Play the Game of Life
Ryan Petersen's Blog

In developing modern transportation systems throughout the country, China has wisely invested a significant amount of its new wealth in flat screen monitors to carry important images of devious white folks making fools of other buffoonish white people for the hidden camera. Judging by the silly hairstyles, these candid scenes were either shot in the 1980s or in present day France. Wherever they were filmed, they never, ever, present any Asian people being made to look like fools. Rather, commuters throughout China are entertained by a steady stream of good-natured, monkey-like caucasians.

The most substantial exposure some Chinese ever get to western society may just be through the scenes of some guy walking up to a table of tourists and eating their French fries uninvited, or of a wicked lady who plants a timed smoke bomb in a ringing public telephone to scare the bejesus out of passersby. Could these films be helping to form perceptions about us foreign barbarians?

Now, lets not take this analysis of the sociological implications of candid camera too seriously, but come on, can't they at least laugh at some Chinese people getting tricked on TV? How amusing to watch the furious reaction of a Chinese guy who's mianzi (face) had been compromised by a silly TV prankster. Of course, that might not capture the same light-hearted feeling the screens are trying to bring to the daily grind of the masses.

Labels: china