Emaciated Chineseness : a semiotic analysis of how China is visually translated at the opening ceremony of the 29th Summer Olympics
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Asian Social Science
Publication Date
5-2010
Volume
6
Issue
5
First Page
50
Last Page
55
Publisher
Canadian Center of Science and Education
Keywords
Semiotic analysis, Cultural translation, Beijing Olympics, Chinese culture
Abstract
This paper proposes to examine how China was presented at the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games. To showcase China to the rest of the world was one of the objectives of the opening ceremony but it had to be done in such a way that the main course of the Olympic narrative would not be much affected – a constraint which greatly reduced the Chineseness of the event. Secondly, selecting symbols of China for the grand occasion was itself a process that would emaciate the whole way of life called Chinese culture. This was complicated by the fact the director and his team had the moral obligations to counter the Orientalist discourse when the Olympic Games were held in their own country.
DOI
10.5539/ass.v6n5p50
Print ISSN
19112017
E-ISSN
19112025
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Ding, E. (2010) Emaciated Chineseness: A Semiotic Analysis of How China Is Visually Translated at the Opening Ceremony of the 29th Summer Olympics. Asian Social Science, 6(5), 50-55. doi: 10.5539/ass.v6n5p50