Fw: H-ASIA: China and the Kung Fu Panda (opinion piece)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan Dunch" <Ryan.Dunch@UALBERTA.CA>
To: <H-ASIA@H-NET.MSU.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 11:43 PM
Subject: H-ASIA: China and the Kung Fu Panda (opinion piece)

> H-ASIA
> June 2, 2011
>
> China and the Kung Fu Panda (opinion piece)
> ************************************************************************
> From: Ryan Dunch <ryan.dunch@ualberta.ca>
>
> Francesco Sisci, an Italian newspaper columnist, submitted the piece
> linked below, which appeared in the June 2 edition of the Asia Times. It
> discusses reactions in the PRC to the Hollywood portrayal of Chinese
> culture in Kung Fu Panda 2, and reflects on the "failure" of the Chinese
> film industry to produce a similarly successful movie portraying Chinese
> culture for foreign audiences. Mr. Sisci can be reached at
> fsisci@gmail.com, and if list members wish to discuss the issues raised
> in the article I will forward relevant messages to him. RD
>
> --------------------
> SINOGRAPH Classic tale delivers the chops
>
> Beijing has failed to produce such a smashing and universal success as
> the US-produced Kung Fu Panda 2 while mining its own traditions. While
> some encourage Chinese cinema-goers to boycott American movies, the
> issue is, as frequently posted in the Kung Fu Panda 2 microblog: "Why
> can't we produce such brilliant movies ourselves?".
> - Francesco Sisci (Jun 1, '11)
>
> http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/MF02Ad01.html
>
> BEIJING - It is a cartoon, and thus it goes directly to the souls of the
> people, to the underbelly of the nation, and to the hearts of girls and
> boys who will grow up to be Chinese citizens. It is the supreme art of
> seduction,reaching for the child's spirit in any of us. It can be
> propaganda in its best form - the kind that's so convincing that people
> actually pay to watch.
>
> .......
>
> Certainly, Kung Fu Panda 2, just released in China, was said to have
> "twisted Chinese culture and serves as a tool to kidnap the minds of the
> Chinese people," according to the official Xinhua news agency.
>
> [For full text see the link above.]
>
>
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