Control and Compromise: The Sacrifice of Artistic Freedom in the U.S-China Cinematic Relations

• In Event: Global Perspectives in the Governance of Freedom of Expression

Abstract

This paper investigates the China-U.S. cinematic relationship through a close reading of China’s policies regarding foreign films overtime, China’s censorship laws, the China-U.S. trade negotiations, and the bilateral agreements. It argues that the current relation undermines the artistic freedom and aesthetic values of the film industry, featuring China’s adamant control with quota and censorship system and U.S. filmmakers’ compromises to appease Chinese censors to enter the lucrative market. The paper reveals the reasons for this relation through reading the representation of censorship and artistic freedom in policies and trade documents, arguing that the current relation is shaped by China’s persistence on the ideological needs for film control and the U.S.’s lack of concern on the impact of censorship and its impact on artistic freedom reflected in the policies and trade negotiations. The paper also proposes suggestions for the ongoing negotiation between China and U.S. that would shape a new relation.

Author

• Yayu Feng, Institute of Communications Research, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign