Difference between revisions of "China Central Television (CCTV)"

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[[File:China Central Television HQ, from China World Trade Centre.jpg|200px|thumb]]
 
[[File:China Central Television HQ, from China World Trade Centre.jpg|200px|thumb]]
<b>China Central Television</b> (CCTV) is the national flagship terrestrial television network of the People's Republic of China. It broadcasts a range of programs from China Central Television Headquarters at East 3rd Ring Road in Beijing and is available to both cable and terrestrial television viewers.<ref>[https://www.tvchinese.net/cctv/cctv1/ TV Chinese]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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<b>China Central Television</b> (CCTV) is the People's Republic of China's national terrestrial television network. It is open to both cable and satellite television audiences and streams a number of programming from China Central Television Headquarters on East 3rd Ring Road in Beijing.<ref>[https://www.tvchinese.net/cctv/cctv1/ TV Chinese]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
CCTV was established on 1 May 1958 to be a state-owned news and public opinion steering agency, acting as a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party. CCTV has a variety of functions, such as news communication, social education, culture, and entertainment information services. As a state television station it is responsible to both the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Central_Television#cite_note-Zhu2010-4 China Central Television]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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The Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, CCTV, was established on May 1, 1958 as a state-owned news and public opinion steering agency. CCTV covers a range of roles, including news distribution, social education, culture, and entertainment information. It is accountable to both the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council as a state television channel.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Central_Television#cite_note-Zhu2010-4 China Central Television]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
CCTV has a network of 50 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers in six different languages. Most of its programmes are a mixture of news, documentary, social education, comedy, entertainment, and drama, the majority of which consists of Chinese soap operas and entertainment.
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CCTV has a network of 50 channels that broadcast a variety of programs to over one billion audiences in six foreign languages. The bulk of its services are a blend of news, documentary, social education, comedy, entertainment, and drama, with Chinese soap operas and entertainment accounting for the majority of them.
  
In 2018 CCTV New Year’s Gala also known as the Spring Festival Gala an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year has drawn global criticism for its offensive caricatures and a story line about Africans’ admiration for China.
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The CCTV New Year's Gala, also known as the Spring Festival Gala, an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year, drew international backlash in 2018 for its racist caricatures and a plot line about Africans' appreciation for China.
  
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==
 
[[File:Chinese New Year Gala.jpg|300px|thumb]]
 
[[File:Chinese New Year Gala.jpg|300px|thumb]]
The controversial skit, set in Kenya, begins with an African-themed dance set to "Waka Waka" (This Time for Africa) by Colombian singer Shakira. Dark skinned men and "animals" dancing to the song like African.
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The notorious skit starts with an African-themed dance set to Colombian singer Shakira's "Waka Waka" (This Time for Africa). African-style dances of dark-skinned men and "animals."
  
In the New Year’s skit, the Chinese-built railway linking Mombasa and Nairobi has just opened, and a railway trainer, played by the gala’s Chinese co-host, compliments a group of African train attendants on their command of Chinese.
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The Chinese-built railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi has just opened in the gala's New Year's skit, and a railway trainer, played by the gala's Chinese co-host, compliments a group of African train attendants on their command of Chinese.
 
[[File:CCTV new year gala.jpg|thumb]]
 
[[File:CCTV new year gala.jpg|thumb]]
The trainer explains that he’s to marry his Chinese fiancée later that day, but a young African woman — another train attendant — ropes him into pretending they’re in love to get out of a blind date set up by her mother, played by Chinese actress Lou Naiming, who appears in blackface as a Kenyan mother trying to find a husband for her young daughter.
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The trainer explains that he's planning to marry his Chinese fiancée later that day, but a young African woman — another train attendant — convinces him to say they're in love in order to avoid a blind date set up by her mother, played by Chinese actress Lou Naiming, who plays a Kenyan mother looking for a husband for her young daughter in blackface.
  
When the groom’s older brother arrives, he cracks a joke about African transportation. “When I got off the plane, I rented an African public bike [a giraffe],” his brother said, pointing to an actor dressed as a giraffe.
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The groom's older brother makes a joke about African transportation as he returns. “I rented an African public bike [a giraffe] when I got off the plane,” his brother said, referring to an actor dressed as a giraffe.
  
When the trainer’s Chinese bride arrives, the African attendant is forced to tell her mother that she lied to get out of the blind date.<ref>Solomon, Salem. [https://www.voanews.com/africa/chinese-new-year-skit-sparks-backlash-over-relationship-africa Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa], VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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The African attendant is compelled to tell her mother that she cheated to get out of the blind date when the trainer's Chinese bride arrives.<ref>Solomon, Salem. [https://www.voanews.com/africa/chinese-new-year-skit-sparks-backlash-over-relationship-africa Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa], VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
 
==Why is it Controversial?==
 
==Why is it Controversial?==
The skit, which was apparently intended to celebrate China’s relationship with African countries, came during the 2018 edition of the CCTV New Year’s Gala – also known as the Spring Festival Gala – an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year that gets as many as 800 million viewers.<ref>Wilkinson, James. [https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2133558/racist-chinese-spring-festival-gala-tv-show-causes-consternation ‘Racist’ Chinese Spring Festival Gala TV show causes uproar over ‘blackface and big bottoms’], South China Morning Post scmp.com, 16 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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The skit aired during the 2018 edition of the CCTV New Year's Gala – also known as the Spring Festival Gala – an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year that draws up to 800 million viewers.<ref>Wilkinson, James. [https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2133558/racist-chinese-spring-festival-gala-tv-show-causes-consternation ‘Racist’ Chinese Spring Festival Gala TV show causes uproar over ‘blackface and big bottoms’], South China Morning Post scmp.com, 16 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
The 13-minute segment has caused anger online for using a Chinese actor dressed in blackface and giant fake buttocks to depict an African character. This skit also featured several dozen African actors, a Chinese co-host, and several actors were also dressed as animals, including an actor from Cote d’Ivoire in a monkey costume.<ref>Solomon, Salem. [https://www.voanews.com/africa/chinese-new-year-skit-sparks-backlash-over-relationship-africa Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa], VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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The 13-minute segment ignited controversy online for depicting an African character with a Chinese actor clad in blackface and giant fake buttocks. Several dozen African performers, a Chinese co-host, and several actors dressed as animals, including a Cote d'Ivoire actor in a monkey suit, were also included in this skit.<ref>Solomon, Salem. [https://www.voanews.com/africa/chinese-new-year-skit-sparks-backlash-over-relationship-africa Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa], VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
 
==Backlash==
 
==Backlash==
The skit drew a prompt backlash on social media, with viewers in and out of China expressing astonishment and disgust. Hansi Lo Wang, a correspondent with National Public Radio (NPR), called out the racial stereotypes. "<i>Happy Lunar New Year! China’s most-watched TV event kicked it off with blackface & racial stereotypes in a skit about a worker for a Chinese-built railway in Kenya trying to get out of a blind date!</i>"<ref>[https://twitter.com/hansilowang/status/964364320749494272 Hansi Lo Wang Twitter]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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The skit sparked outrage on social media, with fans from all over the world sharing their shock and indignation. Hansi Lo Wang, a National Public Radio (NPR) correspondent, pointed out the ethnic stereotypes. "<i>Happy Lunar New Year! China’s most-watched TV event kicked it off with blackface & racial stereotypes in a skit about a worker for a Chinese-built railway in Kenya trying to get out of a blind date!</i>"<ref>[https://twitter.com/hansilowang/status/964364320749494272 Hansi Lo Wang Twitter]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
Even a Chinese citizen herself express her disgust to the skit by tweeting, "<i>CCTV’s racist show during Spring Gala shook me and made me so ashamed of China and my people. They literally had blackface on stage, had an African actor to play a monkey and a African actress yelling “I love China!” Racism is global y’all...</i>"<ref>[https://twitter.com/iamHuizit/status/964312803573141504 Huizit Twitter]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
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A Chinese citizen herself express her disgust to the skit by tweeting, "<i>CCTV’s racist show during Spring Gala shook me and made me so ashamed of China and my people. They literally had blackface on stage, had an African actor to play a monkey and a African actress yelling “I love China!” Racism is global y’all...</i>"<ref>[https://twitter.com/iamHuizit/status/964312803573141504 Huizit Twitter]. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref>
  
 
==External Link==
 
==External Link==

Revision as of 14:36, 14 March 2021

China Central Television HQ, from China World Trade Centre.jpg

China Central Television (CCTV) is the People's Republic of China's national terrestrial television network. It is open to both cable and satellite television audiences and streams a number of programming from China Central Television Headquarters on East 3rd Ring Road in Beijing.[1]

The Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, CCTV, was established on May 1, 1958 as a state-owned news and public opinion steering agency. CCTV covers a range of roles, including news distribution, social education, culture, and entertainment information. It is accountable to both the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council as a state television channel.[2]

CCTV has a network of 50 channels that broadcast a variety of programs to over one billion audiences in six foreign languages. The bulk of its services are a blend of news, documentary, social education, comedy, entertainment, and drama, with Chinese soap operas and entertainment accounting for the majority of them.

The CCTV New Year's Gala, also known as the Spring Festival Gala, an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year, drew international backlash in 2018 for its racist caricatures and a plot line about Africans' appreciation for China.

Plot

Chinese New Year Gala.jpg

The notorious skit starts with an African-themed dance set to Colombian singer Shakira's "Waka Waka" (This Time for Africa). African-style dances of dark-skinned men and "animals."

The Chinese-built railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi has just opened in the gala's New Year's skit, and a railway trainer, played by the gala's Chinese co-host, compliments a group of African train attendants on their command of Chinese.

CCTV new year gala.jpg

The trainer explains that he's planning to marry his Chinese fiancée later that day, but a young African woman — another train attendant — convinces him to say they're in love in order to avoid a blind date set up by her mother, played by Chinese actress Lou Naiming, who plays a Kenyan mother looking for a husband for her young daughter in blackface.

The groom's older brother makes a joke about African transportation as he returns. “I rented an African public bike [a giraffe] when I got off the plane,” his brother said, referring to an actor dressed as a giraffe.

The African attendant is compelled to tell her mother that she cheated to get out of the blind date when the trainer's Chinese bride arrives.[3]

Why is it Controversial?

The skit aired during the 2018 edition of the CCTV New Year's Gala – also known as the Spring Festival Gala – an annual variety show broadcast for the Lunar New Year that draws up to 800 million viewers.[4]

The 13-minute segment ignited controversy online for depicting an African character with a Chinese actor clad in blackface and giant fake buttocks. Several dozen African performers, a Chinese co-host, and several actors dressed as animals, including a Cote d'Ivoire actor in a monkey suit, were also included in this skit.[5]

Backlash

The skit sparked outrage on social media, with fans from all over the world sharing their shock and indignation. Hansi Lo Wang, a National Public Radio (NPR) correspondent, pointed out the ethnic stereotypes. "Happy Lunar New Year! China’s most-watched TV event kicked it off with blackface & racial stereotypes in a skit about a worker for a Chinese-built railway in Kenya trying to get out of a blind date!"[6]

A Chinese citizen herself express her disgust to the skit by tweeting, "CCTV’s racist show during Spring Gala shook me and made me so ashamed of China and my people. They literally had blackface on stage, had an African actor to play a monkey and a African actress yelling “I love China!” Racism is global y’all..."[7]

External Link

Watch the video at Youtube
13 minutes video at Youtube

References

  1. TV Chinese. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  2. China Central Television. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  3. Solomon, Salem. Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa, VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  4. Wilkinson, James. ‘Racist’ Chinese Spring Festival Gala TV show causes uproar over ‘blackface and big bottoms’, South China Morning Post scmp.com, 16 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  5. Solomon, Salem. Chinese New Year Skit Sparks Backlash Over Relationship with Africa, VOA, 18 February 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  6. Hansi Lo Wang Twitter. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  7. Huizit Twitter. Retrieved December 25, 2020.