Green Dam(n) Girl: First Draft

With all of the fun little avatars and Moe-Chan's going around in relation to Beijing's notorious Green Dam(n) censorship software, ACB though that they would throw something into the fray. Of course, not being a natural artist this presented a few problems. After all, talent is usually an essential factor in any artwork. Except, of course, in the case of modern art, where talent is not required.

None the less, here is the first draft of ACB's Green Dam(n) girl art work.

This image is heavily based on the "Green Dam Girl V Windows XP" image found at Hecaitou (http://www.hecaitou.net/?p=5770), but with some slight variation. It is also, in no small part inspired by the worst enemy of every teenage girl far enough into puberty to feel embarrassed by it, but not far enough to take full advantage of it. This being the nasty snotty pre pubescent girl who you're not allowed to hit. Usually a younger cousin or the child of one of your mother's friends. The one who thinks that it's funny to chant whatever the local version of ".... and ... sitting in a tree K I S S I N G" is whenever you see a boy that you like but are too shy to talk to. Or who takes your diary and threatens to show everybody. That one.

Whereas most of the Green Dam(n) girl pictures are drawn in an Asian style. Usually Japanese Moe-personification, ACD though that it would make a change to use a slightly different style. This one is part Western 4-color comic book and part Communist poster paint.

ACB Chose the concept of a girl looking up a teenager's skirt for several reasons. Other than the shock value (Well, it's shocking by Chiense standards, but pretty mild by Western measures) it's a great metaphor for what is happening on the Mainland.

The Chinese people are at an awkward and fledgling stage in the development of online freedom of expression. They are taking their first tentative steps towards adulthood, but they are not quite there. The Chinese Internet teen is breaking some of the rules, and bending other. Sometimes it stays out past curfew, sometimes it hangs out with that foreign boy that mom and dad in Beijing don't approve of. But in generally it is just looking to find itself and to express itself in the face of the strict parent that the government is. Then along comes Green Dam(n) girl. An unwelcome upstart brat who threatens to tell mom and dad on you, and to make your life miserable by ensuring that China, the uncertain Internet teen, doesn't get a moment's privacy.Just like the annoying pre pubescent interloper Green Dam(n) Girl spies on you, rummages through your stuff, and generally does her best to get you into trouble. And you just can't give her that all important slap up side the head that she so richly deserves because she's more or less untouchable. The best that you can hope to do is to hide your diary and to put a padlock on your underwear draw. But even then she's waiting round the corner ready to ambush you, and to lift your skirt up in front of the world. Those of you who have annoying younger sisters, or who acquire younger step sisters. will known exactly what ACB means.

As yet it's a work in progress. None of the Green Dam(n) symbols are in yet. No crab, no rabbits, etc. ACB is also not happy about the hair or the skin tones, so those will change at some point. The slogan and the layout also needs a lot of work. ACB also plans to make a fully textured render of the this, too. And maybe a Moe-chan. Well, maybe.

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