Kitsch version of reality

Comment on "A toothless victim of its own success" (China Daily, Jan 28)

I thank Raymond Zhou for his comments on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. I'm so glad he also feels the event "is by no means a reflection of Chinese reality" and a "saccharine version of forced joy and a pain to watch".

As a foreigner, I feel I have to be careful about what I say and who I say it to while criticizing what is considered an "iconic cultural event" for Chinese people. After reading my thoughts in Zhou's words, I felt a whole lot more comfortable that my views are shared by, at least, a reasonable cross-section of the Chinese people.

Chinese society has changed significantly over the past few years but the CCTV gala does not represent that change. It represents an age when television was considered the latest luxury item.

Now that most of the Chinese people are living a more comfortable life what they need are things that give meaning to their lives. The CCTV Spring Festival Gala presents a contrived but kitsch version of Chinese culture; it is almost entirely devoid of meaning or, in Zhou's words, "it is a toothless victim of its own success".

Ross Grainger, via e-mail

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