Chinese media, advertising, and urban life.

Put down the gun

On 29 February, at the end of a notice summarizing the applications for new television shows that had been received registered that month, SARFT reiterated its disapproval of crime dramas (涉案剧):

For several months, the number of crime dramas applying for registration from all regions of the country has rebounded. In order to correct the attitude of series creators, ensure the healthy development of artistic works like crime dramas, maintain clean screens, resist the tide of vulgarity, and establish a positive social environment for young people to grow up into healthy adults, the Administration reiterates the following three points regarding crime dramas: (1) we do not encourage crime reenactments; (2) we do not encourage documentary-style crime dramas; (3) we do not encourage serial crime dramas whose main plotline is a major crime. Producers and broadcast regulators are requested to treat this matter seriously.

It was only last September that SARFT canceled the popular Red Question Mark series, which reenacted crimes committed by women, but apparently that lesson didn't sink in.

Although the Administration has placed limits on crime dramas for many years, it still issues periodic reminders to producers and local television regulators about restrictions on content and broadcast time.

December's monthly notice, for example, contained the following: