solo exhibition by the 35-year-old artist, #Badiucao, an exile from China who now lives in Australia.
Displaying a torture instrument such as a rocking chair, dissident artist Badiucao mocks the propaganda of Beijing in this exhibition named “China is (not) near”.
The show denounces political repression in China and the country’s censorship of the origin of #Covid19.
Beijing responded to the exhibition in anger, accusing Badiucao’s works of being “full of anti-Chinese lies” that “jeopardise the friendly relations between China and Italy”. The PRC's embassy in Rome sent a letter to Brescia’s town hall.
Deputy Mayor #LauraCastelletti responded, “None of us in Brescia, neither in the city council nor among the citizens, had the slightest doubt about this exhibition going ahead.”
"Brescia, known for its Roman ruins, has a long tradition of welcoming dissidents, painters and writers, in defence of artistic freedom”, she added.
In an interview, Badiucao, who is nicknamed the Chinese #Banksy said he is “very happy and proud” that the city “had the courage to say ‘no’ to China to defend fundamental rights.”
Source: Radio Free Asia; #Nov13
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/11-11132021172450.html/ampRFA
#ProtestArt #WolfWarrior #FreedomofExpression #Creativity #Italy #NoToChina #Culture #Exhibition
#Brescia Exhibits #Badiucao's Artwork that Mocks Beijing’s #Propaganda
Defying the calls of the Chinese government to cancel an exhibition in a northern Italian city, #Brescia is hosting the first international solo exhibition by the 35-year-old artist, #Badiucao, an exile from China who now lives in Australia.
Displaying a torture instrument such as a rocking chair, dissident artist Badiucao mocks the propaganda of Beijing in this exhibition named “China is (not) near”.
The show denounces political repression in China and the country’s censorship of the origin of #Covid19.
Beijing responded to the exhibition in anger, accusing Badiucao’s works of being “full of anti-Chinese lies” that “jeopardise the friendly relations between China and Italy”. The PRC's embassy in Rome sent a letter to Brescia’s town hall.
Deputy Mayor #LauraCastelletti responded, “None of us in Brescia, neither in the city council nor among the citizens, had the slightest doubt about this exhibition going ahead.”
"Brescia, known for its Roman ruins, has a long tradition of welcoming dissidents, painters and writers, in defence of artistic freedom”, she added.
In an interview, Badiucao, who is nicknamed the Chinese #Banksy said he is “very happy and proud” that the city “had the courage to say ‘no’ to China to defend fundamental rights.”
Source: Radio Free Asia; #Nov13
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/11-11132021172450.html/ampRFA
#ProtestArt #WolfWarrior #FreedomofExpression #Creativity #Italy #NoToChina #Culture #Exhibition
Radio Free Asia
意大利城市力挺 中国异议创作人巴丢草如期开展
Forwarded from Crossroads with JOSHUA PHILIPP
The Chinese regime is pushing programs for “mind dominance” using social media. Studies show #social networks impact a person’s views, and this is now raising concerns over foreign manipulation for #culture war, especially as #TikTok’s harmful nature gets exposed.
Meanwhile, a new “healthcare” agenda is being rolled out in countries with social #medicine, where people are being encouraged to be killed by their doctors with assisted suicide.
WATCH: https://ept.ms/TheMenticideAgenda
Meanwhile, a new “healthcare” agenda is being rolled out in countries with social #medicine, where people are being encouraged to be killed by their doctors with assisted suicide.
WATCH: https://ept.ms/TheMenticideAgenda
EpochTV
Social Media Being Used for Menticide Agendas; Canada Funds Suicide Book for Children
The Chinese regime is pushing programs for “mind dominance” using social media. Studies show the impact social networks have on a person’s views and opinio...