[lit-ideas] Tibet, Google and Moomins
- From: Teemu Pyyluoma <teme17@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:04:25 -0700 (PDT)
Too weird not to pass on, translation mine. From Helsingin Sanomat news paper
web site, while waiting for a better one, my translation:
Chinese Officials want to censor Moomins
23.4.2010 21:22 Petteri Tuohinen
Helsingin Sanomat
Stage version of Moomin Pappa at sea is to premier in Shanghai. Official
censors have critized the play for not making a clear enough distinction
between good and evil.
A co-production of Svenksa Teatern (Swedish language theatre in Helsinki) and
Chinese actors has been approved by the officials, but now they want changes
made.
"I have not accepted changes", says director Anneli Mäkelä.
For example the boogie man (troll? I don't know what the character is in
English translation) has been a source of confusion, being in its own way
enduring and someone to relate to. The invidiualism of Moomin Pappa is also a
source of puzzlement.
Chinese theather manager Xia Xiaoxue understands the censors. Cultural
differences between Finland and China are big.
"According to Chinese tradition of teaching parents tell childeren what is good
and what is evil. In the play characters each have their own character, and are
not clearly good or evil", Xia wonders.
I wonder what they would make of the 60's comic strips of Moomins experimenting
with psychedelic drugs. Seriously, I understand cultural differences, but I
don't understand why do a foreign play in the first place if you don't want it
to be foreign?
Cheers,
Teemu
Helsinki, Finland
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