China bans time-travel movies and TV as 'disrespectful'

[frigidmagi]

blastr

If Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown ever get the urge for another round of time traveling, we know one direction they'd better not aim that DeLorean of theirs—China! Because the country's General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television has decided all that wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff "should by no means be encouraged anymore."

Time-travel movies and TV have become quite popular in China, with much of the homegrown variety dealing with contemporary Chinese going back thousands of years to interact with real historical figures. But it looks like there won't be much more of that in the ... well ... future.

Word out of the Television Director Committee is that:

"The time-travel drama is becoming a hot theme for TV and films. But its content and the exaggerated performance style are questionable. Many stories are totally made-up and are made to strain for an effect of novelty. The producers and writers are treating the serious history in a frivolous way, which should by no means be encouraged anymore."
And as you know, if there's anything we hate, it's those "made-up" time-travel stories, as opposed to the completely factual ones.

We're unable to tell whether this will prevent movies and TV shows that have already been made from appearing in theaters or on television, or whether it only affects the production of new Chinese product. But whichever the case, we certainly hope that Schwarzenegger will set aside that Governator project of his for a while and head back in time to straighten things out.

(chinahush via techdirt)

[The Minx]

At first I was like...

Then... I stayed that way.

Really, this is just some government official with too much time on his hands. The downside of a powerful bureaucracy is silly stuff like this cropping up.

[frigidmagi]

Apprantley the most popular tv shows in China are of modern Chinese going back to classical Chinese times and taking part of events there. Sort like a story of modern Americans going back in time to take part in the Revolution.

[Derek Thunder]

Time travel calls into question the notion of dialectical materialism - Thus, it must not be acknowledged or allowed, lest the communist mode of production become the capitalist mode through backwards causality.

[Steve]

More likely they think the time travel stories are showing irreverence or inappropriate respect toward China's history and past figures.

[The Minx]

Apparently, it's not just time travel, but fantastical stuff in general. Here's CNN's article on it (emphasis mine):

Link

[quote]Hong Kong, China (CNN) – China has been cracking down on dissent of late, as the recent detainment of artist Ai Weiwei suggests.

But the latest guidance on television programming from the State Administration of Radio Film and Television in China borders on the surreal – or, rather, an attack against the surreal.

New guidelines issued on March 31 discourages plot lines that contain elements of "fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking."

“The government says … TV dramas shouldn’t have characters that travel back in time and rewrite history. They say this goes against Chinese heritage,â€

[frigidmagi]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an example of Wuxia and a grand example at that. It's a genre that tends to have lower class heroes learning martial arts to right wrongs, confront corruption and is full of fantasy elements such as super powers, ghosts, spirits and others (Fun Fact, in China Kung Fu Panda is hailed as an excellent contribution to this genre and the US' best contribution to date). This frankly is a regression as Wuxia was banned in the PRC until 1980. I personally love Wuxia and this is a regrettable laspe and only makes me wonder just how damn panicky the Communist Party Leadership is getting.

[Derek Thunder]

I think they foresee a recession caused by the overheated urban real estate market, rising energy prices, and a revaluation of their currency. They certainly don't want a political opposition that can use fantastical martial arts to destabilize the ruling party, as most mid-level state bureaucrats cannot gracefully tiptoe on willowy tree branches, deflect bullets with their hands, or kill an army with lotus petals (at this time).

[General Havoc]

I think they foresee a recession caused by the overheated urban real estate market, rising energy prices, and a revaluation of their currency. They certainly don't want a political opposition that can use fantastical martial arts to destabilize the ruling party, as most mid-level state bureaucrats cannot gracefully tiptoe on willowy tree branches, deflect bullets with their hands, or kill an army with lotus petals (at this time).

Goddamnit, and here I was hoping for an awesome scene the next time a big Chinese protest got started...