Front Page of the Day

Please step away from the horror film

JDM080215liaoshenwanbaos.jpg
Liaoshen Daily
February 15, 2008

The endless stream of cultural content regulations issued by GAPP and SARFT may not be very stimulating reading, but the reaction from the media can be quite entertaining. Usually this takes the form of parodies and mockery cooked up by online commenters, but occasionally the traditional press will contribute something interesting.

Take today's Liaoshen Daily, for example: the cover story concerns GAPP's latest campaign against horror videos (as the notice itself mentions, this is a continuation of last year's Death Note-inspired ban on ghost stories in print). Illustrating this important report is a collage of horror movie posters (still bearing the watermark of the PCPop forums) covered in police tape and emblazoned with the title: "Ghost Film Banned."

Inside the paper, the actual report is fairly short: the proprietor of a DVD shop is quoted saying that it's mostly young people who buy horror films, a college student relates how he likes the thrills that come with watching (even if he has to cover his eyes at some points), and a parent tells of how her 14-year-old son couldn't fall asleep after watching a horror film. The paper notes that this is the sixth time that the state has ordered the confiscation of horror-themed materials.

The headline in the upper right reports that property taxes will not be implemented for at least the next two years. Apparently there was some confusion over central government plans, with previous reports claiming that Liaoning had been selected as a test site for a property tax system.

Below that is a report from yesterday's Valentine's Day festivities. 1,115 couples in Shenyang registered for a marriage license yesterday.

On the left is a headline that announces the streamlining of China's bureaucracy: three positions have been eliminated in each of the country's 31 province-level administrative teams.

And, in a piece of seasonal news, a fireworks stand in Shenyang exploded in the wee hours of the morning yesterday, when the owner was out for a drink. No one was injured.

There are currently 2 Comments for Please step away from the horror film.

Comments on Please step away from the horror film

i dont think they should be banned mostly because people know what theyre getting into.

It's the vewers choice whether they choose to see it or not, and also they can determine if the rading is appropriate for their age, also I believe that nothing visually seen can even compare to what goes on in the real world.

Are they banning horror films because of the Olympics?
??? How is that supposed to improve the image of China to the world? All it does is show that Chinese government is WTF crazy and oppressive.

Stupid.

Post a comment

All comments are moderated and subject to review by Danwei contributors and editors, but well-grounded and articulate comments will be published regardless of which way they lean. Because comments published on any website ultimately contribute to the character of that website, we may decline to publish comments that are irrelevant, redundant, or that do not adhere to generally accepted standards of courtesy; if you are looking for a fight, there are plenty of other venues available online.


Some useful html: <b>bold</b>, <i>italic</i>,
<a href="http://www.danwei.org">link</a>

Media Partners
Visit these sites for the latest China news
090609guardian2.png 090609CNN3.png
China Media Timeline
Major media events over the last three decades
Danwei Model Workers
laomo2008fpA.jpg
Recommended blogs and new media
Books on China
AXL091030storiesforthcoming.jpg
Princess Der Ling: Two Years in the Forbidden City: Two years in the Forbidden City is largely a reminiscence of the minutiae of life for one of history's most powerful women, by one of her court attendants, a Manchu noble's daughter by the name of Der Ling.
Carl Crow's The Long Road Back to China: In 1939 Carl Crow - an American journalist, advertising executive and author who had lived in Shanghai for 25 years until forced out by the Japanese - travelled up the Burma Road from Rangoon to Chongqing on assignment for Liberty magazine - 'the most interesting assignment I have ever been given'.
Front Page of the Day
A different newspaper every weekday
From the Vault
Classic Danwei posts
+ The 'national' in National Day (2006.10): Xiao Feng writes about China's national flavor, national curse, national bird, national car, and so forth, Dongfang Yu writes on the true meaning of China's National Day in the age of angry youth.
+ Don't ask so laowai don't have to tell (2008.07): An essay was written by Geremie Barmé, scholar, filmmaker and author of the new book The Forbidden City.
+ Religion and government in an uneasy mix (2008.03): Phoenix Weekly (凤凰周刊) article from October, 2007, on government influence on religious practice in Tibet.
Danwei Archives
Danwei Feeds
Via Feedsky rsschiclet2.png (on the mainland)
or Feedburner rsschiclet.gif (blocked in China)
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Main feed: Main posts (FB has top links)
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Top Links: Links from the top bar
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Danwei Jobs: Want ads
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Danwei Digest: Updated daily, 19:30