But something happened that kinda struck me. Last week I talked about the disconnect between what I thought of communism versus the experiences of those that have lived it. On Tuesday, this hit pretty close to home. Look at this:
First off, it certainly isn't mine. It belongs to a Chinese exchange student we'll call Allie. She drew this image of Liu Xiaobo, for the final Illustration assignment where we had to make a piece to accompany a news article. That brown/red palette and the flowing robes completely suck me in. But I digress.
Xiaobo is a Chinese citizen who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. This was against the wishes of the government, who threw him in jail and prevented his relatives/friends from accepting the award on his behalf. Allie created this piece to accompany the commentary on this controversial story, and decided to post it on her blog to show all of her friends and family. She didn't even use tags or a description, but the Chinese government found the image and banned/deleted her entire blog. I don't have all of the exact details, but this is what I happen to understand of the situation.
Now I don't know if you've noticed, but I like my blog. It's one of my most effective means of catharsis, and I enjoy documenting all my useless thoughts and opinions to come back and review years/months down the road. I would be absolutely devastated if I were to lose everything I've accumulated so far. So in between that and belief that no one should have their ideas silenced, I did the only thing I could - I asked her permission to host the image. Somewhere, I hope, that the Chinese government wouldn't have control over. I certainly hope that's the case - I'd be equally anguished if I lost my images and their descriptions.
I find it a bit alarming and amusing by the 'stance' I've taken against oppression. Some people protest and risk life and limb to get a message across. I just put a picture on the internet, but I still think it's some kind of big deal. Really, it isn't. I haven't done anything noteworthy. I can't say that I'd go and picket or actively fight such a regime. But here I am, doing whatever it is I do from the comfort of my computer chair.
Anyways. Even the fact that I did something about it isn't my main point. I knew that China has a history of censorship and tight control over media. I knew that this kind of stuff happens all the time. But when it occurred right on my academic doorstep... It really made a connection. Especially the one week after I put down my thoughts about my views on the matter. It was like a ton of bricks that came out of nowhere. The world is, in fact, a scary place, and it's becoming rapidly apparent to me just how much I take for granted in day-to-day life.
I submitted the image to Reddit not too long ago. I wanted to spread it around - I wanted people to see what was trying to be suppressed, as a pathetic effort to strike back at a horrible regime. I expect one, maybe two dozen views. In the past 24hrs the image has received +33,000 views, and it keeps climbing. Maybe I'm still incredibly naive about these things, but part of me is incredibly worried that this might backfire and get Allie into even more trouble. It would be a stupid price to pay for my miserable attempt to make a worthless stand. So I sit here and I worry I've just doomed some perfectly nice and talented individual I barely know. It's all striking close to home, indeed. Too close, I think.
-Cril
If they should ask
Then maybe they'd
Tell me what I should say
True colors fly
In blue and black
Bruised silken sky
And burning flag
Colorscrash
Collide in blood shot eyes
If I could, you know I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
This desperation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation
Let it go
Scala and Kolacny Brothers - Bad
Xiaobo is a Chinese citizen who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. This was against the wishes of the government, who threw him in jail and prevented his relatives/friends from accepting the award on his behalf. Allie created this piece to accompany the commentary on this controversial story, and decided to post it on her blog to show all of her friends and family. She didn't even use tags or a description, but the Chinese government found the image and banned/deleted her entire blog. I don't have all of the exact details, but this is what I happen to understand of the situation.
Now I don't know if you've noticed, but I like my blog. It's one of my most effective means of catharsis, and I enjoy documenting all my useless thoughts and opinions to come back and review years/months down the road. I would be absolutely devastated if I were to lose everything I've accumulated so far. So in between that and belief that no one should have their ideas silenced, I did the only thing I could - I asked her permission to host the image. Somewhere, I hope, that the Chinese government wouldn't have control over. I certainly hope that's the case - I'd be equally anguished if I lost my images and their descriptions.
I find it a bit alarming and amusing by the 'stance' I've taken against oppression. Some people protest and risk life and limb to get a message across. I just put a picture on the internet, but I still think it's some kind of big deal. Really, it isn't. I haven't done anything noteworthy. I can't say that I'd go and picket or actively fight such a regime. But here I am, doing whatever it is I do from the comfort of my computer chair.
Anyways. Even the fact that I did something about it isn't my main point. I knew that China has a history of censorship and tight control over media. I knew that this kind of stuff happens all the time. But when it occurred right on my academic doorstep... It really made a connection. Especially the one week after I put down my thoughts about my views on the matter. It was like a ton of bricks that came out of nowhere. The world is, in fact, a scary place, and it's becoming rapidly apparent to me just how much I take for granted in day-to-day life.
I submitted the image to Reddit not too long ago. I wanted to spread it around - I wanted people to see what was trying to be suppressed, as a pathetic effort to strike back at a horrible regime. I expect one, maybe two dozen views. In the past 24hrs the image has received +33,000 views, and it keeps climbing. Maybe I'm still incredibly naive about these things, but part of me is incredibly worried that this might backfire and get Allie into even more trouble. It would be a stupid price to pay for my miserable attempt to make a worthless stand. So I sit here and I worry I've just doomed some perfectly nice and talented individual I barely know. It's all striking close to home, indeed. Too close, I think.
-Cril
If they should ask
Then maybe they'd
Tell me what I should say
True colors fly
In blue and black
Bruised silken sky
And burning flag
Colorscrash
Collide in blood shot eyes
If I could, you know I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
This desperation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation
Let it go
Scala and Kolacny Brothers - Bad
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