Comments on: Seismic politics http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/ The China History Group Blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:40:25 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Alan Baumler http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-108057 Alan Baumler Wed, 21 May 2008 12:20:49 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/?p=428#comment-108057 Leon, As far as I can tell moments of silence are pretty new. Trying to get everyone in China to do something on the same -day- goes back at least to National Humiliation Day and the various national holidays introduced by the Republican governments. I think that for a moment of silence (Which in the West I tend to associate with WWI) you need a citizenry that is a bit more "wired." Although even now not everyone in China is with the program, as this post shows. http://chunzhu.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/enough-tears-to-go-around/ Leon,
As far as I can tell moments of silence are pretty new. Trying to get everyone in China to do something on the same -day- goes back at least to National Humiliation Day and the various national holidays introduced by the Republican governments. I think that for a moment of silence (Which in the West I tend to associate with WWI) you need a citizenry that is a bit more “wired.” Although even now not everyone in China is with the program, as this post shows. http://chunzhu.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/enough-tears-to-go-around/

]]> By: Leon http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-107815 Leon Tue, 20 May 2008 11:18:59 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/?p=428#comment-107815 Prof, I was watching on CCTV International and BBC yesterday the three-minute silence (and lowering the Chinese flag) across China. I was thinking: has this kind of public demonstration of grief and solidarity (in the form of observing a few minutes of silence) been done before in China? A talking head on CCTV had this somewhat odd statement: "It was what the Americans did after 9-11, so that is why the Chinese are doing it now." (I could google the reference later, if the guy by chance had written an opinion piece) The commentator seems to suggest that this is some sort of ritual or performance imported from the West, and China's act of replication is a sign that it is moving towards a "modern" response to natural catastrophes. Prof,
I was watching on CCTV International and BBC yesterday the three-minute silence (and lowering the Chinese flag) across China. I was thinking: has this kind of public demonstration of grief and solidarity (in the form of observing a few minutes of silence) been done before in China? A talking head on CCTV had this somewhat odd statement: “It was what the Americans did after 9-11, so that is why the Chinese are doing it now.” (I could google the reference later, if the guy by chance had written an opinion piece) The commentator seems to suggest that this is some sort of ritual or performance imported from the West, and China’s act of replication is a sign that it is moving towards a “modern” response to natural catastrophes.

]]> By: Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » Market Stalinism http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-107241 Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » Market Stalinism Fri, 16 May 2008 03:05:17 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/?p=428#comment-107241 [...] Frog in a Well looks at how the Chinese government’s trying to manage the news, in the light of previous efforts: [...] [...] Frog in a Well looks at how the Chinese government’s trying to manage the news, in the light of previous efforts: [...]

]]> By: Alan Baumler http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-107166 Alan Baumler Thu, 15 May 2008 17:29:17 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/?p=428#comment-107166 Dear David, No, I did not mean to imply that Qian Gang is an official spokesman, and I doubt that he will go along with whatever line ends up coming from Beijing. I was struck, however, by how easily the quote I used from him would fit into a pretty standard method of managing the media. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression Dear David,

No, I did not mean to imply that Qian Gang is an official spokesman, and I doubt that he will go along with whatever line ends up coming from Beijing. I was struck, however, by how easily the quote I used from him would fit into a pretty standard method of managing the media. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression

]]> By: David Bandurski http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/05/seismic-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-107152 David Bandurski Thu, 15 May 2008 16:22:32 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/?p=428#comment-107152 Professor Baumler: I was amused to see that you had labeled Qian Gang's comments the "official line." It goes without saying that Qian Gang does not speak for the Chinese leadership. Nor has he suggested the Chinese press should be "filled with stories of rescue and grief." His point was to urge his fellow journalists to get as much information as possible out of the disaster area, information reflecting the real situation on the ground, and that could aid in the relief effort. He has in no way encouraged empty displays of solidarity, dramatized coverage of PLA selflessness and the rest of it, as your post seems to imply (if I have your meaning). In fact, he has spoken out in no uncertain terms against such coverage. As today: 一句话，心要热，头须冷。一切大话空言，华而不实的积习，对上负责的表面文章，为电视镜头准备的表演，此时，请统统走开！科学，专业，这是苦难中同胞的生之希望。 http://cmp.hku.hk/2008/05/15/977/ If the empty stories of "rescue and relief" tire you, as they do me, perhaps you should turn to commercial media, like Caijing (caijing.com.cn) and Southern Metropolis Daily (www.nddaily.com). Fortunately, for the moment, they are permitted to report from the scene. I hope you find my comments helpful. Regards, David Bandurski China Media Project Professor Baumler:
I was amused to see that you had labeled Qian Gang’s comments the “official line.” It goes without saying that Qian Gang does not speak for the Chinese leadership. Nor has he suggested the Chinese press should be “filled with stories of rescue and grief.” His point was to urge his fellow journalists to get as much information as possible out of the disaster area, information reflecting the real situation on the ground, and that could aid in the relief effort. He has in no way encouraged empty displays of solidarity, dramatized coverage of PLA selflessness and the rest of it, as your post seems to imply (if I have your meaning). In fact, he has spoken out in no uncertain terms against such coverage. As today: 一句话，心要热，头须冷。一切大话空言，华而不实的积习，对上负责的表面文章，为电视镜头准备的表演，此时，请统统走开！科学，专业，这是苦难中同胞的生之希望。
http://cmp.hku.hk/2008/05/15/977/
If the empty stories of “rescue and relief” tire you, as they do me, perhaps you should turn to commercial media, like Caijing (caijing.com.cn) and Southern Metropolis Daily (www.nddaily.com). Fortunately, for the moment, they are permitted to report from the scene.
I hope you find my comments helpful.
Regards,
David Bandurski
China Media Project

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