Has the media blown the opening ceremony 'cheating' out of proportion?

Question

I'm not talking about the gymnastics thing - I don't even want to hear about that. We've had enough questions about it. I mean the opening ceremonies.

I mean, I see people bashing China for the lip-synching and CGI fireworks and trying to "fool" everyone with it. What I don't understand is that Hollywood, and pretty much every form of Western entertainment, does that all the time - how many famous singers do you see have a naturally great voice and an ugly face? Yeah right. And anyone who actually saw the little girl singing could tell she was lip synching - it's a shock that it wasn't her own voice, but wasn't due credit given already?

And they weren't even trying to hide the fact that they used two different singers. The musical director freely gave the information and freely gave the little girl credit, the CCN plastering her face everywhere, naming her "The girl who sang 'Ode to the Motherland'", thank you very much, and the media blew it out of proportion. They weren't trying to hide it. I'm not agreeing with the decision to use a more "image-friendly" girl, but they were just trying to do their best to give an amazing show... They seemed to be trying TOO hard, but who can blame them? Anyways, the little girl - the real voice - even said "I am proud to have been chosen to sing" - and she WAS singled out of millions of Chinese girls and now both the singing girls are famous there.

As for the CGI? Those fireworks actually happened - people actually saw the 'footprints' live, beforehand - but it wasn't what you saw on TV. They sent the CGI of those fireworks to news stations, because they didn't want any filming helicopters to get into an accident. I mean, I don't see what's so wrong with that at all.

I just wanted to say that, since I am a bit sick of people backing up their "China is cheating" arguments with the opening ceremony controversy. I mean, it's bad enough people are generalizing "China" as if 1 billion+ people have the exact same opinions and absolutely agree with all the decisions made by a very few people (no matter how communist the people are, they are still people), but now it's becoming hypocrisy that the West is getting a bit "brainwashed" by the media as well.

What do you think? You absolutely hate me and disagree? Agree? Did you even read any of this at all?

By the way, I'm not Chinese - Filipino Canadian. Just my opinion.

Answer 1

The media's bored over there, there's only so much dog eating you can do there

Answer 2

Absolutely agree 100%, the media sux !!!! It's a sports/ entertainment extravaganza, we should enjoy it as such. Too much emphasis [ jealousy ? ] on non-sporting matters. No country is perfect and China is slowly becoming a bit more 'humane' give them a break please !!

Answer 3

You summed it up when you said the Chinese are trying too hard. It's not a reflection on the Chinese people, it's a sad attempt by the brutal, oppressive government to buy respectability.  

Answer 4

China - Conforming to American standards since 2008

Answer 5

I totally agree with you! I think these Olympics have been awesome and it's lovely to see local scenes on TV shows - I think Beijing is proud as punch to be hosting the olympics, and good on them!

And good on you for sticking up for them, with so much 'bagging' going on!

PS: The most amazing parts of the opening ceremony for me were the parts that didn't rely on fantastic technology, but on people doing amazing things! Three examples that stand out to me were: the 'tiles' that moved up and down to create many different patterns/pictures (it took me and my friends ages to realise there were people under them!); the 'warriors' who stood in perfect formation; and the guys pretending to row old boats. It was all SO well rehearsed and AMAZING!!! I really admire the organisers and participants for including so much 'real' stuff!

Answer 6

The fireworks I don't care about, but they did hide the lip-synching at first. It was only afterward that the director said the little girl was replaced.

It's the reason WHY she was replaced - they didn't think she looked good enough. How very Hollywood of them. It's disappointing to see - the image I want to see is the genuine image. Not the glossed over 'everything is perfect' image they're trying so desperately to display. And they're failing, because people aren't stupid. It's the world stage, not a place the government gets to control anymore. We can see and figure out for ourselves the shallow decision to replace the chubby kid with the skinny one. C'mon now.  

Answer 7

I read this and I agree with basically everything you said.