In truth, there are only a couple of things I know for sure about China. One, if you’re in a big city, you’re never more than two blocks from a great meal; two, the stop lights are voluntary; and three, Titanic is huge. Thus, it came as no surprise to anyone here that – over the…
All posts in Arts
Sexed-up Nanjing Massacre doesn’t turn on Chinese film fans.
How do you eroticize a massacre? That’s the topic of my column at Bloomberg View this week. In it, I take a look at some of the Chinese reactions to Zhang Yimou’s new epic set against the 1937 Nanjing Massacre – and the sexed-up marketing designed to sell it. Consider, as just one example, one…
In Beijing, you just can’t chat about things “Top Secret.”
This morning we receive the surprising news (as related in the New York Times) that the producers of “Top Secret,” a play about the Pentagon Papers and press freedom, could go ahead with a performance in Beijing last night, but that they could not, unfortunately, hold a discussion of the play afterwards, for fear of…
Rock Soldier: a Chinese Rock and Roll Story.
On July 6, 1957, John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney in between shows by Lennon’s band. McCartney, it is said, could tune a guitar and sing Twenty Flight Rock, and that was that – musical history was changed. It’s a nice story, but not nearly as rock and roll as the night in 1964…
Ring Them Bells: Dylan Wasn’t Censored.
Apologies for the absence from the blog over the last five weeks – I’ve been tied up with some personal and professional matters. Of the latter, I’ll have more to say in a few days. Anyway, earlier today Bob Dylan took the rather unprecedented step – for him – of commenting on his recent concerts…
Another Side of Dylan, China, and the nature of “Protest.”
A little Shanghai Scrap pop quiz for the weekend. The following two verses were sung in Beijing on April 6, 2011: Jesus said, “Be ready For you know not the hour in which I come” Jesus said, “Be ready For you know not the hour in which I come” He said, “He who is not…
141 Shanghai Christmas Trees – 2010 Edition.
[Blogging break in effect until January 3. Reach me via email, here, or follow my occasional holiday season tweets, here. Scrappy new year.] It’s that time of year again – the time for Shanghai Scrap’s annual (2nd) 141 Shanghai Christmas Trees post (last year’s post, here). There’s not much to explain here: basically, we’re talking…
The Scrap Toy Maker Up the Street
[Traveling for the next couple of days. May be difficult to reach. So, before I go, a light post on a light topic.] A couple of months ago That’s Shanghai ran a lovely, well-written piece on Zha Peihua, a middle-aged maker of small model bicycles constructed from bits of scrap wire and rubber tubing. According…
Interview: Sue Anne Tay on photo blogging, day jobs, and her Shanghai Street Stories
Recently I was asked by a reporter, recently assigned to China, what China blogs I read. In fact, I look at several, and the full list can be found on the blogroll to the lower right. Then he asked me if I have a favorite. That’s a tough question: different blogs fulfill different functions. For…
China Pavilion Architect Celebrates in his Underpants
He Jingtang, architect of the China pavilion at Expo 2010 (Shanghai World’s Fair), on how he celebrated the crowds that turned out to view his building on October 1: “I especially chose underwear with the China Pavilion logo today to express my happiness.” As quoted (quote of the Expo, if you ask me) in Shanghai…