Revisiting the Opening Ceremony Scandal
By Diana Jou - Aug 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pmEarlier in the week there were reports that the little girl who sang “Ode to the Motherland” during the Olympic opening ceremonies was switched for a prettier girl, who lip-synched the song over the original girl’s recorded vocals. This situation was reported as a prime example of China being mercilessly obsessed with its image.
My fellow blogger, Brad, argues:
But the real issue here is the way that China treats its citizens–as commodities. The girl had her own bit to contribute, but because she wasn’t perfect, she was hurried out of sight and replaced with the shining image of modern China that Beijing is trying to project.
First off, the argument that China will do anything to appear perfect is rather weak. If that were true, they country’s Olympics organizers would have conducted a more extensive search for the “perfect” girl in the first place.
I also think the emphasis is misplaced. The swap actually reflects a much larger issue with the standards of the entertainment industry or any visual production. The superficial aspect of creating something based purely on visual aesthetics is nothing new. When Heidi Klum says, “one minute you’re in and the next you’re out” she is representing the views of discriminating casting directors. It is too easy to blame only China for the unjust system of the entertainment world. The true crime is the last-minute, live-rehearsal switcharoo, not the emphasis on image.
If America represents a modern society, with our reality shows, kinder pageants, and lip-synching pop sensations, then perhaps China has joined the ranks and truly entered the age of commercial appeal and technological alterations.
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