China bans time travel from TV

[Steyin]

Along with several other things:

http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/14/china-bans-time-travel-for-television/?hpt=C2

Hong Kong, China (CNN) – China has been cracking down on dissent of late, as the recent detainment of artist Ai Weiwei suggests.
But the latest guidance on television programming from the State Administration of Radio Film and Television in China borders on the surreal – or, rather, an attack against the surreal.

New guidelines issued on March 31 discourages plot lines that contain elements of "fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking."

“The government says … TV dramas shouldn’t have characters that travel back in time and rewrite history. They say this goes against Chinese heritage,” reports CNN’s Eunice Yoon. “They also say that myth, superstitions and reincarnation are all questionable.”

The Chinese censors seem to be especially sensitive these days. But for the television and film industry, such strictures would seem to eliminate any Chinese version of “Star Trek,” “The X-Files,” “Quantum Leap” or “Dr. Who.” And does that mean rebroadcast of huge Hollywood moneymakers like “Back to the Future” and the “Terminator” series are now forbidden?

These guidelines will certainly add a creative challenge to Chinese writers, producers and directors.

Well, ain't that a kick in the pants.

Not sure if this belongs here entirely, so mods feel free to move this if need be.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

This is the country that will lead us into the 21st century. A repressive socialist single-party state with no regards for human rights, environmental destruction or freedom of expression.

 

[bullets]

Great Scott!


China doesn't understand fiction , lol.

 

[Nemi]

Is this the part where we all post gifs and pictures to show just how ridiculous we think this is?

 

[Anno_Domini]

They're banning time travel because they already know how.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Of course, we all know what's behind this:

DALEKS!!!

Seriously though, what do we expect? This is a country where people don't get to vote, they don't get to practice the religion they want to, the government tells you how many children you can have, etc. The lack of HG Wells should be the last thing we should be concerned about.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

These guidelines will certainly add a creative challenge to Chinese writers, producers and directors. CNN.com’s Dean Irvine wondered how some classic time travel films might be re-imagined minus the time travel:

from when the hell did i work for cnn, i want my money

 

[Drizzle]

 

[Doc Vape]

Same country has a "world of Warcraft" theme park, go figure

 

[Ultra Lantern]

This is a strange world we live in.

 

[Doc Ock]

Thats...******ed. Im my humble opinion. Thats all I can really say.

 

[Harry_Lime02]

So they can only watch the first two seasons of LOST? Damn.

 

[Lord Valumart]

I wouldn't want to live in a world where Dr Sam Beckett didn't get home... wait...

 

[DarkSovereignty]

welcome to the machine china

 

[Wheels]

I wouldn't want to live in a world where Dr Sam Beckett didn't get home... wait...

Man I love Quantum Leap, I was watching it today on Netflix.

 

[Pink Ranger]

So they can only watch the first two seasons of LOST? Damn.

Right, the Chinese will never find out what the island is really about. Just like Americans never did.

 

[Wheels]

I always called LOST Clusterf*** Island.

 

[Ponyboy]

China hates Michael J. Fox.

 

[Manic]

"bizarre plots"
"absurd techniques"
"ambiguous moral lessons"

Thank god they made Shaolin Soccer years ago.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So the Chinese won't get to watch Bill and Ted? Shame. They won't get to find out that Satan is an excellent bass player.

 

[Trainwreck2100]

So the Chinese won't get to watch Bill and Ted? Shame. They won't get to find out that Satan is an excellent bass player.

i thought death was the bass player

 

[Wheels]

i thought death was the bass player

Yep.

 

[TX85]

First Australia bans tons of games and now China are banning a whole lot of stuff for TV!?

 

[Ultra Lantern]

First Australia bans tons of games and now China are banning a whole lot of stuff for TV!?

I feel bad for the children of Japan.

 

[TX85]

I'm guessing it's the end of all power rangers&anime other there!