None of the recent developments such as the restrictions on TV programming, the real-name registration efforts for microblogs, the crackdown on illegal publications and pornography, or Hu Jintao’s article in Seeking Truth, came out of the blue.
Rather, these are simply part of a comprehensive program set out in the Party plenum statement issued in October at the conclusion of the 6th plenum of the 17th Central Committee (which itself simply pulls together yet earlier policy strands). The plenum statement sets up a comprehensive plan with regard to culture that is being pushed through the system. (Note that culture doesn’t just mean food festivals – we’re talking history textbooks, Internet content, TV programs, etc).
The plenum statement has been partially analyzed by others (see here and here). But I wanted to lay down some key elements that caught my eye.
1) Make culture a top priority for officials. Make culture key part of official evaluations. Perfect rewards systems for cultural products.
2) More state guidance for news and entertainment programs as well as the internet. Ergo – the restrictions on TV programs.
3) Heightened state funding to promote Chinese culture abroad. Ergo (probably) – the full page advertising supplements that Chinese state media has been taking out in U.S. papers.
4) Nationalist efforts to appropriate traditional Chinese culture for Party purposes
5) Heightened efforts to promote Party doctrine and traditional Chinese culture in schools
Note two other things. First, the statement doesn’t entirely reject foreign culture. It does call for Chinese authorities to actively absorb “outstanding foreign cultural products.” But this is simply one paragraph buried in a 15-page document.
Second, some of the content of the plenum statement parallels that found last year’s 发扬传统、坚定信念、执法为民 campaign in the political-legal apparatus (See Zhou Yongkang’s speech/Seeking Truth article here). But moving it into the plenum statement definitely takes it up a notch.
Relevant sections from the plenum statement are included below (this is more just for my own future reference).
1) Make culture a top priority for officials. Make culture key part of official evaluations, perfect reward/benefit system for cultural products.
2) More state guidance for news and entertainment programs as well as the internet. Ergo – the restrictions on TV programs.
要引导文化工作者牢记为人民服务、为社会主义服务的神圣职责，坚持正确文化立场，认真对待和积极追求文化产品社会效果，弘扬真善美，贬斥假恶丑，把学术探索和艺术创作融入实现中华民族伟大复兴的事业之中。
加强和改进新闻舆论工作。舆论导向正确是党和人民之福，舆论导向错误是党和人民之祸
3) Heightened state funding to promote Chinese culture abroad. Ergo (probably) – the full page advertising supplements that state papers have been taking out in U.S. papers.
4) Nationalist efforts to appropriate traditional Chinese culture for Party purposes
中国共产党从成立之日起，就既是中华优秀传统文化的忠实传承者和弘扬者，又是中国先进文化的积极倡导者和发展者
全面认识祖国传统文化 增加优秀传统文化课程内容
5) Heightened efforts to promote Party doctrine and traditional Chinese culture in schools
深入推进马克思主义理论研究和建设工程，实施中国特色社会主义理论体系普及计划，加强重点学科体系和教材体系建设，推动中国特色社会主义理论体系进教材、进课堂、进头脑，加强和改进学校思想政治教育
建设优秀传统文化传承体系。优秀传统文化凝聚着中华民族自强不息的精神追求和历久弥新的精神财富，是发展社会主义先进文 化的深厚基础，是建设中华民族共有精神家园的重要支撑。要全面认识祖国传统文化，取其精华、去其糟粕，古为今用、推陈出新，坚持保护利用、普及弘扬并重， 加强对优秀传统文化思想价值的挖掘和阐发，维护民族文化基本元素，使优秀传统文化成为新时代鼓舞人民前进的精神力量。加强文化典籍整理和出版工作，推进文 化典籍资源数字化。加强国家重大文化和自然遗产地、重点文物保护单位、历史文化名城名镇名村保护建设，抓好非物质文化遗产保护传承。深入挖掘民族传统节日 文化内涵，广泛开展优秀传统文化教育普及活动。发挥国民教育在文化传承创新中的基础性作用，增加优秀传统文化课程内容，加强优秀传统文化教学研究基地建 设。