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Olympic controversy alert: China likes to fake itOver the last 20 odd years, the Olympics have been pretty predictable when it comes to controversy. You can expect that a handful of athletes will get accused of doping, that a gymnastics judge or two will make some really bad calls and that at least one bizarre scandal will surface and leave you scratching your head. For the Beijing games, that special controversy was the lip-syncing debacle involving two little girls. If you haven’t heard by now, here’s the gist: A representative of the Chinese government didn’t like the look of the 7-year-old girl (Yang Peiyi) chosen to sing at the opening ceremony, so he had a “cuter” substitute, 9-year-old Lin Miaoke, installed to lip-sync along to Yang’s voice (wow, China has the gold for “Biggest A-Hole Move” in the bag). If you’re wondering just how hideous this poor Yang is, check out her photo.
Where’s the gross deformity? The eye-patch? The horns? You can stop looking — she’s your typical 7-year-old cutie pie. And her show-stopping replacement?
Yeah, she’s cute, too. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the lack of sensitivity, given the country’s stellar human rights’ record, especially when it comes to girls. But you’d think the host nation would have more important things to do than swapping cute for cute like, oh, I don’t know, adding fake CGI fireworks into the ceremony broadcast, stacking their women’s gymnastics team with 14-year-old ringers (allegedly) or hiding all their gold from Michael Phelps. So, what gives?
"We had to make that choice,” explained Chen Qigang, the musical director (and whistleblower) in a recent interview. “We combined the perfect voice and the perfect performance. The audience will understand that it's in the national interest.” Yes, we do understand — Yang’s side. Most of us in the LGBT community are painfully aware of what it’s like to be judged on appearance — to not be feminine enough or traditionally beautiful — and to lose out because of rhetoric like “national interest” or “family values.” To be fair, though, we are coming from very different cultural perspectives. When China says “national interest,” they really mean it. The Chinese are big on collective pride, honor and saving face (the idea, not the lesbian movie), and they will go to great lengths, obviously, to keep up appearances on the world stage. But it seems to me that putting your best face forward would be a lot easier if it’s your face. You don’t think a little girl with a great voice and slight overbite is attractive enough to represent your country? Fine. Bring in a performer who has the look and the voice that measures up to your standards. China has the biggest population on the planet — it shouldn’t be that hard to find the total package. What’s annoyed me the most is the dismissive arguments that have followed since the scandal broke last week. One Olympic official tried to justify the switcheroo with a convoluted comparison to a football coach benching one of his players. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard of a more talented athlete getting pulled from the big game for a cuter one (she’ll get more endorsements if she’s hot, of course, but that’s a whole other rant). In Gail Collins’ New York Times column, she argued that Americans overreacted, “given the fact that families here gather together in front of the TV to watch reality shows in which unattractive people are permitted to audition for talent contests so that the judges can make fun of them.” I respectfully disagree. Contestants are ridiculed on shows like American Idol because they’re untalented. If they’re also unattractive, well, that’s just a bonus.
This doesn’t mean we aren’t allowed to feel outraged or deceived by the incident. True, Hollywood makes cuts based on appearance all the time and has created its fair share of highly produced, lip-syncing pop stars like Ashlee Simpson and Britney Spears; but it’s an entertainment industry, not a government. And on top of that, it’s one thing to sing along to a pre-recorded track of your own voice; it’s quite another to try to pass someone else’s voice off as your own. Just ask Milli Vanilli or the skinny model “singing” in the C+C Music Factory video. At least these phony acts were old enough to understand what was going on. Let’s hope Yang and Lin fare better.
I’ll get off my soapbox now. What’s your take on the Olympic lip-syncing scandal? Submitted by on August 22, 2008 - 3:00pm. |
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ughhhh...
telling a little girl she is not cute enough to represent her country... so unbelievably f*cked up.
________________________________________________________
got Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com does...You know what I feel sorry
You know what I feel sorry for the "cuter" girl because from what I read it seems she orginally got the 'job' (after they got rid of another girl who was too old... not sure if they had confirimed her before dropping her) and then was told her voice "must change". What's worse is she apprently didn't know when singing that it wasn't her voice they were hearing (I don't know if that's true because i'd have thought she'd have to lip sync). Plus a lot of people are feeling so sorry for the kid whose voice it actually was (and rightly so) that the other girl in a way comes off as a baddie. I mean I know most ppl blame the organisers but still, she clearly just did as others told her to, but from reading this article most people would probably side with the girl whose voice was brought in. Especially as most people would choose a voice to be a bigger talent than being cute (which i wouldn't disagree with) but it appears if the performer got so far before her voice was replaced she can't have been half bad?
Anyway you look at who came out of it worse its a really terrible thing to do to two little kids who porbably don't understand it all, but i just wanted to point out that some articles make it seem as though the girl whose voice it was had a cuter girl sing it 'cus her teeth were bad, and some make it seem like the "cuter" girl had her voice replaced last minute without telling her in which case the singers looks were probably irrelevant unless they'd considered the singer just as cute and replaced her totally and not just the voice.
And not to be shallow but I have to say the second photo is unbelieveably cute as in I kept scrolling back up to view it whilst reading, so.. dammit now I feel shallow for thinking so.. but tbh I think its just as much that amazing photo as the girl herself because I saw another photo nowhere near as magic and the girl in the first photo I'm sure can look cuter too if she strikes a pose (and she is really cute also to begin with). I guess its kinda bad I even discussed their cuterness since the actions taken are terrible.. but.. well I did anyways because they're both adorable and i loved that second photo and its just too bad thats been tainted now ..
Nuh uh!
You didn't use an "ugly" asian man on purpose for the American Idol pic, did you??
Also: I am not having it. The USA (as a nation) and China (as a nation) will do anything for the show. You can't talk your way out of this. Neither can China. Stop accusing one another.
....
No, William Hung is the most well known of the contestants to get ridiculed on the show for not having talent. He just happens to be Asian.
I agree with you. I'm not saying we're better by any means. I just think it's silly for article after article to say we shouldn't be upset about this because Hollywood has done it for years. But we're not used to it (see said Ashlee Simpson/SNL debacle), nor do I think we -- or anyone else for that matter -- should be. I genuinely feel bad for both these girls, regardless of their nationality. They (especially at their ages) should have never been put in this position in the first place. Period.
Ok, I know I’m not gonna be loved for this, but here goes -
I feel horribly sorry for both girls cos they’ve both been exploited, but I can’t simply blame the officials because - though I’m trying hard not to point even more fingers - in the sort of media-driven, image-orientated world (oooh clichés) something like this doesn’t come as a massive shock for us all, does it? I blame the parents. I really do. I think it’s ridiculous of all of them to allow this.
Having said that, I found this article really quite offensive. As a British Chinese, I’ve been trying to see both sides of all the arguments that have come up about Beijing, but I cannot stand the sarcastic, patronising tone that people take as soon as they talking about everything that’s wrong with the country. We all know there are a lot of issues – why can’t the West (and I hate calling it that) realise just how much they’ve been an influence on China, and instead of laying on the blame and creating all this negativity, try to lead by example from now? Easier said than done, obviously, but not impossible.
Plus, I really, really can’t appreciate the distant connections to LGBT issues in this article. Perhaps (?!?) a rare deviation from the stereotype, I’ve never really had issues with my image, but being “in the LGBT community” myself, I’ve rather always been “painfully aware” that as a female, Chinese, queer person in society, I’m always going to face discrimination and feel on the outside of something or other, and can't take any sides with a clear conscience. And having read this article, I’m getting that feeling very, very strongly. And believe me, it’s not nice.
Also I notice that the article neglects to mention what the BBC (I’m pretty annoyed with them too) did – that Yang said she was happy to have just her voice featured. I’m not saying that justifies anything, and again this makes me more angry with her parents, but are we really going to turn this into another reasons for global outrage against all of China, just because it’s easier to get angry about two girls/ being utterly used by the media, than everything else that’s wrong with the world?
The officials made a mistake in probably underestimating how people would respond to something like this. But we’re not perfect, either. I’m not presenting my “dismissive argument” from a cultural perspective, though that’s huge part of all this, just a human one.
That was a massive rant. I’m sorry, I mean no disrespect to anyone. Just thought I’d get my opinion across, if anyone's bothered to read all of it.
My apologies
My apologies for offending anyone. That certainly wasn’t the intent of this rant. I just wanted to express my frustration at the media coverage and get other people’s thoughts on the matter. I’m sorry if the tone came off as too sarcastic or accusatory. Nothing sends me into defensive/bitchy writer’s mode faster than when I feel like little girls are getting a bum deal--and I'm told to just let it slide.
No, I understand
I agree..
Well said it means joy. I have read similar themed articles elsewhere...one too many.
Nothing wrong with protesting the replacing of the original singer with another 'cuter' girl but as other have said before me, it's the underlying tone of the article that's disagreeable.
I agree with it_means_joy
When the "controversy" broke out, I didn't feel it was much of a deal. It was a ceremony, not a singing competition or a talent show. You pick the best person who does the job. Perhaps it's because I'm Asian? I'm not sure, but it really doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me. Yang Peiyi was happy that she was involved, Lin Miaoke was happy she was involved, both sets of parents were proud.
It seems that America's very into giving people their rightful due - if I sing this song, MY FACE should be where billions of people can see me claiming the rights to it (not that there's anything wrong with that in the American context!). It was a ceremony, a performance, a concert, you pick the best girl for the job. Perhaps Yang was uncomfortable with heights, maybe she couldn't glide around several storeys in the air like the older Lin could. I don't know. But it's NOT a talent show where each individual is more important than the whole, where everyone is competing against each other. Everyone, thousands of people who were involved in this CEREMONY came together for their country of China. If they remain faceless and nameless, it doesn't matter because the face of China is all that matters to each contributor.
I think what we have to understand as well is that the ceremony wasn't just broadcast to China and America - it was an international broadcast, and some other cultures DO understand Chen Qigang's logic that the audience will understand.
I guess the only thing that does bother me is the way the officials handled it later, when the "controversy" came around - they started to panic and handled it badly. If they'd been upfront with it in the beginning, this nonsense wouldn't have happened.
This post just seems a little anti-China, which I understand, but don't empathise with. I think sometimes I just get worried that AfterEllen, being an American-born site with mostly American readers, loses its awareness that it's got international readers too. But I still love ya, Ms Anthrope, even if I don't agree with some of your political or cultural views!
YEAH!
I agree. the only point of the singing girl was that she was a part of the show, and I gotta say the show was frikin' brilliant. The way I see it is that replacing the girl was an artistic choice, that the artist thought would play its part in enhancing the atmosphere of the show.
I don't understand why this controversy treats it like the first girl's been shamed or maligned by the Chinese government. Its not like the stand-in got offered a multi million dollar record deal and lives on her own tropical island resort for the rest of her retirement. The ceremony was a team event, a theme illustrated throughout the performance itself. if it weren't for the lip-syncing issue, no one would've looked for the girl or girls a second time.
gold
Every music performer on SNL lipsings on the show. Ashlee is the first and only person to ever get caught. And the first to ever do the jig...yeah that was bad.
American Idol, I can't believe that anyone watches that pos.
Olympics Opening in China was freaken brilliant! whocares that they faked some of it?.
China's Womans Gymnastics team needs to have their medals taken away for having female gymness under the legal age for competion and for lieing about it.
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
the rules state that you
the rules state that you have to be 16 in the olympic year in order to compete...meaning you can be 15 and still compete as long as you turn 16 by december 31 in the year the olypmics were held.
the chinese gymnasts look younger..espcially to american eyes...but that's just genetics and hardcore training talking. they broke no rules.
~i am bisexual. you are confused.~
The Lo Down fan forum: http://www.afterellen.com/node/34821
It's not the Americans the
It's not the Americans that cried foul. JFC! Chinese own local jernolist are the ones that found evidence that Chinese gold-medallist He Kexin is only 14 years old and that fellow medellist might be underage as well. The IOC is investigating it and I have no doubt that medals will be taken away by the end of the investigation.
The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into the age of Chinese gymnast He Kexin, The Times of London reports. Faced with almost insurmountable evidence which suggests that He is two years younger than the birth date listed on her Chinese passport, the IOC has launched an inquiry that could result in the stripping of He's gold medals.
This news comes on the heels of another Times report that details the findings of a New York computer security expert who found official Chinese documents that list He's age as 14 years and 220 days. Mike Walker used a Chinese search engine's cache feature to find He's actual date of birth on spreadsheets from a Chinese government website. The spreadsheets were taken down off the site recently and He's name had been removed.
Assuming the IOC is committed to a real investigation and not some dog and pony show, the revelation that the Chinese government covered up the ages of gymnasts could end up being the defining moment of these Games for the host country. Officials wanted the Olympics to be a coming out party for a new China. But while the Games have been a huge success, there is a legitimate possibility that China's legacy from Beijing '08 will be that of a massive government cover-up, not the magical Opening Ceremony or the transformation of Beijing or anything else positive.
All the good work China did to put on these Olympics could be forgotten because of an unnecessary, arrogant move by the government. Why risk everything to put a 14-year old in the competition when they could have replaced her with an of-age 16-year old gymnast? Sure, He is a better gymnast than the Chinese gymnasts who were eligible to compete, but with the judges they had at the Olympics, would it really have mattered?
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
"Assuming the IOC is
"Assuming the IOC is committed to a real investigation and not some dog and pony show.."
Interesting how the writer has already made up his/her mind about what has happened. Damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
Personally, I will reserve judgment until the investigation is over, and if it so happens that the gymnast is underage, then shame on the people who known and covered it up.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is written by timesonline.co.uk who are in the business of reporting the news?
It may be hard to believe, but some people still hold the view that the news they read is largely if not entirely fact based.
I feel that journalists, like any other professionals, should comply with a code of ethics when reporting the news. They have the power to reach so many people, they should therefore have the responsibility of reporting facts, and all sides of the story.
Maybe such a system or committee is already in place (I profess my ignorance to this area), but I feel they are not doing enough. Or as readers, what we read should be taken with a grain of salt.
who gives a rat's ass
...that they're too young. they deserve every medal because they worked hard and they're better than the americans. so what if they're too young. if they're happy and work hard so what. besides, the only reason why anyone cares is because they won the gold medal. nobody's talking about the 14 year old girl from germany and the 14 year old diver from england.
get over it, so what. they're too young. rules are meant to be broken. grow up and worry about more important things and stop being ignorant. GOSH!
Sports Rules
Investigation
Seeing as there are still some people who are discussing this particular situation, I thought I'd just make an update:
The investigation is over, He Ke Xin is of an age to be able to legally compete in this year Olympics.
really?...
...no joke. i know that; im not stupid.
but all in all they need to get rid of the rule because if you have talent and parents consent as well as the kids consent, then they should compete in olympics.
While I do think...
...that the age rule in gymnastics is ridiculous. I think that if an athlete is able to perform at this high of a competitive level then they should be allowed to do so. There's no age rule against a gymnast being too old (as there shouldn't be. Look at how well Oksana Chusovitina did getting silver on vault at the age of 33). So why is there an age rule for being too young? If there was an age rule back in 1976, Nadia Comaneci, who was 14 at the time, wouldn't have got her perfect 10 and became the most well known gymnast ever.
With that said, it still is a rule. It's not "ignorance" speaking (and I'm not sure if you're using the proper use of that word. I think people who raise this issue are informed on the rule and therefor not ignorant of it.). It's a rule. It is unfair if these gymnasts were underage because other gymnasts from other countries didn't put possible gymnasts in because they followed the rules. I think the chinese gymnasts were wonderful. I think they did deserve the gold but rules at this level shouldn't be broken even if they're ridiculous. I think they should just get rid of the stupid age rule and let it be fair to everyone.
--
http://www.drunkduck.com/Empathy/
yes
I'm a little less worried
can i just say...
... that i absolutely LOVE miss chatelaine & it_means_joy!!!!
~i am bisexual. you are confused.~
The Lo Down fan forum: http://www.afterellen.com/node/34821
Aww LilyJadeRose!
You're making me blush!
heh...
thanks.... but really, i'm just trying to see the logic behind both points of view without making this some sort of international feud. aargghh why can't we all just try and be more positive about making a change to things that aren't great, instead of everyone blaming each other for everything???
shutting up now. i'm just here to read about hot women :P
:(
I am not going to be as soft-treading as others above have been.
This is blown way out of proportion.
I am so tired of the need by the western media to highlight ever little choice that China makes that may not be agreeable according to western standards.
In comparison, how many articles is there praising China what an amazing 29th Olympics that China has organised? Because it is!
Why the need for such negativity over something so trivial? Because the west cannot stand idle and watch China's unprecedented growth.
I mean really, super powers like America, Britain have just stella human rights record! Oh please.
London has recently said they hope people can keep a lid on any political controversies while they hold their 2012 Olympics. Well, thanks guys for having your journalists march in the Tibet protests without identification, then accuse China of not abiding by the rules.
About the CGI fireworks, they weren't 'fake', they were pre-recorded for which the Olympic committee had known, for better viewing. Thanks for leaving that out, no wonder so many people are misinformed.
It is just like Tibet, how many people who advocate 'free Tibet' know anything about the history of China and Tibet? It doesn't happen in a vacuum!
Oh please there isn't a
Oh please there isn't a single person that I know that didn't love the Olympics Opening. Please stop bitching about an intire nation for only a few personal openions you've heard and didn't agree with. I can't wait for this hate america fad to be over.
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
Please point to where I
Please point to where I said people didn't enjoy the opening ceremony, I stated that I thought there wasn't as many positive articles as compared to the negativity surrounding the controversies.
And where did I state I 'hate' America? My problem is largely with the western media.
This isn't just "a few personal opinions" that I've heard. It is the overall perception sold by the media, by major players like CNN and BBC just to name two.
I'm open to constructive criticism of my opinion or what I've stated to be facts. But I don't appreciate you wrongfully generalising what I've stated in my previous post, or degrading my comments by categorising it as "bitching".
I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly feel strongly and passionately about all of this. Maybe that is how others who have a different opinion feel as well
Just to clarify, I do feel for the two girls, who are the ones affected by this, and I feel it was wrong and unfair. But like I said earlier, I think it is blown out of proportion.
Isn't that typical? When
Isn't that typical? When someone offers constructive and accurate criticism of your country you play the "hate America" card. Isn't America all about free speech and human rights. Or is that for American citizens and not those in Guantanamo Bay? I am ok with people criticizing my countries (NZ, Iraq) so why do Americans get a little defensive when you say things about their country.
I'm sick of being called anti-American for having an opinion (its happened 3 times on this site.) The "hate America fad" that you refer to, in general, will be over when you stop interfering in other countries business for your own benefit, stop illegally invading other countries and supporting military dictators, like Musharaff, by giving them money in "aid", stop supporting terrorist groups, such as Hamas or the Taliban, or Osama Bin Laden as you have in the past, while indirectly supporting these group's efforts to crush genuine civil rights groups, womens organizations and gay organisations. Or when particular people draw an axis of evil with those not supporting them being seen as evil for example countries not supporting the war were ridiculed. Or your hypocritical attitudes, as in its ok to attack Iraq which did not have mass weapons of destruction but clearly brutal countries which suppress women and gay people much more, like Saudi Arabia, are let off the hook because they can provide you with oil etc.
I admire and respect a lot of things about America and a lot of its founding principles and i resent being called Anti-American. Disagreeing with a government, policies and media IS NOT being anti- the American people etc. I also have quite a few American friends and they hold the same views as me.
I second that emotion
As an American, whatever the fuck that means, i also view this nation through the same lenses as you. And I agree this doesn't make us anti-american just anti-foxnewsbullshit.
E noho ra
It means you got eyes like apostrophes, you dress white, talk black, and drive Jew. So how am I supposed to know what kind of zipperhead dog-munching dink you are if you don't?
-G-Reeves
Well said!
Yes that was an asshole move
Why doesn't the LGBT media
Why doesn't the LGBT media focus on important issues rather than these trivial ones? Like for example, the rampant racism present in the LGBT community such that it hinders many young people of color coming out. Or something positive like out athletes of color.
This has been blown way out of proportion.
London Olympics
In 2012, I'd love it if there was a lot of political controversy, as historically there isn't likely to be a more murderous, bloodthirtsy nation than Britain. Britannia ruled the waves? Erm no, that would be invaded, conquered and murdered. I'm English and have been delighted by the success of the British team in Beijing, however I'm not going to start slinging mud at another country. Talk about pot calling kettle!
Does anyone feel that if over the years the world had been as media savvy as it is now with 24 hour news broadcasts, that certain nations would have gotten as big for their boots as they are now?
AE, what are you doing?
Hot on the heels of the 'where have all the commas gone?' debate after CathMath's Diablo Cody post, I gotta say - this article was not OK. What gives, AE?
The story of these two little girls raises issues about female beauty ideals, and I think it was appropriate subject matter for a site which has always explored feminist issues as well as LBTQ ones.
However this headline was offensive ('China likes to fake it'? Really?) and the tone of the article lacked the subtlety we expect from AE.
I have read AE since it first started, and I have particularly valued its efforts to be diverse and inclusive. Sensitivity to diversity of every kind allowed AE to bring us stories which simply didn't appear in the mainstream media, or to give us a new twist on them. AE even managed to make its coverage of Obama v. Clinton thoughtful and refreshing.
However in the last couple of months the site has started to change rapidly, and stories like this one and the Avril-Lavigne-in-Malaysia story have started to slip through without enough editing.
Please pull back from the brink, AE. I suspect you have been a huge force for good. You are promoting understanding between generations and between cultures. You are spreading the message of self-acceptance to queer women around the world. You've demanded tirelessly that the media should show women as they really are, and as they aspire to be, rather than as men think they should be. You've created your share of lesbian drama with the love-it/hate-it relationship with the L Word. You've made us cry with laughter. And you've done it all with your parethetical clauses properly enclosed and without a comma splice in sight.
We still love you, AE. So please, for the sake of the baby dykes - sort it out.
I like the article. It's
I like the article. It's not claiming to be news, its a rant... something Ms Anthrope does quite well (compliment)... rants are not meant to be without opinion. They're opinion-pieces. You can't get up someone for having an opinion (although you can disagree with it, but calling for it to be removed is a bit censorship-esque).
Also, the fake reference... I have seen alot of knock-off cheap stuff in $2 shops and discount bargain shops made in China (hey, they do great knock-offs and fakes.. and they do it cheaply too). Fakes? can you imagine it? Of course Taiwan and the like are making a bid for the title of best-fakers. You need fakers in this world. Where would I be without my genuine fake-Gucci watches, belts and handbag? I sure as heck can't afford *real* Gucci.
Congratulations Ms Anthrope for having an opinion.
I don't mind thier choices
I don't mind thier choices to create the best entertainment product they could for the opening ceremony. It's just a show. Cheating in a sporting event, however, (Kexin's fake passport) is not as easy to roll with. Compare her to Marion Jones, America's track pariah. I felt angry and betrayed when I learned that she had doped, but I didn't deny it was true. And, I was grimly thrilled to see her medals taken away and given to the non-American women who deserved them fair and square. So, for me, thumbs up to the opening ceremony and thumbs down to gymnastics cheating and the scrambling government destruction of information to cover it up. They just weren't quite thorough enough to foil all the hackers.
The thing with the protestors (people who applied for protest permits were all denied and arrested) is ironically funny. Of course they don't allow dissent; they are communists. Anyone who bought that was a sucker to begin with. Though I do feel sorry for the people who will now be "re-educated." Yuck.
this is tragic...
well..as an non-american and non-asian reader of afterellen, i can honestly say that i can provide an unbiased opinion about this story.
i must congratulate Ms. Anthrope for bringing attention to this story, even if it has little to do with the LGBT community. but this is a lesbian site, therefore a site that speaks of women's rights, and these two kids are girls, need i say more?
although my country has an endless list of flaws, it will never pull something like that. if we needed a represantative for our country we will definetly not sit there and score the representative for their looks, if they can handle the job then they can do it, and the job was for that child to sing (i really didnt buy the whole Yang-might-be-afraid-of-heights theory because if that was true, the organizers would have said that).
it saddened me that these children were exploited that way for the sake of the media and an image, which wouldnt have been tainted if they have used Yang.
.
Thank you Ms. Anthrope
As always an interesting and humorous article. It has given me much food for thought (as has the comments it has provoked :/ ).
I agree with Ms. Anthrope!
I am Chinese and in no way am I offended by what Ms. Anthrope wrote.
This switcheroo is just one instance but it happened in the Olympics and the Olympics carry so much influence to people. Millions of people watch it and what kind of message does it give to world? We value appearance, we value traditional conventions of "beauty", everything else isn't as important.
It also validates the stupid idea of judging everything and everyone through looks, especially WOMEN when women are already so objectified and pressured into being a certain way. Also, our community is always being judged by the way we look. When Lawrence King was shot, it wasn't simply cos he's gay. It's cos he "looked gay" and therefore tagged as a freak. Every little boy and girl bullied as fag or dyke is most likely bullied so cos of their gender expression. Every guy who makes his girlfriend feel ugly learned that it's ok to judge by looks and that he has the "right" to control his woman. We obviously sent the wrong message to those kids who bully other kids. Now, imagine an international event sending that similar wrong message to the rest of the world.
I also agree that if they wanted someone who can sing well and look good, they gotta find a person who can sing well and look good. The another-face-for-the-voice thing is just simply done in VERY BAD TASTE and VERY UNETHICAL.
-MJ
Spread the RAINBOW!
http://mgayness.livejournal.com
Some thoughts...
This has actually happened to Audrey Hepburn. She sang her heart out in My Fair Lady and was told her voice was not good enough. She actually stormed off the set, only to return the next day and apologized to everyone for being, "wicked." She was quite a lady.
Yep, the Olympic Games was like a Debutante Ball for China, everyone was under pressure to have things at least look and sound perfect. The little girls sounded happy enough just having had a part in it, but I am not sure they really did have a chance to digest all the emotional implications yet at their age.
And yes, the olympic organizers did it for China. Often, in the U.S., before realism came into style, Hollywood did it for money.
I am part Chinese and did roll my eyes sometimes on articles like this, because, it just feels like someone from a prominent culture judging one that is still finding its place in the world.
I see lip-synching as a lack of artistic sophistication. I saw the clip of Audrey Hepburn doing her owning singing and it was so very delightful. It is the same as for this little girl who was doing the singing, I'd rather just see and hear either one of them sing.
And for the rest of China's ill, no, I don't like a lot of the things the Chinese Government is doing. When a country is not completely free and the officials are not to be trusted, and is getting more and more powerful, it is quite scary. It would be scarier if China is closed up again, like North Korea. So, go easy on the debutante for her fake costume jewelry and being a class A biache to some kids at school. She will be a lot more problematic if she locks herself in a room and plays grand-theft auto all day.
so overrated, this story. i
The Big O
Fake fireworks
I also find it amusing that the Chinese are "faking" the same thing they've invented thousands of years ago.
What they call faux, I call technological revolution. if anyone has the rights to improve fireworks, wouldn't it be the Chinese?
Fake fireworks
Hello Pot, Meet Kettle
ya, plus the fireworks (on the footprints) were real...
...they just could not film it live because of bad visibility. They provided the footage to the broadcasters so they could plug it in. The broadcasters should put a caption that this was an animated footage if saying so on the air wasn't enough.
The CNN artice heading made it sound like they had to digitally enchance the fireworks to put extra stuff in that wasn't there.
When I saw the footprints, I did wonder how they were able to get the filming done so perfectly live on a moving nighttime copter.
Errr did the Chinese invent this?
Helluva title :~
I agree that the some Chinese gymnasts look suspiciously underage, but plz, everyone is innocent until being proven guilty, and THAT is an idea from the west. People can accuse IOC all they want, yet since they're the authority controlling the Olympics' related matters, don't pin their
corruptionincompetence on the Chinese government 'cuz I doubt China has full control of IOC.As for those two little girls, it's kinda pathetic that in this age our appearance is overvalued. But really, if that little girl was a boy, she could still be replaced by a supposedly cuter boy which has little to do with her gender. Not to mention that this issue concerns more with appearance or gender, less with a specific nation. Hence the title of this article is somewhat unsuitable for its intention.
A few posters mentioned fake market in Beijing. Well, I know it's kinda true as a Taiwanese . However, I swear I read somewhere that a female US footballer said she really wanted to visit the "fake market." And I've heard so many westerners have major interests in buying bargains, knowing those are fakes beforehand. It's a lil' hypocritical, isn't it?
Okay, my point is that is it really necessary to say "China likes to fake it?" By making it the title of this post, it's certainly eye-catching and accusing the entire nation of cheaters and fakers. Then, following this logic, if I say "American track and filed athletes like to fake it," given that some of USA's star athletes were caught doping, it would be appropriate then?
Integrity
It would be nice if countries, as well as, individuals had integrity as their highest value. But we just aren't there yet. We live in a "winner takes it all" world. This attitude makes people do crazy things.
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