Yesterday, our TV appendage TV Blend brought news that the Chinese government is banning American animation like "The Simpsons" and "Looney Tunes" in order to force the Chinese people to watch exclusively Chinese programming.
Apparently, that was just the tip of the iceberg. It seems the Chinese government is in the midst of a major crackdown on entertainment. Now The Guardian is reporting that the communist curmudgeons are cracking down on online short films that lampoon the Chinese government. Look out YouTube.
The government's oppressive administration is currently drafting rules to block internet broadcasts of films they deem to be unacceptable, in particular short films that satirize "approved culture products". Basically folks, they're no longer going to put up with people making fun of their government.
In the rest of the world, the internet has been an unstoppable force for freedom of expression. Not in China. There, it's oppression that seems unstoppable. Any rumors you might have heard about China loosening up appear to have been grossly exaggerated. I guess this puts an end to my plans to launch an all Chinese branch of National Lampoon. Beijing Vacation will have to wait.
