Made in Censorship: The Tiananmen Movement in Chinese Literature and Film

The book "Made in Censorship" explores the rich corpus of Tiananmen literature and film produced in mainland China since 1989, both officially sanctioned and unauthorized, contending that censorship shapes what is created. It explores the effects of state intervention on artistic production and consumption, including state propaganda, underground films, and controversial best-sellers. It also connects Tiananmen with the story of COVID-19 and considers the implications for debates about the reach and power of the Chinese state in the public realm.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 24 May 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The violent suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations is widely regarded as one of the most taboo subjects in contemporary China. Despite stringent censorship measures, Chinese culture has continued to engage with the history, meaning, and memory of the Tiananmen movement.
In his book, Made in Censorship: Literature and Film in Contemporary China, Thomas Chen delves into the surprisingly rich corpus of Tiananmen literature and film produced in mainland China since 1989, both officially sanctioned and unauthorized. Chen argues that censorship not only forbids certain works but also shapes the creative process, influencing what is produced.
Through a comprehensive exploration of a wide range of works made despite and through censorship, Chen demonstrates the effects of state intervention on artistic production and consumption. He examines state propaganda, underground films, and controversial best-sellers, showcasing the ways in which artists have found ways to subvert censorship and express their ideas.
Chen's analysis spans various media, including print, the internet, television, DVD, fiction, and documentary. He explores works that were initially banned or censored but later released, as well as those that were never permitted to be released in the first place. By examining these diverse works, Chen sheds light on the ways in which censorship affects artistic expression and the ways in which artists have responded to it.
One of the key themes in Chen's book is the concept of art at the edge of censorship. He examines works that are technically illegal or forbidden but are nevertheless created and distributed. These works often challenge the boundaries of what is permissible and push the limits of artistic expression. Chen provides examples of such works, including a queer love story shot without permission that found official release on DVD, an officially sanctioned film that was ultimately not permitted to be released, a novel built on orthographic elisions that was banned and eventually reissued, and an internet narrative set during the SARS epidemic later published with alterations.
Chen also connects Tiananmen with the story of COVID-19 in China, considering the implications for debates about the reach and power of the Chinese state in the public realm, both domestic and abroad. He argues that the suppression of the Tiananmen movement and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the extent to which the Chinese state can control and manipulate information, shaping public opinion and suppressing dissent.
Made in Censorship is a bold rethinking of contemporary Chinese literature and film, challenging prevailing understandings of censorship and revealing not just what it suppresses but also what it produces. Chen's analysis provides a valuable insight into the complex relationship between art, censorship, and the Chinese state, and his book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the cultural and political dynamics of modern China.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231204002