Representing Singapore at the Expo: DURIAN STAR
Made in China ad campaign has its faults
Electrolist: Underground/overground clash again
Hotelist: Park Hyatt Shanghai
China's most valuable asset of the year?
From the New York Times:
Foreign entertainers who have taken part in activities that China deems a threat to its sovereignty will not be allowed to perform in the country, according to a new list of rules posted Thursday on the Web site of the Ministry of Culture.The rules say that the background credentials of performers from foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan will be scrutinized carefully. “Those who used to take part in activities that harm our nation’s sovereignty are firmly not allowed to perform in China,” the rules say.
They also call for banning performers who promote ethnic hatred or “advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition.”
Of this story, a friend of ours in the local music biz said: "Nothing new there. This has always been the case — they just didn't police it very well." Very true. We count four artists listed here who have played in Mainland China in recent years. Sadly, Kenny G is not on the list.
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Most advocates of feudalism I am familiar with died several hundred years ago
Is it just me, or is Wikipedia suddenly blocked again?
And it might help if we start a rumor that Kenny G is close friends with a certain exiled religious leader...
Blocked again.
Anyways, I'm glad it wasn't a case like with Nas where he was rumored to come and eventually didn't. Because if ATCQ was scheduled to come and then suddenly had to cancel, there'd be all sorts of news articles about a Chinese American guy who went and stabbed like 30 people at the Ministry of Culture.
Wikipedia is not blocked -- the particular Wikipedia page I linked to is, though. It's got certain keywords some people don't like.
Try this alternate link.
"They also call for banning performers who promote ethnic hatred or “advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition.”"
China is against this and yet these qualities define China.
If you look at China's netizens, and their proficient blogging skills, you're sure to realize that Chinese people are capable of critical thought (61% of Chinese bloggers write critical content). You'd think that the government would be less condescending in their rulings on what Chinese people can read, hear and see. Chinese people are smart and can make up their own minds!
The government's paranoia at foreign acts is making it the laughing stock of the world. What is this? Saudi Arabia? Why act so insecure and make it look like you're afraid of some guitar player or singers speaking their minds? Who cares?
The Chinese government would better serve itself and its citizens by acting less paranoid and a little more open-minded and trust that its citizens won't go burning down Shanghai because of what Bjork said... come on!