some random thoughts

There is a topic that has been discussed a lot recently in many main Chinese network website. The discussion started because of a series of photo with some people doing Peking Opera half naked. The photos were taken about 10 years ago, and recently some performers were actually doing that half naked Peaking Opera on stage. So Chinese people start talking about it and finally turning into sort of debate. And it was even on news channel right now. So basically, the hottest topic in China right now is should our traditional art being reproduced in such way? And is it still art?

Peking Opera is the most crucial traditional theatre performance in China, its like panda for China. So when performers were doing it half naked, most people can’t accept it. They are saying that this kind of adaptation ruined traditional Chinese art. Someone argue that it gave them a new level to look at the Peking Opera. So pornography or art,that became a debate.

 Since the purpose of these photos is not clear, I cannot really draw clear comments on that debate. But I think artists got the freedom on what he or she want to do, and the way how they do it. The kind of freedom gives them the possibility to reach something profound and great. And the various ways how they do it, such as nudity in the show, evokes the audiences with different emotions. But the issue is that these ways did not cross sort of morality line, like killing people and collect their bones in jars are considered as art for some freak. sorry if i am not making any sense.

And I do think that the makeup, costume and the sound in Peking opera are awesome.