Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

China Bans Horror Movies

Posted by Zonk on from the won't-someone-think-of-the-braaaaaiiinnnnsss dept.

KublaiKhan writes "According to an article on Reuters, the Chinese censors have decided that horror movies are verboten. 'Offending content included "wronged spirits and violent ghosts, monsters, demons, and other inhuman portrayals, strange and supernatural storytelling for the sole purpose of seeking terror and horror," the administration said. This is apparently a sort of Chinese version of the Jack Thompson effect, as the "mental health of adolescents" is cited as one of the reasons for the ban. Presumably, this ban — much like the spitting ban — is intended to improve China's image in the rest of the world before the Olympics open; but given the Streisand effect, would this ban perhaps unintentionally spur a surge of horror movie popularity in China?" Blizzard has had trouble with skeletons in World of Warcraft , and I imagine this decision stems from similar objections.

3 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. I didn't know what it was either by rolfwind · · Score: 4, Informative

    Figured it came from Southpark or something but it didn't...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

  2. Can't be true... by MickDownUnder · · Score: 3, Informative

    Their movie industry will be totally lost for plot lines...

    http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=chinese+ghost+stories

  3. Re:Geography 101 by jez9999 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Seeing how Canada is located in America, this is an easy mistake to make :).

    It's not, really. The common understanding is:
    America = USA
    US = USA
    USA = USA
    Canada = Canada
    North America = continent

    --
    == Jez ==
    Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.