Beijing's true face
Peter Hoskin 2:36pm
Many commentators were extremely impressed by the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. And many hoped it represented China showing a new, friendly face to the world. But now details are emerging that all may not have been as it seemed. The latest is that the 9 year old girl who charmed the audience with a performance of "Ode to the Motherland" was miming. The vocal line was actually sung by another girl behind-the-scenes, who was deemed to be less pretty by Chinese officials. Here's what the ceremony's musical director had to say:
"The reason for this is that we must put our country's interest first ... The girl appearing on the picture must be flawless in terms of her facial expression and the great feeling she can give to people."
This may only be a trivial matter. But it's things like this that will reinforce the impression that the Beijing Olympics are little more than a veneer, covering up a more unpalatable truth.
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J H Holloway
August 12th, 2008 3:31pm Report this commentThis is China, where 'face' is the biggest force in society.
Verity
August 12th, 2008 3:44pm Report this commentI was sorry to read this. It demonstrates that they misread us.
Helen
August 12th, 2008 3:49pm Report this commentAs a sign of just how loony the arts brigade in Britain now is, Newsnight had a debate on the opening ceremony the other night.
The artistic director of the UK-based The Yellow Earth Theatre, David Tse Ka-shing, said how proud it made him and others feel to be Chinese and started attacking critics of the ceremony as being somehow xenophobic.
What is the criticism of, though? It's of the irony that so many of the cultural representations featured have been hammered by the Chinese authorities. Nobody was being criticised for their ethnicity, far from it, people were standing up for them where their spiteful government had attacked and then pretended to be proud of them.
But that would have deprived Mr Tse Ka-shing of oh-so theatrically striking a PC pose - pretending to hear xenophobia where none in fact existed. This is now the modus operandi of so many in the PC brigade.
And guess who funds people like this... we do, via the wretched Arts Council of England.
Aidan
August 12th, 2008 4:06pm Report this commentI think the Chinese have done a great job. Do you think there is any way we could persuade them to host the Games again in four years' time?
Familiar Clown
August 12th, 2008 4:32pm Report this commentShades of Singin' in the Rain here, where Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Seldon fronts for Lina Lamont(Jean Hagen). A great musical all round. The difference being, that Hollywood saw the setup, quite rightly as a farce. The Chinese do it not just to create a face, but also to save face. They've probably had an inferiority complex for ages past.
Tom Cobley
August 12th, 2008 4:48pm Report this commentVerity: "It demonstrates that they misread us." I don't think that we (the West) are the main audience.
Ann
August 12th, 2008 5:09pm Report this commentOh, for crying out loud, are ALL British journalists mad and ignorant? This is CHINA, a fascist dictatorship. We have know this for many decades. How long WILL it take you lot to grasp this?
Unbelieveable!!!
Burton
August 12th, 2008 5:54pm Report this commentAn entertainment show with dubbing? Top of the Pops was doing this decades ago.
I think it's odd to have a go at the Chinese for this, it's normal in showbiz.
Besides, when it comes to fakery, we had Blair for a decade. The government dubbed Bush-Rumsfeld's words onto Blair and Straw.
Augustus
August 12th, 2008 7:06pm Report this commentSome say the Chinese government will show its true face when the games are over. But how? Will it start throwing its weight around and bumping up global tensions? Theories abound. My bet is that these Olympics will be no different to any other. After the competitors have all run around in circles, and jumping sticks for three weeks, nothing will have changed - leaving the host city to wonder whether the enoprmous expense was worth it.
Elizabeth Elliot-Pyle
August 12th, 2008 8:50pm Report this commentTessa Jowell wonders how the Brits will compete with the opening ceremony at Bejiing.
Surely, the answer is the Red Arrows.
Oh sorry, I gather that Ms Jowell and co have decided that the Red Arrows are "too British (!) and too militaristic"
Read it and weep, once Great Britain.
Verity
August 12th, 2008 9:33pm Report this commentElizabeth Elliot-Pyle - Have you seen what we're going to send Beijing for the handover ceremony at the close of these Olympics? A black gangsta break-dancing group, as a symbol of British culture.
As you say, read it and weep.
Tom Cobley, the West is the main audience. They got the miming wrong because they are under the impression that we value looks over talent. I wonder where they got that impression from? Been watching British reality shows?
I was disappointed to read that they did this, but it was a mistake in perceptions. They have lost some face over this and they won't make the same mistake again.
At least, unlike the sleaze Jowell & fellow rubbish, the Chinese are deeply attached to their culture and their long history.
Tyler Fox
August 13th, 2008 3:40pm Report this commentVerity, get a job dear woman, you seem to have an opinion on every single topic in the coffeehouse, and as for your "opinions" you sure know your way around google!!
Frank Pulley
August 14th, 2008 8:48pm Report this commentLet 'im 'ave it Verity, I'll cover yer ass! Grrrr!
Verity
August 14th, 2008 11:21pm Report this commentTyler Fox - What do you mean I know my way around Google (capital G, btw). What does Google have to do with opinion? This is a genuine question.
No, dear Mr Fox, there are sere, arid stretches of Coffee House that bear no comment from me.
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