China bans TV shows about time travel, fantasy, immorality

[WyldeMan45]

Damn another reason it must suck to live in China.

HBO should cross China off its list of potential markets for Game of Thrones.

The Chinese government’s State Administration of Radio Film and Television has issued new entertainment guidelines discouraging TV writers from creating shows about “fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories…”

So much for all Syfy channel shows. Not to mention shows like Lost, Fringe, Star Trek and Camelot. Seems the rule may have been prompted by writers annoying the government by telling historical stories that deviated from the official version of Chinese history and — oh, wait. There’s more banned content on the list.

According to CNN, the China authorities are also nixing “… bizarre plots, absurd techniques, propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation.”

Now “Bizarre plots” and “absurd techniques” takes a lot of the broadcast shows off the market too. I mean, Patrick Jane’s absurd mentalism techniques cannot possibly trick all those murderers into confessing, and Dr. House certainly uses plenty of odd techniques that would probably never work in real life. But who wants to see people solving crimes and healing patients the boring ‘ol normal way? As far as “bizarre plots,” all of Fox’s animated shows and South Park are bizarre, when you think about it. Though I suspect U.S. writers could be OK with leaving out content that’s “propagating feudal suspicions.”

What? There’s more on the list?

The Chinese government is also nixing: “…ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking.”

Well, there goes every show I watch.

[My_Two_Cents]

Anyone who finds this odd/strange obviously has no understanding of history (not directed at you, WyldeMan).

[Alpha]

It's amazing how people can't even enjoy stories anymore. I mean, that's really what shows are. China might as well pull a 451 and ban books...

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Anyone who finds this odd/strange obviously has no understanding of history (not directed at you, WyldeMan).

I don't find it odd or strange I just think it's yet another reason that being under a dicktator (I know) would suck. They might as well just ban all tv cause really what's left?

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

I don't find it odd or strange I just think it's yet another reason that being under a dicktator (I know) would suck. They might as well just ban all tv cause really what's left?

Reality shows. Who needs anything else?

[EricJ]

Well, there go China's hundred or so Monkey King series....

(And any hopes of producing anything with profitable Western-export appeal.)

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Reality shows. Who needs anything else?

Anybody who likes substance.

But I think those to would fall under this "bizarre plots, absurd techniques, propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation."

[HDMe]

Being fair for a moment...

There are people here in the US that would love to ban some of that same stuff.

It is a constant fight to keep the ability to have some of the stuff we like on the air. Various religious and other groups are always on a campaign to censor or stop stuff from being in movies or on TV.

So far we have more or less been fortunate... but it wouldn't take much of a shift for us to not be able to watch some of this stuff either.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Being fair for a moment...

There are people here in the US that would love to ban some of that same stuff.

It is a constant fight to keep the ability to have some of the stuff we like on the air. Various religious and other groups are always on a campaign to censor or stop stuff from being in movies or on TV.

So far we have more or less been fortunate... but it wouldn't take much of a shift for us to not be able to watch some of this stuff either.

At the very least, creative expression is a gaurenteed freedom in the US. For the time being.

As far as China goes, looks like the state-sponsored propaganda is coming next.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Being fair for a moment...

There are people here in the US that would love to ban some of that same stuff.

Yeah but they can cry and whine all they want, they still don't ever actually get anything done.

[Tom Hiddleston]

We should follow their lead, no more Jersey Shore!

[FeiLong]

i know pretty well about TV in China.

foreign channels like CNN, HBO are restricted to 3-Stars (or above) hotels that target foreigners.

individual locals cannot subscribe these outside channels.

moreover, there's a shortlist for approved channels to be available in hotels every year (usually around 30 to 40 approved channels)

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Being fair for a moment...

There are people here in the US that would love to ban some of that same stuff.

It is a constant fight to keep the ability to have some of the stuff we like on the air. Various religious and other groups are always on a campaign to censor or stop stuff from being in movies or on TV.

So far we have more or less been fortunate... but it wouldn't take much of a shift for us to not be able to watch some of this stuff either.

Yea, but I've never heard of any religious groups who have said "No more time travel and sci-fi!" and things of that nature. Most of the time they want less sex and violence in our media. In a way, I can see where they're coming from. What's going on in China is over the top, at least in my opinion. It's a bit Farenheit 451 over there...scary thought really. We're lucky to live here where we have artistic freedom, for better or for worse.

[FeiLong]

by the way, because foreign tv channels are restricted with limited availability in China. HBO unable to reach general Chinese viewers.

few years ago, HBO had a deal with China Central Television, they form numerous new pay channels (local) and since these channels are "local", they are available nationwide. these channels simply showing movies/ shows from HBO.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

I don't find it odd or strange I just think it's yet another reason that being under a dicktator (I know) would suck. They might as well just ban all tv cause really what's left?

Originally Posted by killowertz

Reality shows. Who needs anything else?

Don't forget about the (government-sanctioned) news programming!

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

At the very least, creative expression is a gaurenteed freedom in the US. For the time being.

Nothing is ever guaranteed... Well, maybe death... but very little is actually guaranteed in life despite what we would like to think.

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Yeah but they can cry and whine all they want, they still don't ever actually get anything done.

The History Channel dropped "The Kennedys" in part due to outside pressure. REELZ picked that up, but how many people have REELZ? It wasn't stopped, but it sure was impeded.

There was also the recent (last year) dust-up where schools (was it in Texas) were re-writing the classic "Huckleberry Finn" to remove offensive language.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that it doesn't or can't happen here in the US. If some people had their way... you and I wouldn't be able to see what we want to see.

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Yea, but I've never heard of any religious groups who have said "No more time travel and sci-fi!" and things of that nature. Most of the time they want less sex and violence in our media. In a way, I can see where they're coming from.

Yeah, but that is how it starts... you understanding where they are coming from... then it leads to agreeing to cut back on something or not air something... then it gets bigger.

Censorship can and does happen here. It takes different forms, and isn't always obvious maybe... but part of the thing our founding fathers warned us about was complacency. Once you start to believe it can't happen here is when it probably has already happened under your nose.

Originally Posted by FeiLong

by the way, because foreign tv channels are restricted with limited availability in China. HBO unable to reach general Chinese viewers.

On another forum... people have asked about getting foreign news channels like BBC World News or Al Jazeera (at least in English) on their satellite or cable network. LOTs of people have complained and threatened to quit if Al Jazeera was picked up.

So... basically... we do it too. IF a foreign channel says something we don't approve of, we try to keep it away from the American people.

I'm not defending China here... just pointing out that they aren't on an island practicing censorship on their own. We do it when we get the chance.

[kernel_thai]

At first glance it seems like the only shows available in China will be Law & Order: Beijing and Chinese Idol.