Before I get to the post this week, I do want to mention that I was interviewed by a blog about teaching English in small-town China. Most of it discusses the practical aspects of looking for and finding a job here, but if you are interested in learning more about that, you can read that article here. Now, on to what you came for!!
I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that you’ve heard at least a passing mention of the supposed Mayan prophecy that the world is going to end in December 2012. I’m pretty sure that in the coming year, we’re going to hear more and more about it (though not from any particularly hard-hitting news sources); as if a lacklustre disaster movie and over 30 million Google search results (for “Mayan and 2012”) weren’t enough already (oh no, I just realized I’m contributing to the madness…)! And just like Y2K, once the date passes and nothing happens, everyone will deny they ever worried about it at all and it will slide into the past as the butt of a joke or two.
You know who made this movie for me? Woody Harrelson
Something you probably don’t know (unless you live here) that China takes to foreign celebrities like magnets. Yao Ming’s break into the NBA has meant that millions of young boys have taken up basketball and now idolize players like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James (one guy who used to work in the office of the school I teach at chose Carter as his English name, after Vince Carter). The Backstreet Boys enjoyed rampant popularity here long after their fame in North America died down. As in the rest of the world, “Beiber Fever” seems to be spreading and unfortunately, like swine flu and H1N1, there appears to be no vaccine yet. Nicolas Cage enjoys a baffling level of fame here in mainland China, regardless of how much his acting may be panned in the US.
Ghost Rider himself is actually shilling watches here in town!
China has a huge audience for these celebrities, fueled by the increasing availability of the internet (at home and on mobile devices) and growth of social media here. Despite attempts by the government to ensure that locally-produced television, music, and films shown in China meet strict moral guidelines and measures to limit and censor foreign media, celebrity worship is alive and well in the Middle Kingdom.
Yet, it’s not every celebrity who “makes it” over here. The Chinese public is actually quite fussy about their celebrity heroes. Sometimes the biggest stars are nearly unknown. For example, Kobe Bryant is hugely popular, but I hear very few boys talking about Shaquille O’Neal, and Michael Jordan seems to be known more for attributing his name to a line of shoes than for his accomplishments on the court. The Beatles are widely known, yet the Rolling Stones remain a mystery to many Chinese listeners. And sometimes, as in the case of Mr. Cage, a star enjoys popularity here long after their career has taken a downturn in the west.
My husband loves his Air Jordans, but I'm not sure that he's ever seen Michael Jordan play basketball!
Finally, another thing you might not know unless you have China experience, is that Chinese people love a good conspiracy theory. Decades of dynasties and deception have coded it into the DNA, perhaps. If Chinese people were into Elvis Presley, I’m sure there would be tons of sightings every day to try to prove that he wasn’t really dead.
What does all this have to do with each other? Why am I mentioning it all in one blog post? I’m glad you asked.
Because my husband came home one night talking about how Chinese people on the internet are starting to catch on to the idea that the world is going to end in 2012. This surprised me a bit; I would have thought they would immediately discredit any prophecy coming from a civilization that was wiped out since, you know, China has a very long, superior history, and blah blah blah (hee hee, wink wink!).
I asked him more about it and it seems that people here are claiming that they know the end of the world is coming because of the “deaths” of their two most venerated celebrities. They reason that these two men, held to such high esteem in China, have not actually passed away in recent years, but instead have purchased tickets to safety and are hiding away somewhere so that they can survive whatever catastrophic event is coming that will destroy the rest of us unless we can manage to buy our own safety in the same manner.
Who are these two idols whose “deaths” provide the evidence for the coming judgement day? Who are the two men who will salvage civilization and help ensure that the human race will survive? Who are the two most popular celebrities in China, the cream of the celebrity crop?
Steve Jobs and Michael Jackson.
A little MJ-inspired dancing while waiting during our wedding photo shoot.
Even the young children are indoctrinated into Michael Jackson worship. This boy wore a single white glove to class to demonstrate his love of the singer.
I can’t wait to hear the Jobs/Jackson duet remake of (a much more literal) “We are the World”.
(And yes, I have tried to explain to Chinese people, including my husband, that the only real claims to fame Michael Jackson had in the last 10-15 years of his life were not from his music at all, but from his increasingly strange behaviour [hello, dangling baby!] and appearance and a couple of sex scandals, but they always fall on deaf ears. MJ can do no wrong in China [personally, I think it was the facemask he wore that won over fans here].)
I am an Chinese and I want to clarify something you just mentioned above.
1. The 2012 doom is introduced by the movie “2012″, the movie is quite popular in China. In the story of the movie, some rich guy pay huge money to get a ticket to avoid the doom. When Jobs died people just recall the movie. Don’t take it seriously, we are just joking.
2. Jordan and O’neal they both have huge fans in China. You just pick a wrong man to find out. Jordan’s Prime years is 90s, so his fans is now at the age of 30 or above. Since O’neal and Kobe broke up few years ago, he got a downturn in his career. Shaq’s prime year has passed, teens don’t watch old laker’s games. You say we are fussy about NBA stars. I say it’s just a age gap problem.
3. We do know that MJ had some scandals. But we Chinese do not blame the dead that’s why we always fall on deaf ears. Besides MJ was a really talented artist , his MV inspired lot of Chinese .
That’s all. And please keep up blogging, I really like it.
Thanks for reading and commenting – I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have seen the movie, 2012, which is why I feel I am able to say that it is not a particularly good movie. I know the story, but would like to say that I don’t think it was the movie which “introduced” the 2012 doom, as you say. The movie capitalized on the supposedly real prophecy discovered in some Mayan ruins long ago. Perhaps some of you are joking, but I don’t doubt that there are others who actually believe in this weird idea of Steve Jobs faking his death while in fact purchasing safe passage to survive the end of the world.
You are perhaps right, that if I spoke to a hardcore basketball fan here, that they would be familiar with Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, but my point is that these men were (and still are in many ways) HUGE stars of the sport, yet are substantially less recognized here by the majority of the non-hardcore fans.
I also don’t think that enough Chinese people are familiar with the scandals that Michael Jackson had and the behaviour he exhibited. Even my husband, a fan and a hip hop dancer, was unfamiliar with a lot of his life. I am not saying he wasn’t talented in his heyday, but I don’t know that he should be placed on the same level as Steve Jobs in passing along this joke/conspiracy about 2012.
Yeah, I don’t think 2012 is a good movie either. I just watch a few minutes of the beginning and can’t make it. But lots of guys talk about the movie, so I know the story. If somebody really believe this conspiracy, as the end nears, these guys must do some crazy stuff. But I think China is quite calm right now. You may also ask your husband and your students to find out how many do we really believe this story.
About Michael Jackson, his nose and child issues were just 30s news report on the TV（ours media）. It won’t change much our impression of him on the stage. It’s true that most of us don’t know his life, to be honest they don’t even care. So we don’t judge his morality and his behavior cos we merely know him except his MV. If I remember correctly, I watched one of the “scary movie” comedy series, you Americans make a heck of fun of MJ. He was using a lollipop to seduce a child and his nose fell off his face. I could imagine he must not be popular in US those days. But here in China, most people don’t know. The only reason people joke this way is MJ and Jobs are world-widely famous(either bad or good) and they all died before the widely known the end of 2012.
Like I said, I agree with you that probably most people who are talking this way are doing it as a joke. I do think, however, that there is a part of the population who probably believes it (and not just in China, to be fair) – just as there is always a group of people who believe that God is bringing the Rapture, or that they need to drink some special Kool-Aid to be transported up to an alien mothership somewhere.
And again, I also agree that Michael Jackson was tremendously popular and influential – it’s just that he is not particularly current, as Steve Jobs is. They seemed like an odd pair (what would the two of them even talk about after the world ends and they survived?!).
And as I mentioned to Lorin, please remember that this is simply a light-hearted, personal blog. I write about things that I find amusing or odd, I tend to be sarcastic, and I don’t intend for any of it to be taken overly seriously. I have written several times that I truly love China and it’s people – I wouldn’t stay if I didn’t!
PS – I’m not American; I’m Canadian, and darned proud of it (and most of us don’t like being called Americans either)!!
I’d have to concur with @derek2009 on all three points. I recall the arrival in China of the movie. It did cause a bit of a stir in part because it’s release was accompanied by spectacular earthquake imagery not so many months after the Sichuan earthquake of 2008. I recall one of my good (Hebei) friends talking about it quite a lot. As to the celebrity of NBA stars, it’s partly true that the shoes are more important than the basketball, but this observation merely points to an international phenomena. On the other hand, I know plenty of young boys in China who watch as many games as they can on CCTV 5. Also, it seems that those around me were familiar with MJ’s indiscretions (to put things lightly), but one ought to pay closer attention to the polarized reception of MJ in the U.S. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1587099) and around the world rather than just cluck tongues at the Chinese. I recall being in Egypt at the height of MJ’s scandals. People still liked the music. This didn’t make them ignorant. Indeed, these days, one is hard-pressed to step into any nightclub anywhere in the world (including the U.S. and Canada) without hearing at least one MJ tune. Even Cirque du Soleil seems unconcerned about pedophelia at this point.
Thanks for your comment.
As I responded to derek2009, I agree that some folks are simply joking regarding the 2012 doomsday stuff – but I also believe that there is a segment of the population that probably believes it (to be fair, this is probably true in any country, not just China).
Regarding the NBA stuff, I agree too that there are people who know of these players – I just don’t find it to be the majority of the population (at least where I live). I think that the hardcore fans are familiar with them (of course) and that those who couldn’t care less about basketball do not (again, of course). My surprise comes in regards to the middle group; the average, semi-interested fan. I am a hockey fan (though not a rabid one), and I can not only name many current players, but also many marquee players from the past, simply because of their contribution to the history of the sport. Interestingly, I also couldn’t care less about basketball and don’t think I’ve ever sat down to watch a full game, yet I recognize the names Kobe, Lebron, Dwayne Wade, Vince Carter, Steve Nash, and Shaquille O’Neal as well as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley (forgive any spelling mistakes – I said I recognize the names, not write about them!).
And lastly, regarding Michael Jackson, again, I agree that he was very talented – I just think it’s odd that he can be compared to Steve Jobs in a current light when his body of work took place a number of years ago. His music is classic and I enjoy it – just find them an odd pair to lump together.
Also, let me remind you that my blog is simply a personal, light-hearted one – I simply write about things I find funny or odd. Sometimes I lean towards sarcasm, and never do I intend folks to take what I write too seriously. I’m just having fun here, people!
Fair enough. I didn’t mean to sound too serious. The humour you write with is obvious enough, and it’s a better approach than the hand-wringing of many expat blogs.
Thanks, and I do appreciate your comments. I just hope no one really thinks I am trying to write a reference book on China or anything. All I can write about is my own personal experience, which is what I try to do.
derek2009,
Kelly is NOT american. She is actually from a country known as Democratic People’s Republic of Kanuckistan (DPRK)!
Oh great…now look at what you’re starting…
I had to Google search the whole 2012 thing after I moved here as my students kept on bringing it up in class. I even had a few of them write journal entries saying they believe the world is ending in 2012. When I tried to argue with them that it was all a bit ridiculous, they thought I was the crazy one. I thought this was kind of a morbid outlook for a 20-year-olds, but if they all think the world is ending, this could explain why the never study. (Ha, ha, I kid. Kind of.)
Oh dear, Sally, it seems Wuxi might be the epicenter of the population of people who are taking this seriously. Look for them all to start disappearing this year as they make their way to the “ark” or whatever…
Well if the Mayan were good at predicting things, they should known the Spaniards were coming. China people have this childish behavior that I can’t figure out or understand.
Hahaha, that’s also true – they should have seen that one coming! Their credibility is significantly lessened!!
It is an absolute certainty that the world will come to its end – but not in 2012, unless a meteorite hits the earth then. But no such meteorite is tracked to wreck such havoc in 2012. It is not only an absolute certainty that the earth will vanish one day but also the entire solar system or our galaxy the MIlky Way or even the universe itself! But tomorrow, soon? Nah, not in million years or even billions of years (caveat: the earth may vanish earlier than the rest but still we are talking of a long, long time) So relax. And have a great vacation at the Mayan ruins next year. You will come back rejuvenated. As for MJ, he certainty was no moral exemplar but many people are only concerned about his music and dance. So there we have it. I am waiting for 2012. Boy, it is so much fun!
Haha, no fear – I like it!
Even today, I am still not sure those accusation against MJ is true. It is reported some former accuser committed suicide and said before his death the molesting case he was involved against MJ is not true. It is totally for financial gain and he was truly sorry to MJ.
I don’t know – I haven’t followed it very closely. But even if those accusations were false, he was still a heck of a weird guy in other ways!
There are many celebrities in the west, even in China, that have weird behaviors. However, few of them are treated so harshly like MJ.
So far there have never been convictions against him for serious crime. From those who confessed voluntarily later that their incentives to accuse MJ were purely helped by their own families to reap financial gains, I think it was quite unfair to MJ.
That may be another reason he is still welcome in China, live or dead, since we have never been convinced by his accused crime.
I gotta say, Kelly, it looks like your Husband has a MISTRESS you can’t compete!
Look at that photo of him kissing the his beloved Air Jordan 1 (That’s Air Jordan 1 right? I can’t remember)…. HE EVEN GOT A HARD-ON KISSING IT ! TSK TSK TSK. Now I am wondering if that pair of Jordan sleeps in your bed or…..
As for conspiracy, I think the lack of transparency in media and the lack of trust in government probably made the mainland-Chinese think this way.
As for 2012, who knows. But think about this for a second : In 2012, 4 of the 5 Permanent members of the UN Security Council countries’ (the countries that matters! because they officially have the capacity to end this world – eg. possessing enormous biological/chemical/nuclear weapons) leaderships will be reshuffled. The United States, France and Russia will all hold presidential elections—and the top leaders of China will also change, after a Communist Party congress that will probably take place in October 2012.
As a result, for much of the year, four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council will be consumed by internal politics. That, in turn, will profoundly affect international relations. As political leaders play to their domestic galleries, they will surely take more nationalist and parochial positions on the big international issues. That is worrying because 2012 will be a year demanding intense international co-operation to cope with a deteriorating economic climate. The result could be serious damage to the underpinnings of globalisation.
Of all the potential changes in leadership, the American presidential-election campaign will loom largest—both because America is still the world’s sole superpower, and because the vote does not take place until November. President Barack Obama’s immersion in the electoral campaign will make it all but impossible for America to sign new international agreements on trade or the climate. But Mr Obama may also face a Republican opponent who will challenge America’s traditional role as a guarantor of the world trading system. Mitt Romney, one of the front-runners for the Republican nomination and a man with a business background, has said that, as president, he would impose tariffs on Chinese goods, if China refuses to let its currency float.
A harder line from America will be more than matched by a surge of tough, nationalistic talk from China—which will also be a reflection of the country’s internal politics. For all the differences between America and China, the Obama White House has come to trust the two men currently at the top of Chinese politics: President Hu Jintao and the prime minister, Wen Jiabao. By the end of 2012, however, they will almost certainly be handing over to President Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang as prime minister. Both men have presented a fairly bland and inscrutable face to the world. But some 70% of China’s top leadership is likely to change during 2012, and Western officials are nervous that more nationalist voices are rising up the hierarchy. Bo Xilai, currently the party chief in Chongqing, has a taste for Maoist slogans (as well as designer suits). He is tipped for high office, and is known to advocate a tough line with criminals and foreigners.
With meltdown in EU (particularly France which is next on the meltdown list, Germany seems to be the only power house that will go down last), Russia’s increasing conflict with US meddling in its internal politics, China and US’s continual worsening relationship, the potential conflicts over Taiwan, South China Sea, and the worsening of global economy, widespread protests, all these are happening when the political leaderships of the superpowers are all changing hand all at the same time! The pressure is mounting and tension could run high and it could very well trigger trade wars and ultimately a world war. 2012 could very well be the end of the world. The geopolitical envirnoment of 2012 is definitely going to be the most volatile compare to the last 100 years.
The shoes do NOT sleep in the bed – they have their own comfortable little box to sleep in in the closet. My husband is one guy who can understand why girls like shoe shopping so much, though; he loves it too!
As for the rest, I can honestly say with all that going on, I am not sorry that I don’t have television anymore. I don’t think I’d be able to stand listening to CCTV 9 coverage of all that!
Ops, sorry Kelly, some double posts and typos here and there. (Could you clean it up for me…:D) I really wish if the comment system get a edit button
No worries!
I just stumbled across your blog and I love it! I’m actually another white girl English teacher in Hebei. I didn’t see any mention of the name of your city, where are you? I’m in Baoding. Anyway, thanks for a great read, a lot of it cracked me up it was so true!
-kelsey
Thanks, and glad you enjoyed it. I haven’t named the specific city I’m in on purpose.
Hi Kelly,
Your observations sound a lot like Japan, as well. Celebrities, both western and domestic seem to be venerated to a god-like status. However, after returning to Canada for a while, I would say that westerners are not so much different. It comes in a slightly different form but we still revere our celebrities. Look at all the middle aged men wearing sports jerseys of their favourite players, women and their Lulu Lemon fashion or just all the tattoos and body piercing now of everyone trying to be a rock star. We are all copying somebody.
One thing that I find really interesting is that many of the cultural traits that the Japanese were once ridiculed for in the west are now being widely copied. Think of those silly TV shows, expensive brand name stores, ubiquitous photography, cram schools for children, little to no vacation time, manga for adults, etc.
There are superficial cultural differences, but fundamentally we are all pretty much the same.
You’re definitely right – celebrity worship exists in North America of course. I think it is just starting to gain momentum here and will only grow. My surprise comes at some of the objects of this worship, although I guess they are celebrities for a reason (they must have fans somewhere)!
Apparently I made a mistake about your nationality. Sorry about that. All those Hollywood film, NBA stars and MJ thing made me think you are an Yankee.
No worries.
Oh, she definitely is a Yankee!
Hey now…you know better than that! You know I’m Canadian – how many times did I used to say “eh” around you that you didn’t fully understand?!