A good article but spare us the moral dilemma. I like to think I would have not participated - despite a genuine curiousity and the fact I'm bad at pantomime - but mostly because I like to deny any and all the pleasure of their simple-minded caricatures.

it's really a vivid discription of the gala. sometimes even we chinese cant understand the censor in the entertainment gala,let alone your foreigners. but a saying said things do exist in a reason, maybe we should try to understand why.

Very well-written piece, thanks! I've been living in China for three years now, and have been asked to "play the role of a foreigner in a kind of elaborate political theater" many, many times. At first I was flattered, but eventually saw through it, and now I'm really, really annoyed.

For a show, the director controls the full picture. THere doesn't exist political leaders dictate the show. Audience being puppetlike, and lipsinging, is what needed by perfection, though i dont like it either.

Quite a typical westerner's reaction. S/he refuses to accept the decorative role assigned for him/her, therefore uses all the energy to resist it. Poor thing. If you can't enjoy it, why go in the first place?

In China, everything is making progress except the political institution. I love the fact that Olympics chose Beijing this time but political meddlers should keep their hands off this Games. One of my best friends once was working in BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games), where she describes might be the biggest bureaucratic organ, where everything must be arranged for the liking of the officials. Low-level employees are always demanded to work overtime wihtout proper premium. So she left and worked for a foreign company where job is demanding too but contribution and overtime would be fairly respected and compensated.

Yours is quite a typical defensive reaction of the blindly patriotic, insecure and unenlightened, "Zhang Fan".

She accepted it and went along with the show. She also did it as a project of a person that is involved in the media and is an observer. This report was a mere summary of her observations during all the hoopla. Did she resist? No. No need to be so thin skinned.

Typical and predictable as I have also seen "live" audience show productions here in China and they are so micromanaged and lame that I am surprised that any foreigner with an ounce of dignity didn't just walk off the stage at some point.

Interesting write up and informative for anyone else here that might consider participating in such banal fluff in the future.

In China, everything is making progress except the political institution. I love the fact that Olympics chose Beijing this time but political meddlers should keep their hands off this Games. One of my best friends once was working in BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games), where she describes might be the biggest bureaucratic organ, where everything must be arranged for the liking of the officials. Low-level employees are always demanded to work overtime wihtout proper premium. So she left and worked for a foreign company where job is demanding too but contribution and overtime would be fairly respected and compensated.

Why is there a profound lack of a sense of humor when reporters talk about China or the Olympics? How is the level of artifice and excess really different than your typical Superbowl half time show, except that your typical correspondent won't be allowed anywhere near the same level of access.

In China, everything is making progress except the political institution. I love the fact that Olympics chose Beijing this time but political meddlers should keep their hands off this Games. One of my best friends once was working in BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games), where she describes might be the biggest bureaucratic organ, where everything must be arranged for the liking of the officials. Low-level employees are always demanded to work overtime wihtout proper premium. So she left and worked for a foreign company where job is demanding too but contribution and overtime would be fairly respected and compensated.

An excellent mix of analysis, reportage and some humor, despite Petronius' gripe. (Loved the "native costumes ... Canadian lumberjack" aside.)
And yes, Petronius, the Superbowl halftime is elaborately choreographed, but not at the behest of federal bureaucrats and office holders. And it even has some celebrated gaffes. Does "Janet Jackson Nipplegate" ring a dim bell?
Very nice work, Ms Coffi. A distinct pleasure to read.

Dudes, you got to realize that these shows are meant for those "old people" who has to have their world-view projected them in a certain way. I think it's like church in a way that it gives some people a rigid and formal place; a frame-work for their sanity if you will- in order for their minds to properly function, in a ever weirder and changing kaleidoscopic world. It's a nice distraction. A place to swept the dust of post-modern insanity, for a little while at least.

It's all lies. But comforting lies.

After awhile most foreigners in China either embrace or detest being offered the part of performing monkey. However, some do remain ambivalent; Ms. Condi appears to be the latter and produced a nice essay showing a perspective I hadn't seen elsewhere.

To think that they intentionally had Mr. Vitas mispronounce bang! Why not just have him fumble with chopsticks in an endearingly bumbling way, ala Mr. Bean?

I'd bet the rent that in the coming weeks we find more and more stories like this, which is too bad because I really really dug the ceremonies but now that I know more about the duplicity/condescension/manipulation behind the whole thing...

The Honeymoon is over, babycakes!

I sort of agree with Merked. I was in Hunan for a few weeks and the family I was with would always be watching CCTV galas. I can't stand that stuff and would just daydream, but then I realized that these people had been watching these kinds of show all of their lives, they knew all the lyrics to the songs and just really quite enjoyed it. As a foreigner I'm often quick to criticize China, but it really takes a long time to get used to it and appreciate these things that are deeply ingrained cultural phenomenons. And it definetely takes time to change a country, I mean, you can't just turn around and tell everyone over fourty that everything they believe in is now out of date and unleash the glory and freedom of American tv upon them (Britney watch...).

Excellent article. Thanks to Ann for her contribution. I caught about half of the show the first night and again several days later on CCTV音乐. I then thought about it (i.e., couldn't get it out of my head) for days afterward. An excellent example of the kind of fascinating crap that is offered up by CCTV. During certain parts of the show, I thought I might actually die of a warm fuzzy. That part at the end when the two guys go on in spoken word form about the 100 year dream is murderously precious. Recommend it to all - look for the DVD or for a rebroadcast.

I've found that, in spite of the Party's heavy editorial hand, many Chinese really love this sort of thing. While my wife and I could barely stand to watch at times, her two younger cousins thought it was just great. Ask the average fenqing and you're likely to get a big thumbs up.

As to whether or it's cool or not for foreigners to subject themselves to such manipulation, I can't say. I made up my mind a long time ago not to participate in such events. Even so, I'm grateful to Ann for taking part - and then writing about her experience. Way to take one for the team. Great stuff.

You contributed to make China a great country! We need more naive and "running dog" foreigners like you!!! Love China, Love the Party!

Always knew the opening ceremonies would be a "Zhong xuan BU" production, just disappointed that this seemed to be right again. That poor little girl, what would she be thinking of her "shake-th-world" performance when she grows up? The parents of the other girl who actually sang the theme, they should be very proud of their little girl.

"Were we making our own small contribution to the multicultural “One World, One Dream” goal, or were we merely being suckered into realizing the dreams of the small group of powerful people who control China?"---I think you should first figure out what the 'One Dream" is for Chinese people. Our "one dream" here is to successfully host the Olympics, not to improve the human rights in minority groups, not to kill media censorship in our own TV shows. Otherwise, it will be too many "dreams" for us to achieve at one time. :)

"As long as this handful of officials with vested interests is dictating the message, the Chinese people are not truly free to dream their own dreams, whether or not they might include the Olympics."---To some extent, it is true. But as America did not turn " a land of dreams" overnight, China still has a long way to go. The good news is that we are approaching in this direction. At least we feel that we can realize more and more of our dreams as years go by. So be patient. More haste less speed!~~~:)

Yuck..."playing" a foreigner sounds insulting~

An excellent article - it expresses many of the thoughts I had about appearing on a similar but much smaller scale local 'spectacular'. I was also asked to perform a patronising parody of my country's national stereotypes, which I refused and was of course never invited again. But I am not just criticising Chinese TV - I have found western TV productions to be equally moronic

A man asked another:
If you HAVE TO choose between a pretty and a kind woman, what would be your decision?
- don't know

If you HAVE TO choose between living in Saudi with a BMW and Europe with a Polo, where would you live? (for simplicity sake environmental considerations have been excluded here, presumably)
- have to think

If you HAVE TO watch CCTV or CNN, ...?
- spare me, danwei then.

Sorry to hear that Ann Condi (is she a celebrity of some sort?) is undergoing such hardships in China. The stereotyping of foreign performers on Chinese TV reminds me to a lesser degree of favored Hollywood images of Asians as villains, houseboys, or kung fu masters. For anyone who remembers William Hung of American Idol fame, he was a caricature of the bumbling Asian nerd that white people could safely ridicule and laugh at.

Chinese TV might be vacuous for westerners, but pray the Chinese never produce their own versions of Jerry Springer, Wife Swapping, or Whacked Out Videos.

Obviously, shows, movies, pop concerts, etc. are fake. But we know they are fake. They are supposed to be fake.

But the Olympics are something else - they are an international official ceremony in which (in this case, Chinese) nationals stood up in public
and take an oath of honesty and fairness.

I don't mind if, say, Batman zooms off thanks to digital tricks. I do mind if an athlete cheats. It's not as bad if it's a performer or audience, but it's still not good.

As for the gymnasts, records from Chinese provincial competitions actually show these same girls to be 14 years old today. The fact that they seemingly "added" two years on relatively newly issued passports was questioned -- before the Games and before the U.S. was beaten.

Back to the Opening, I don't understand the comparisons to U.S. pop culture. Who uses Hollywood and the NFL as an anchor to reality, or a moral compass? If we do, we're all doomed.

"Dudes, you got to realize that these shows are meant for those "old people" who has to have their world-view projected them in a certain way."--Merked

I kind of agree with you. How come FOX News in the States doesn't get to use the same defense that you present for CCTV?

All this staging for the camera is no different than your typical 'reality' show here in the US. Do you really think those shows are 'reality'? They are all scripted. That's why all the b*tch sessions and catfights are all so painfully similar. Not to mention the old sitcoms- the audience were shown 'laugh' and 'applaud' signs. Of course- many of those sitcoms just made do with a pre-recorded laugh-track. How come nobody complains about the hokey fakeness of the laugh-tracks?

As to having to play 'the foreigner'- well how do you think we asian americans fare on american TV and movies? We are all stereotyped into our asian american roles too. I'm glad you find the tables turned for once just so you know how it feels.

It would be absolutely shocking if Li Ning faked his skills around the stadium with a harness. It shatters illusions if can't really fly.

Just read that lip synching isn't just a phenomena at the Beijing Olympics. Pavoratti also faked his singing at the Barcelona Olympics without informing the audience. Disgraceful that the Spanish government attempted a coverup.

Pavarotti used his own recorded voice to lip-sync his Olympic performance; it wasn't one of the other two tenors. Therefore any comparison between Pavarotti and Peiyi holds about as much weight as a 14 year old Chinese gymnast. Lin Miaoke's voice was not good enough to sing, but her mouth was deemed operational for the national interest.

What "profound lack of sense of humor"? You probably have missed Mr. Chen Qigang's interview keynotes?

Non of my business but do hope Yang Peiyi's parents please leave her teeth alone! She looks as originally cute as mmany other kids except has an angel's voice.

The more I think about it, it's just irrational to "trip" about stupid stereotypes. I mean everyone has stereotypes, google it :)

Like Asian are good at math *rolls eyes* (I once walked past this wall full of posters with all these Chinese looking people on it. Like sirens sweetly whispering, come, come to our math programs; programs with names that you won't ever hope to comprehend, come, join the dark side, fufill in duty in sterotypes), or like that Chinese one where Westerners have big noses, LOL.

So what? Everyone's got them. Everyone needs a laugh once in awhile. Just relax.

And these expats in China, who ever thought about what they go through? They're also away from "home" trying to make a living. It's the same human experience.

Sigh... it's all cliches.

Back on topic, both these kids are cute. I just don't get it.

In Canada I'm always asked during a school play or some concert that requires an "asian" element to "do my asian stuff". They readily believe I can do martial arts or any number of stereotype cliches on stage so that the production can look "multicultural". Most people don't even know the difference between a Japanese/Korean/Chinese and just relegate us to "asian". During these productions organizers want to present a "cultral mosaic" of Canadian life, but in reality most Canadians can't even name 10 minorities. I don't know about the US but this practice is common in Europe.

I think this phenomenon of relegating foreigners to their respective roles has more to do with nostalgia than being insulting. For example when visitors come to China they have a preconceived image of China mostly to do with the old culture so when they visit Beijing or Xi'an they rather see historical sites as they believe this is the "real" China. The same dilemma plays out in the tearing down of hutongs. Foreigners see the destruction of the hutongs as an abomination because they believe the old represents the real China and is being eroded, and tearing it down is like destroying Shangri-la. At the opposite end, the Chinese are trying to modernize and see the Hutong as old buildings, a relic of the past. From the perspective of many hutong residents, if they were given proper compensation they would glady move out as some have put it "why would we want to stay and share a communal bathroom with other families if the government didn't subsidize our rent". This shows a contrast between how foreigners and locals think about many issues. The point I'm trying to make is when Canadians ask me to "do my asian stuff" they see it as a sign of respect to my heritage and to showcase asian culture albeit very stereotypical from my perspective. For the Chinese it's the same thing, by inviting you to these galas they see it as a sign of honouring your culture even if it might seem to you that you're reduced to the "foreigner" role as I am in Canada. I think you should keep an open mind about the cultural differences and realize they're not trying to be condescending but trying to show respect by inviting you to present your own culture.

Check out "CCTV内部晚会", on youtube. the CCTV people hates it too, and manage to make a internal parody to it. But back to the subject... that's the reason why we seek Phoenix Sat. and Hunan Sat. for entertainment.

I watch youtube: A couple years ago, Danwei posted about that and other CCTV parodies. They weren't on YouTube at the time, though.

Have you been to a Letterman taping in New York City? It's exactly the same thing: audiences are told to not wear anything with explicit words/slogans, told to applaud and encouraged to laugh even when the jokes are not funny, and worst of all, celebrity guests sits down for fake interviews with the same kind of banter Letterman has been doing for the past 25 years - questions and answers should "sound" smart but actually all within expected limitations.

In another word, there should be no surprises.

This is entertainment, but entertainment specifically produced on TV for specific purposes and carefully choreographed to achieve intended effects -- what else do you expect? A spontaneous and random event? This isn't a hippie fest, after all.

I believe everywhere is the same: America, China, South Africa: diversity is a term people use everywhere but it's really a tool that looks nice, underneath it all the haves and the have-nots are still separated by color.

"...what was my Canadian friend supposed to wear? A lumberjack outfit?"

It would have been simply "glorious" if Ms. Condi's friend did wear that & was asked to sing a typical Canuack "folk" song, such as ... err, Micheal Palin's "Lumberjack Song"? :-D

To Yuan: re: 'Have you been to a Letterman taping in New York City? It's exactly the same thing'

Yes, 'live' TV shows in other countries may be choreographed, but the target audience is still for the masses to enjoy, not for the pleasure of a few elite 'guan yuan' who need pampering. Even CCTV9 is meant for the officials' enjoyment, of whom only a handful speak English...I mean why else would the content still seem like it was written by half-wits?--these are very intelligent, knowledgeable people writing stories and hosting at CCTV, but for some reason they decide to prostrate themselves at the feet of these 'leaders' who have the status of demigods...Chinese indeed hold onto their history, and obviously also won't let go of their 5000-year old way of governance.

My question for all is: Have these directors/producers at CCTV read any Lu Xun lately? I think its time to draw upon the true strength and quality of the population, and start doing good for the whole nation, not just the VIP.

Not all foreigners are unhappy about being used by Chinese for propaganda purposes. In fact, some of them dream of being used and playing happy foreigners in China. There is this incredible story about French kindergarten "munny" (male nunny) who agreed to land his name to a song about the Olympics written by an anonymous Chinese composer; all this to be on Chinese TV. Soon after he was kicked out by the very same decision-makers and is now going after them with the copy-right claims. French are great!

i'd like to address "how come FOX News in the States doesn't get to use the same defense that you present for CCTV?", also known as the "difference between letterman and chinamen" argument.

underneath it all, all the world over, we're subjected to the same manufactured crap wherever we turn. what is the real difference between the west and china?

only experience.

china is a fairly "young" market. ten thousand years of history, but only the last ten can be even vaguely considered modern. i'm certain party considers the opening ceremonies to be the height of china's modernity - but what would they know?

in 20 years, they'll realise they can exert the same level of control with a much smaller public relations footprint. "privatization" of the once sacred golden cows will give party elders a respectable illusion of separation. they'll discover that it's cheaper, and more effective, NOT to educate the population. they'll realise that engaging in meaningful discourse is a waste of time, when it's easier to simply distract voters with war, and lipsynching barbies and topless dancers on MTV.

to all the whinging (and ultimately meddlesome) foreigners, i can only plead for patience. give china time, and i promise you these 1.3 billion people will be lowered to your level soon enough, and they'll be damn self-satisfied about it too, all the way down...

everything has to be political correct in this country,and for the olympic propaganda,i think the government is just useing u guys