| Over the past four years, Chinese culture has | | | | by those who are deceived and ignorant. Communist |
| experienced a remarkable renaissance in the form of | | | | culture is, in fact, the antithesis of China's traditional |
| an international theatrical phenomenon known as the | | | | culture. |
| "Chinese New Year Spectacular." The production has | | | | What is it, then, that has been presented as Chinese |
| grown from seven performances in five cities in 2004 | | | | culture in recent years? There are certainly some |
| to 76 performances in 30 cities for 2007. | | | | skilled performers,designers, and significant financial |
| The distinguishing feature of this production is that its | | | | resources put into the production and marketing of |
| artists and creators have immersed themselves | | | | these presentations. However, without genuine |
| deeply in China's ancient traditions, which have been | | | | understanding and respect for the beliefs and |
| systematically suppressed for over half a century. | | | | traditions, can this be Chinese culture? When the |
| Never before have China's traditions and culture been | | | | guiding ideology disdains these traditions and beliefs, |
| expressed on such a grand scale internationally. The | | | | can there be anything genuine beyond the copies of |
| shimmering reemergence of this beautiful culture is | | | | costumes, utilization of traditional instruments, and |
| the secret to the phenomenal success of the | | | | surface representation of architecture through sets? |
| Spectacular, which is constantly evolving with the | | | | Gymnasts tumbling in traditional clothing cannot |
| creation of new programs. | | | | convey the profound inner meaning of traditional |
| Traditional Chinese culture inspired many of the | | | | Chinese culture. A stage full of aggressive drummers |
| greatest achievements of humankind. Nurtured in | | | | brashly pounding away also ends up empty. What is |
| Taoism, Buddhism, Confucian thought, and a deep | | | | vital is the intent behind it all, the inner purpose that |
| sense of spiritual reverence and moral obligation, it | | | | motivates every move, every drumbeat, every |
| infused the thoughts, actions, art, poetry, music, | | | | musical note, and every stitch of clothing. |
| dance, and architecture during the 5,000-year parade | | | | So if not traditional Chinese culture, then, what is it |
| of China's dynasties. Artists from all over the world, | | | | that China has been exporting in recent years? This is |
| including many who were initially from mainland China, | | | | precisely communist culture. And it is in perpetual |
| have come together to journey into this vast and | | | | change of disguise. While either wearing traditional |
| profound history to bring forth the theatrical | | | | Chinese costumes or in the curious and ill-fitting |
| creations that make up the Spectacular. | | | | attempts to emulate Western culture, these |
| Many of China's cultural artifacts and records still | | | | communist disguises have nothing inside. |
| exist, having survived the openly stated intent of | | | | Communist culture amounts to atheism, a disdain for |
| China's communist regime to completely eradicate all | | | | spirituality, the belief that there is nothing beyond this |
| traditional Chinese culture during the Cultural | | | | one life, and that humans must strive to continually |
| Revolution, which lasted from the mid-1960s to the | | | | struggle and contend with one another. That spiritual |
| mid-1970s. During this cultural catastrophe, thousands | | | | void, mixed with the now fervent capitalist |
| of temples, countless paintings, sculptures, scrolls, | | | | aspirations, results in short-sighted pursuit of material |
| poems, and other precious artifacts were destroyed. | | | | gain without moral parameters so as to indulge to |
| It was a period of extreme violence and spiritual | | | | the fullest in the journey of this singular life: a cocktail |
| devastation. But 5,000 years are not easily | | | | for chaos. This is China's communist culture. Its very |
| eradicated. The deeply rooted beliefs and traditions | | | | survival demands a disguise. To imagine its true |
| survived, if silently, in the hearts of many Chinese. | | | | representation on stage brings nothing to mind. |
| In recent years there has been an increasing | | | | The artists of the Spectacular have completely |
| international interest in things Chinese. China's | | | | devoted themselves to understanding and conveying |
| communist regime has taken up this cue and has | | | | the ancient traditions. They have made an artist's |
| exported numerous Chinese "cultural" performances. | | | | sacrifice. Much like painters who have endured years |
| But on close examination, one is presented with a | | | | of harsh conditions to understand and recreate the |
| fundamental contradiction. The Communist regime's | | | | essence of beautiful landscapes, the artists of the |
| atheist ideology and culture directly oppose the | | | | Spectacular have likewise embarked on a noble, |
| entirety of China's 5,000-year culture before the | | | | some would say, sacred journey. This is the tangible |
| communists overtook the country in 1949. Spirituality, | | | | experience of audience members who have been |
| religion, and the moral observances of China's history | | | | enthralled and deeply moved by this cultural |
| have been openly disdained by the regime and | | | | phenomenon that has resulted in the soaring growth |
| considered superstitious and ridiculous, believed only | | | | of the Spectacular in four short years. |