Fall 2008 CCS Chinese Documentary Film Series - No Sex, No Violence, No News: The Battle to Control China's Airwaves

A screening of the film No Sex, No Violence, No News: The Battle to Control China's Airwaves.

November 01, 2008
7:00PM - 8:00PM, Auditorium A, Angell Hall, 435 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

A film by Sharon Connolly, Susan Lambert and Stefan Moore for Film Australia; 2002; 55 minutes (English and Chinese with English subtitles). This unique film examines the battle raging to control China's airwaves. Working with a government that allows nothing of social or political import to be broadcast, entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia bring their full complement of consumerism and mindless entertainment to the millions or Chinese greedy for a glimpse of the outside world. Prof. Leonard Chu of Hong Kong Baptist University sees the arrival of television to the villages of China as a positive development, even with its limited programming. He applauds the new openness, providing a "window on the world." On the other hand, we hear from the director of Shanghai Communications whose only interest is in selling. He sees television solely as a tool for promoting Chinese products in their developing market. Gary Darcy, CEO of Murdoch's Star Network describes how BBC News was cancelled from the schedule because the Chinese government would never allow a newscast from abroad. Dr. Geremie Barme, a widely respected observer of Chinese society says, "Chinese television is a negation of the social contract which provided free educations, pensions, and social services to the people and peasants. Instead, the self sacrificing citizen of the past is being turned into a consumer."