08.09.08
Posted in Beijing, Chinese Nationalism, Internet and Media, Olympics, Politics, Sports, Technology, USA, Wenchuan Earthquake at 13:49 by Nator
“Finally” was a word that stuck out a lot in last night’s opening ceremonies. The announcers said it over and over, talking about the long wait for the Oympics. And after slogging through four hours last night (aside from a short nap during Rogge’s speech), I woke up this morning a bit more relaxed, knowing that the big event was finally here and had started without any major problems.
Even thought the first thing I did after I woke was turn on the Slingbox and watch the NBC broadcast, I couldn’t get that excited about this year’s ceremonies. Having lived in Beijing for most of the last seven years, I have definitely become a bit sick of the endless preparations and was just looking forward to being finished with the whole thing. I’m also not as impressed by certain features of the ceremony that are fairly common in China–large crowds moving in unison, for example.
Knowing all this, I was still surprised to hear Bob Costas say that this event should ”retire the trophy” for opening ceremonies and to read Pat Forde’s glowing praise on ESPN.com (though I did agree with most of his article on opening ceremony fashion). Granted, both of them viewed the spectacle in person, and perhaps many of the best moments just didn’t translate well onto TV. But isn’t TV what really matters? Even in Beijing, 99% of the audience probably watched it on a TV or outdoor screen.
Below are a few of my specific reactions to various parts of the ceremonies:
Surprised: That NBC didn’t bother showing the opening ceremonies live. Highlights were available everywhere online immediately after the event finished, and I imagine that many casual viewers in the US simply watched a couple minutes at work and didn’t bother with the four-hour evening event. I had NBC on via Slingbox all evening, and they just showed The Today Show as usual. They even had a couple hosts talking live from a dark Beijing, while the event was going on somewhere nearby.
Impressed: By the giant screen that ran all the way around the top of the stadium and showed various images during the ceremony–a clever touch, though from the TV broadcast it was often hard to make out what was being shown on the screen….The people flying around, suspended by wires, early on (though not later on–see below for more on that)….The two dancers who painted swirls on the ground with their feet and ands–it was simple yet effective; and it had the China element without hitting viewers over the head….The Olympic rings logo that started flat on the ground, then slowly peeled upward to float vertically in the air….The opening string of fireworks, and the swirling flame racing up to light the the cauldron.
Underwhelmed: The opening drum-light sequence. It looked like they were using flourescent lights, many of which flickered for a few seconds before coming on. And they didn’t really do anything with the lights except to stage confusing countdown with the kind of graphics normally found on ODB’s calculator wristwatch. The countdown started at “60″ but we thought it might have said “GO”. Then they went to 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 9, 8 (by this time the crowd had finally figured out what was going on and started yelling out the numbers) and down to zero. But the time between the jumps of 1 and of 10 was exactly the same–just odd.
Baffled: Several bands took turns playing music during the athletes’ walk-in: a group of Chinese ladies who looked a lot like the 女子十二乐坊 (“Twelve Girls Band“) and played squawky Chinese stuff that I tuned out and that JZ said was commonly heard at Chinese weddings; a group of African(?) drummers, by far the best of the lot; and, inexplicably, some bagpipers, who I never actually saw. I missed NBC’s introduction to this part and didn’t hear any explanation from the Chinese announcers, so I still have no idea why these groups were chosen. It was jarring to hear the switch to a new band every three minutes. And they seemed to have only prepared a song or two each–the bagpipers definitely played at least one well-known bagpiper song (and how many of them are there?) more than once.
Nodding: In agreement at the repeated use of children in the festivities. Not exactly the boldest choice, but surely the among the safest.
Annoyed: At the often frazzled camera work from CCTV. Several times they switched to cameras that weren’t ready–where the cameraman was walking along, getting into position, or not focused on anything. During several sequences, they cut to different shots every second or two, almost like a music video, with no rhyme or reason. A number of views that came without explanation, such as the multiple shots of a certain athete during the “march of nations” without ever telling us who he or she was, or the repeated shots of blue-shirted volunteers/cheerleaders awkwardly dancing and waving as the crowd around them sat in silence. NBC did a much better job, going for longer shots and and generally choosing better angles for most of the scenes. The NBC crew also reacted quickly, switching cameras within seconds to someone whose name had just been mentioned by the announcers. It may have all been scripted, but it felt natural.
Amused: At the difference in the Chinese and US announcers’ handling of the event, especially during the athletes’ walk-in. The Chinese announcers stayed far away from any controversy and introduced each country by listing its strongest events, number of medals won, and other simple (and boring) facts. NBC’s crew, in contrast, used a lot of political background and human interest stories. As China’s athletes entered the stadium, for example, the young boy walking with Yao Ming got more face time than anyone on NBC’s broadcast and allowed Costas and others to talk about China’s population, economic growth, the Wenchuan earthquake, the torch protests, and all sorts of other anecdotes.
Horrified: At the goose-stepping soldiers. I know it’s normal here and in many other countries, but it instantly makes me think of Nazis, and I imagine most other Americans have a similar reaction.
Embarrassed: The birds’ nest and flying dove segment was a hot tranny mess. I’m sure both were very difficult technically and required months of practice. But the ”flapping” of the bird’s wings looked pretty amateur from CCTV’s camera angles, and the human version of the Bird’s Nest stadium made me feel that the hosts were just a little too proud of their new stadium. It’s impressive enough on its own–reproducing it just felt a bit over the top.
Patiently waiting: For audience reaction during the final stages of the torch relay. I didn’t recognize any of the torchbearers, but I expected that the crowd would. Aside from shoe salesman Li Ning, who actually lit the cauldron, however, none of the runners got much applause from the audience.
Giggling: For me, the goofiest part of the evening was the sight of Li Ning flying into the air. Compared to the elegant air dancing in the first part of the show, he looked awkward and clumsy, like some of the poorer flying scenes from the old Superman movies. Except this was a slightly overweight middle-aged guy. The giggling turned into belly-laughing when he started his sideways, slow-motion run. It didn’t help when they had problems aligning his speed with that of a video scroll that was unrolling on the screen behind him. The whole thing caught me completely by surprise, in a bad way. I can’t think of another time when I’ve seen someone of his stature in China do much more than stand politely and perhaps wave to the crowd in a public event….For me, Muhammad Ali’s shaking arm in Atlanta and the flaming arrow in Barcelona were the two most memorable torch lightings.
Overall, there were very few ”gasp inducing scenes” (to borrow Pat Forde’s phrase) for me this year. It seemed that way as well among the crowd in attendance, at least from what I heard and saw on TV (though the NBC broadcast and several other reports I’ve read since indicate otherwise). It was telling that Kobe Bryant got one of the loudest cheers of the night when the camera switched to him for a fews during the walk-in.
What did the rest of you think?
UPDATE: Shanghaiist has a nice collection of reactions to the opening ceremonies from major media outlets and blogs, most of them far more positive than my comments….I wasn’t the only person surprised that NBC didn’t offer a live broadcast of the opening ceremonies….Chad Catacchio has set up a handy feed for the Beijing Olympics on Friendfeed….An American was killed right around the corner today.
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06.12.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Politics, Religion at 18:18 by Little Herschel
I subscribe to daily news alerts from MEMRI – the Middle East Media Research Institute, and an email I got a few days ago was about Islamic fundamentalism in Xinjiang. I’ll let you read the original article on their website, as it is filled with several terms that can get our site blocked.
NATOR ADDS: Check out The Opposite End of China for excellent coverage of Xinjiang.
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05.22.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Wenchuan Earthquake at 19:00 by Nator
Michael Mogg has an excellent description of the post-quake donation fever in China:
Yao Ming, who used to be the darling of China and who inspired so many young Chinese to aspire towards their dreams, is now a liar and a betrayer of his people. All of that is based on how much he donated to the earthquake relief. Chao Yun Fat is considered refuse and is rumored to have given nothing, while Jackie Chan has become a near demigod for his massive contribution. These situations, regardless of their veracity, fact or fiction, have the same ability to show the true face of the people who murmur about these things. And it ain’t pretty.
Sound harsh? It is, but it’s also spot on. Read the rest here. (Anonymoused for those of us in China)
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05.21.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Internet and Media, The Second Tier, USA, Wenchuan Earthquake at 20:02 by SHTig
Chinese netizens express overwhelming thanks and appreciation to the Bushes and the United States
Today George W. Bush and his wife are very popular people in China. That’s not something you’ll read very often. And all it took them was a short trip from Pennsylvania Avenue down to the Chinese Embassay in Washington, to mourn the vicitms and sign a book of condolensces in memory of the Sichuan earthquake victims.
To see the American president bow his head in mourning (吊唁) to the victims plays exceedingly well to a prestige conscious culture that has felt slighted lately. So far, nearly 1800 comments have been posted to this story (in Chinese).
The comments are very interesting – I’d say 90% of them are positive toward President Bush, his wife, and Americans! This is unlike what one usually finds in the Chinese Read the rest of this entry »
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05.20.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Internet and Media, USA, Wenchuan Earthquake at 02:10 by SHTig
The American government donated $500,000 to the China Red Cross. Seems like “the helping hand of a friend”, as the US Embassy’s Beijing website called it. But the Chinese bloggers view it differently. Let’s review the comments (in translation) on one blog responding to America’s ‘pultry’ donation. As you read the comments, keep in mind that the $500,000 donation was from the US government and does not represent American corporate or individual donations. I’m not translating all comments as some were deleted, were redundant, or were just posts of “ditto” to earlier comments.
#2 (Guangdong Province) – America is trash. F*ck all American women.
#3 – They’re helping us Chinese? Americans are real crooks. Everyone let’s take action, put forth your effort to help the injured people in the Sichuan earthquake!
#7 – Everyone unite! Whether America donates or not is their business, but we must help.
#9 – America, f*ck your ancestors, a people born as dogs and raised as wolves, a dogsh!t people.
#10 – commenter posted news that McDonald’s is donating 1,000,000 RMB, and that the Read the rest of this entry »
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05.15.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Internet and Media, Olympics, The Second Tier, Wenchuan Earthquake at 12:11 by SHTig
Chinese are coming together to extend moral support, cash and blood to help the victims in the Sichuan disaster. It’s a heartening thing to witness. So much blood was collected on Wednesday 5.14 in Beijing and Shanghai, that the blood collectors had to turn people away.
Sina.com is keeping a list of companies that have donated RMB 1,000,000 or more. It’s good to see lots of major Chinese corporates kicking in some cash. Several foreign companies with a presence in China are big donors too (Mary Kay, Intel, GE, Carrefour, IDG (venture capitalists putting their money to great use!)).
The French retailer and target of Chinese nationalist fury over the Olympic Flame controversy, Carrefour, has donated RMB 2 million (US$290,000) in earthquake relief. Chinese ‘netizen’ response is mixed. One site has mixed postings of thanks and others pointing out it’s a pittance considering Carrefour “broke the hearts of all Chinese people”, with one posting a picture of a french baby giving the bird, cynicism was expressed here from a user named “son of a bitch little Japan (狗日小日本) that Carrefour wouldn’t have made the donation if not for the boycott of its stores in China earlier this month. But lots of commenters kept it positive with thanks, and one here saying this proves Carrefour is a friend not an enemy of China.
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05.09.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Food, Industry, McDonald's in China, Olympics, Rumors at 16:16 by SHTig
China’s chip over the monks (and Coca-Cola’s LIES about China)
True to our name, Truth from Facts weighs in on the Coke controversy sweeping the Chinese blogs.
Read the rest of this entry »
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05.07.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Industry, Technology at 14:20 by ODB
An interesting article by the Indian Defense Research Wing (click here if you are surfing from China) comments on the threat that China may or may not be posing to the Russian aircraft industry by a copied Sukhoi-27, now manufactured in China.
The article goes on to describe the history of China’s military aircraft industry and how it lags behind the west by some 15 years.
Chinese leaders eventually resolved to rectify the situation by purchasing up-to-date aircraft production technologies. In 1988, China bought production forms and records for Israel’s Lavi multi-role fighter. Sixteen years later, in 2004, China mastered production of the Chengdu J-10 – an essentially Israeli warplane featuring Russian avionics.
As reported last November, J-10 Fighters, based on the Lavi, were sold by China to Iran.
The sale of the J-10 to Iran would constitute a betrayal of Israel’s extensive aid to China’s military modernization efforts during the 1980s and 1990s. Originally encouraged by the Carter Administration in the late 1970s, in the effort to encourage China’s strategic tilt toward the West and against the Soviet Union, Israel sold China a wide range of army, electronic, naval and aerospace technology.
… when the U.S. and Europe placed arms embargoes on China, Israel refused to follow suit. Many Israeli officials supported continued military technical sales to China not just to make profits necessary to fund future military products, but also because they felt that such sales would persuade China not to sell advanced weapons to Israel’s enemies.
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04.18.08
Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Internet and Media, Olympics at 14:41 by SHTig
Dear Ms. Grace Wang 王千源:
We’ve read about your story in the New York Times and seen the postings of your countrymen all over the internet, like the summary of the “Wang Qianyuan Incident” here.
I’d like to commend you on your fantastic scholastic abilities, but if hadn’t been for what happened to you upon leaving the dining hall at Duke that evening, I wouldn’t have known about that. So, I’m writing to say sorry for the mess that you’re finding yourself in, but also to commend you for how you are handling it and yourself. Since I’m a “foreigner”, my commendation is of little value, if not harm, on this issue. But people like you can help bring positive change to China. Based on the attacks against you and your family – both virtual and ‘real’ – you can see that change is needed in China. You and other Chinese people need to be allowed to express a view, on anything, without being uniformly attacked by your countrymen. You are going to get a lot of mileage – and pain -out of this saga, but it is now your saga nonetheless. Please don’t back down and don’t give up. And, to be clear, I’m not talking about supporting the ‘Teabet’ independence / 藏独分子 issue per se, because personally I believe it is and should be a part of China. What I am talking about is much more important than one specific issue. It’s about the freedom to engage in an open-minded discussion about an important issue, about dialogue and compromise. You are seeing what that’s like at Duke. It’s not a clean and orderly process, but it is a beautiful one. You now have the opportunity to be a trail blazer of reform to help your people. I think the great Chinese people deserve the right to not have their minds dictated to them by anyone, and obviously so do you. Keep at what you are doing. Make it your cause. Don’t be afraid. Just like Susan B. Anthony, change may not truly come about during your lifetime, but you can be part of the catalyst for change.
You are a hero and one day Chinese people will recognize that. This too shall pass.
SHTig
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Posted in Chinese Nationalism, Industry, Internet and Media, Laowai, Olympics, Rumors at 12:13 by SHTig
An email petition swirling around the internet (search the Chinese characters to see the dozens of Chinese blogs carrying this):
重大消息: 法国政府准备拿出二千万美金，家乐福自己再拿出五百万美金，用于五一降价促消，听说家乐福高层很狂妄，让中国人在五一降价中挤破家乐福，最好踩死几个人．法国电视台也在积极做准备，拍摄中国人到家乐福疯狂购物的镜像．让中国人自打自的嘴．
如你是爱国的中国人，把此信息传给你的亲戚朋友，不要到家乐福购物，不要为了丁点的小便宜，而丢了尊严，丢了民族志气，让外国人笑话．再不能让外国人把我们看作东亚病夫了.虽然我们的努力可能微不足道,但大家团结起来一定要让外国人看看我们的力量,有良心的中国人转发10个朋友
SHTig Quick Translation: Important Information: The French government is preparing US$ 20,000,000, and Carrefour is preparing US$5,000,000 for a May 1st sales promotion. It’s said that Carrefour’s senior management is insolently planning to cram pack its stores on May 1st with Chinese people, with the hopefully result of causing some people to be trampled to death. French television is also actively preparing to record the mad rush of Chinese shoppers at Carrefour stores, to show Chinese people smashing each other up.
If you are a patriotic Chinese, send this information to your friends and family, and don’t go shopping at Carrefour to chase some tiny discount that will cause loss of respect, national spirit and will make the foreigners laugh. We can’t let the foreigners once again make us the sick men of East Asia. Even though our efforts might turn out to be negligible, by us all uniting together it will show our strength to the foreigners. Good hearted Chinese people please send this to 10 friends.
SHTig’s Quick Comments:
1. I don’t believe this in full, especially the ridiculous part about trampling and wanting the Chinese to lose face. I did go shopping at Carrefour on April 13 in Shanghai. They had a very good promotion running (spend RMB500 on select items, get a voucher for RMB250 to be used within April). April 13 was a Sunday. The store was crowded, but not nearly as it usually is. The checkout line was shorter than normal. Anecdotal.
2. This note has an unnecessary pandering tone to “the foreigners” as it is. Are any of us foreigners really that important?
3. Carrefour is an unfortunate target in all of this (as is the Olympic torch). Can someone tell these petitioners that Carrefour is not a State-owned enterprise, so attacking it is not akin to attacking the French government?
4. One thing is universal with these spam requests — no matter what the language, they beckon you to forward them to others. Would be funny if they had added “send this to 10 people or else your daughter will hook up with a laowai”
NATOR ADDS: I got this letter, with ” 爱国的中国人转发50个 ” (“Patriotic Chinese people please send this to 50 friends”) added to the last sentence.
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