Comments on: Interesting Times (I): Confucius on SARFT

By: Wynci

Wynci — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:52:32 +0000

Interesting quote. But with the last one: “子貢曰：有美玉於斯，韞併而藏諸，求善買而沽諸？子曰：沽之哉，沽之哉！我待買者也。” I’d think what Confucius is trying to say, is that rather than putting a beautiful piece of jade away, it is better to sell it to someone who understands its worth. Just like he himself, is looking for an employer who recognises his value.

By: Richard Sharpe

Richard Sharpe — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:59:58 +0000

Wow!

“This is unlikely, if only because SARFT is just not all that clued-in: they approved District 9 last year even though it was obviously all about Kashgar,”

How can there be so many views about District 9?

http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/alien_nation/

Are you the two of you talking about different films? Was there a different release for China perhaps? Perhaps everyone simply feels free to make shit up about movies.

(Yeah, I noticed the suggestion about tongue in cheek, but if the English I grew up learning is something like the language he employs, then it seems unlikely. The fragment I quoted above, and the follow-on comments about the 高考, were offered as evidence of how clueless the Chinese at SARFT are in detecting criticism of China, although perhaps with respect to the 高考 they simply don’t care.)

By: Bill Dan

Bill Dan — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:57:23 +0000

I recall when foreign (including Japanese) cartoons were yanked from TV here, except for Sponge Bob, and were all replaced with Chinese cartoons. It was the only way to get people to watch Chinese made animations.

By: Frank H

Frank H — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:37:13 +0000

Glad you’re back; had a great laugh!

By: Matt Schiavenza

Matt Schiavenza — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:22:33 +0000

Yongsik,

I think Brendan’s reference to the gaokao and to Kashgar were made with tongue planted firmly in cheek, though I could be wrong.

By: yongsik

yongsik — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:58:55 +0000

District 9 is really more about Apartheid.. no? And Harry Potter related to gaokao.. kind of a stretch.

You are right about cultural protectionism though. It’s the same reason World of Warcraft was shut down on trumped up charges. This kind of thing is pretty much normal in China, but Westerners find it so incredible they have to look for other explanations besides protectionism.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:31 +0000

Great post!

By: Brendan O'Kane

Brendan O'Kane — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:38:18 +0000

Yeah, I read the Warring States Project website every now and then, and always find something new there to spend an afternoon on. Lots of great articles there.

By: Stephen N

Stephen N — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:06:25 +0000

>pointing to a few people online who have compared the plight of the furries in Avatar to that of Chinese being forcibly evicted from their homes.
There was a massive Avatar review on the front page of the 7th of January 南方周末 culture section with the headline “史上最牛钉子户 VS “史上最惨强拆队“. And I seem to remember seeing the forced eviction comparison in at least a couple of other publications. I suppose that might just show how influential internet memes are on the media.
Anyway, i’m sure you’re right about making way for Confucius being the most important factor.

Also, I share your admiration for the work of the Brooks – have you checked out their website (http://www.umass.edu/wsp/)? They seem to be quite eccentric and right on the edge of responsible scholarship. That’s why I like them.

By: Chris Maguire

Chris Maguire — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:49:16 +0000

If you have made a movie starring Chow Yun-Fat that does not include a scene where he is fighting off dudes with a stick, you have completely missed the point of Chow Yun-Fat.