Models of morality hit China's TV screens
2007-10-11

Category Reality Show Corruption Brothels Nations China City Hangzhou States Zhejiang Event 2007 CCP 17th Congress

Prime time entertainment in China has become a lesson in communist purity as the nation's biggest political event in five years approaches, with models of morality replacing risque reality TV stars.

Chinese viewers are used to the media obediently playing its role in creating a "stable and harmonious society," but the propaganda machine has gone into overdrive ahead of the Communist Party's Congress that begins on Monday.

From October 1, China's National Day and two weeks ahead of the Congress, wildly popular reality shows inspired by "American Idol" have been operating under a tough set of new restrictions.

"Television stations must choose qualified and proven candidates, most notably in appearance, maturity, confidence and health," the new rules said, outlining a new vetting system for those who appear on the shows.

"Those with long hair, or who wear clothes and make remarks that do not correspond to public values (are banned)."

Live voting by Internet, telephone, or short messaging has also been banned, leaving live television audiences to determine who acts, sings, looks or performs the best.

Meanwhile, the party's powerful propaganda bureau a few weeks ago slotted a new show called "National Models of Virtue" into prime time viewing on China Central Television's most important channel.

The show features 53 people who were selected by a pool of 21 million voters for their superiority in the five categories of altruism, bravery for a just cause, honesty and confidence, hard work and filial piety.

Some programmes deemed unacceptable have been pulled off the screens altogether.

One of those victims was the "Red Question Mark," a soap opera running since 2002 that focused on social issues such as delinquent youths, prostitutes, mistresses and drug traffickers.

Liu Hengjun, the director of the programme, was quoted as saying in the Chinese press that the show, which featured normal people rather than professionals as actors, had been deemed unsuitable by authorities.

"The policy of the government is changing constantly. The only thing that I can say is the programme did not conform with the current situation," he said.

The show was highly popular, with many viewers feeling there were lessons to learn from the people it portrayed, who struggled to make a living in China's bustling reform and opening period.

"I liked to watch it because it was authentic... I think the show was very educational, especially for young women," a 49-year-old housewife from Hangzhou city, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

Advertisements are also under scrutiny, with about 2,000 "sexually suggestive" ads, covering such things as female underwear, pulled off TV and radio airwaves this month, the official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

On the Internet, bloggers have squarely blamed the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television for the tougher wave of censorship.

"To hell with the administration... they do nothing all day except kill good movies and promote a lot of crap," said one posting that was commenting on the banning of "Red Question Mark."

A greater emphasis on "puritan values" -- also being seen in other forms of entertainment such as cinema and theatre -- often occurs in China ahead of big political events and at other sensitive times for the Communist Party.

But for many, the harder the party tries to cover up China's social problems, the more cynical people will become in a society marked by corruption and increasingly driven by money.

"To me these methods appear to be wrong and they will not resolve the current morality crisis or be welcomed by the people," Zhu Dake, a literary critic, writer and university professor, told AFP.