I understand banning something that has underaged sex (or visuals) from ever being produced, but to abolish any film that contains "murder, violence, horror, evil spirits and devils and excessively terrifying scenes, conversations, background music and sound effects," is just plain ridiculous. You might as well ban swearing, smoking, using the middle finger or anything else deemed malicious. Today China's top regulator, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, has announced a list of censorship criteria underlining a current crackdown on onscreen smut and horror. You can read all the BS inside.
Hard on the heels of a ban on an ad featuring Tang Wei because the actress starred in Ang Lee's erotic "Lust, Caution," China's top regulator, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, has announced a list of censorship criteria underlining a current crackdown on onscreen smut and horror.
The criteria, published on the Sarft website, are aimed at "purifying screen entertainment and creating a more harmonious and 'green' film environment for the public, especially children."
China's censorship system is rigorous but opaque, and while many of the categories are already an open secret, it is unusual to see the criteria spelled out so publicly. Significantly, the list was made available as China's political leaders were gathered in Beijing for the country's annual parliament, the National People's Congress.
Films that depict hardcore sexual activity, rape, prostitution or nudity cannot be produced. "Vulgar dialogue or music and sound effects that had a sexual connotation" are also out.
Any content involving "murder, violence, horror, evil spirits and devils and excessively terrifying scenes, conversations, background music and sound effects" is banned as well.
Also nixed are films that "distort the civilization and history of China or other nations ... or ... tarnish the image of revolutionary leaders, heroes, important historic characters, members of the armed forces, police and judicial bodies."
Other taboo subjects include the reconstruction of crimes or pics that reveal police investigatory techniques. In addition, pics that advocate nihilism, environmental damage, animal abuse or the capture or killing of rare animals are on the censor's list.
An exec for the local film regulator said implementing a film classification system in China would be like legalizing porn, and the country won't do it until the market has been "completely standardized."
I have friends who are always bitching about how much they hate the U.S.A., and how they want to move out of it. I laugh at the reality they'd face once moved away, and realize how fucked up many other countries are in comparison! MPAA be damned, but at least it ain't THIS bad!
Can't be more hypocrite than that, just because sometime it's not of their taste they will take it out from the public (let alone from the creativity of the artists) and then say it for the public own good, like if they were children who didn't know better.
In the words of Roger Waters: "Ha ha, charade you are."
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