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Beijing castrates "Happy Boy voices"
Usually, such regulation follow a general code based around public propriety. For example; no exposed breasts before 10pm or after 6am and not dropping of the F-bomb when children might be watching. However, as usual, things are a little "different" in China - A country where state regulation reaches a whole new level - as evidenced by a recent set of instruction handed out to the producers of 快乐男声 (Happy Boy voices); a Chinese clone of the western smash hit "Idol" franchise in which singers preform for the audience, who then vote for their favorite contestant using the telephone via SMS messaging.
Regulation, Regulation, Regulation
Despite being non political, containing no historical content, and being aimed at a family audience, Happy Boy voices has attracted considerable attention from 国家广播电影电视总局 (the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television): China's audio/video regulatory commission which has, this month, issued its producers with an 11 point content control edict setting out what it must and must not do in order to reach broadcast standards.
Among the condition set out are that contestants will only be permitted to preform songs that officials considered to be "healthy and ethically inspiring", and that they must behave, speak and dress in a manner that is considered to be compatible with the main body of Chinese society. Contestants are also prohibited from having outlandish hairstyles, or from engaging in any form of exhibitionism that could be considered "low brow" 参赛选手的台风、语言、发型、饰品、服装要符合大众审美观念，不能低级媚俗 "Participants manner, language, hairstyles, accessories, and costumes must conform to the values held by the masses, and they cannot be low brow or vulgar" 不能追求怪异 The must not pursue weirdness 要认真选好评委、评委要具有权威性、专业性及良好的艺德和广泛的社会影响. 评委点评要实事求是、平等善意、不搞不切实际的吹捧、不搞令参赛选手难堪的责难挖苦、不以非理性的褒贬来取代知识性的引导。 [The producers] must carefully select the judges, they must be authoritative, foster professional skills and expertise and a good social image. Judges must be realistic, even handed, not offer unrealistic flattery, not embarrass contestants by scolding or taunting them, and must make decision based on logic rather than irrational factors.
Additionally, contestants are also expressly forbidden from engaging in any form of "Weirdness" while on stage.
The 11 point edict also mandated that, in order to "maintain a happy atmosphere", producers should avoid broadcasting scenes of screaming fans or tearful loosing contestants on the ground that they might provoke an undignified reaction among television audiences, and that they must select the show's Judges on grounds of professionalism and character rather than on their public profile. Judges are also forbid competition judges from "from mocking or humiliating contestants" ala "American Idol"'s Simon Cowell.
Why?
Why issue such a list, you may ask? Well, the answer is simple. Beijing does not want there to be a repeat of the events surrounding the show's predecessor, 超级女声 (Super girl Voices).
Super girl Voices, also known as the "Mengniu Yogurt Super Girl Contest" (after its sponsor), was broadcast nationally by Hunan TV in 2004. It was an instant hit, and Its 2005 final attracted an estimated 400 million viewers (approximately 1/3 of Mainland China's population), outstripping shows on CCTV: the Chinese State network, and making it the most popular show in Chinese television history. However, despite it's popularity with the people, the show attracted considerable scorn form China's leaders, who saw it as being "a danger to social order".
Public
In public, Beijing condemned Super girl Voices as being a "vulgar" and "exploitative" franchise that encouraged people to behave contrary to traditional Chinese social and cultural values by encouraging them to act and dress flamboyantly and to attempt to appeal to audiences through style rather than substance, for trivial reasons. "Why let these kids make fools of themselves on TV to satisfy some people's desire for novel entertainment?"
Officials also criticized the show for having a very open format that enabled contestants to preform pieces using regional musical styles and dialect words/term other than those originating from China's dominant Han ethnic groups, or even those from foreign countries. Something which Beijing strongly frowns upon because of it detracts from the image of China as a single disambiguated entity.
As a result, Beijing's 11 point edict now effectively prohibits Happy Boy voices contestant from wearing costumes or preforming songs that either come from, or are inspired by, European or Japanese culture. They also makes it hazardous for contestants to draw similar inspiration from any of China's ethnic groups if said groups diverges significantly from the dominant Han culture.
Private
While Chinese officials publicly expressed outrage at the show's format, they privately expressed other concerns. Foremost among these concerns was a sense of alarm at the public response to the telephone/text voting aspect of the show.
"It's like a gigantic game that has swept so many people into a euphoria of voting, which is a testament of a society opening up."
Up until the national debut of Super Girl voices, mass public involvement in decision making was almost unknown in China, and the screening of the show created a considerable stir that saw Chinese eager to participate in the process, and even more eager to discuss the prospects and concept of mass participation. As such, Chinese leaders feared that mass audience participation might spread to other entertainment franchises, leading the public to see mass participation as being an acceptable norm and a part of Chinese society. Something that Beijing wishes to avoid because of it's potential to encourage people to question why they are currently unable to participate in important issues like the selection of regional and national government, or the dictation of state policy.
Official fears were exemplified by the fact that fans of the leading singers went so far as to organize structured social groups based around their chosen idol, and to engage in active campaigning on their behalf in an attempt to get their friends and families to vote for said singer. Under slightly different other circumstances, such actions could result in a 10 year jail term.
It is not known exactly how Beijing attempts to get round the voting issue, though China watchers voice that Beijing is likely to encourage the notion that voting for contestants is a fun activity that should not be taken seriously, and which is purely a part of youth culture.
China watchers have also voiced that Beijing may hope that the fact that this year's contest will have more Chinese characteristics (courtesy of point number 6 on the list), may reduce public association between voting for a singer in China and voting in other issues overseas while at the same time reducing the exotic or exciting sensation of participating by reducing its association with exotic or exciting ideas from other countries.
As a former musician in Shanghai, I see the utter ridiculous nature of the
state dultural ministry. Whereas most other ministries actually have an
important part in China's reform and opening evolution, the cultural
prognosticators seem only to grasp at pre-1979 ethics and values. They are
completely obsolete, but as a bureaucracy they must enact these silly laws
to appear viable.
There are "other" forces at work here which I will mention in a follow up
piece. Let's just say that CCTV was rather 'embarrassed' by Super Girl.
On first reaction, I tend to believe that the KTV copyright registration
leans toward genuine IPR issues. This is because I have never seen actual
"banned" music at KTVs in the first place, such as the popular Taiwan
rapper MC Hotdog.
Interesting, humorous and maybe appropriate typo all along: "preform"
instead of "perform". The government "preforms" what the participants
"perform".
Very interesting post, I had read the news regarding the new regulations
for "à la Idol" Chinese TV shows, and considering the commercial success of
Super Girls, I was wondering why the Chinese administration would implement
such strict guidelines. The millions of voting Chinese is something I
haven't given much thought to until now.
-Ben
These regulations which were destained by you in fact are for the
constestants' good, for only the styles which conform to most of Chinese
people can be really accepted and gain a success. Western culture can
embrace those 'distinguish' performance, but it is different from the
Chinese culture----- Chinese people don't like extremism. So, the weired
style is not rejected by the government, but is the choice of overall
audience. Anyway thank you for your 'concern' for chinese audience, which
they don't need, however.
China has many ethnic people, what might seem "weird" to you might be a
5000 year old custom from a different part of China.