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2-D Avatar To Be Pulled From Theaters In China
SimonTheSoundMan notes that Avatar is being pulled from screens in China for being too successful, and too provocative in its anti-authoritarian message. (The 3-D and IMAX versions will remain.) "The communist nation's state-run movie distributor China Film Group is unexpectedly yanking the James Cameron-directed blockbuster Avatar from 1,628 2-D screens this week in favor of a biography of the ancient philosopher Confucius starring Chow-Yun Fat. ... According to a report in the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, the move was made at the urging of propaganda officials who are concerned that Avatar is taking too much market share from Chinese films and drawing unwanted attention to the sensitive issue of forced evictions."
Those who imagined that Google was taking a principled stand against Chinese dictatorship might want to read this article in Foreign Policy:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/01/14/chinas_foreign_internet_purge
It builds a strong case that Google was simply cornered into protesting by an extreme and deliberate provocation - the most recent of many that have chased out by blocking or having their buttons pushed until they walked.
After reading it, I can't help but think that this is yet another case of protectionism disguised as censorship. That sounds strange - to most at /. that's like disguising a common assault as a kidnaping. But, of course, to the money guys at the top, protectionism is by far the worse - and more actionable - sin.
It is a bit more nuanced than that: no one is thinking that Avatar hates China, the fact is, as a side theme, Avatar features forced eviction. It wasn't Cameron's primary idea to attack eminent domain, but a lot of Chinese have latched onto it because eminent domain is a serious problem in China right now. The government has forced a lot of people to move, because of all the development that's been going on. Here is a picture of one awesome example.
Because most of the people are opposed to developer's actions in such cases, it has created a rift between the government and the people. The government has required all news organizations to stop reporting on eminent domain cases, and now here is a movie that features forced eviction, and shows how to fight against it. People in China have latched on to that theme.
Qxe4
When the Chinese became part of the WTO, they signed treaties stating:
"China will provide non-discriminatory treatment to all WTO Members. All foreign individuals and enterprises, including those not invested or registered in China, will be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to enterprises in China with respect to the right to trade." - WTO, 2001
In other words, "all foreign enterprises will be treated the same as domestic enterprises in China".
By pulling Avatar in favor of domestic movies, limiting foreign films to 10 days run time, and limiting the number of screens available China is violating its commitments under the law. It would be like the US banning Chinese manufactured imports because those imports were too successful compared to domestic brands.
China needs to honor its commitments to free trade, or be kicked out of the WTO. Which, coincidentally, would make it legal for the US to ban their imports.
Wait - you say that like pissing off (or on) the US and the MPAA is a "BAD THING". I don't see it, myself.
You don't? Because I do. Chances are a large percentage of your technology and your modern culture come from the U.S. No matter how trendy it is to hate them for being large, somewhat insular and comfortably well-off, you can't deny that the U.S. contributes a lot to the rest of the world. And no, I'm not from the states - I just hate the hypocrisy of people who eagerly download movies made with MPAA money while badmouthing all that is American in some vain attempt to appear 'cultured'.
Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.