Jottings from the Granite Studio

Some quick postings on items to keep an eye on…

Sex in Shanghai has hit the big time. CNN this morning reported that, according to sources they reached through an email address associated with the blog, the whole thing was a stunt and an experiment by a group of perfomance artists including a British man, an Australian woman, two Chinese men and a Japanese woman. There have been on and off rumblings that Chinabounder was, at the very least, embellishing his stories maybe even as a provocation, but this is a new twist. If it’s true (and I still have my doubts considering the shrill and panicked nature of Chinabounder’s initial response to Professor Zhang Jiehai’s call to arms) then I’m not sure if I want to buy these people a drink or drop ‘em off a bridge.

From Our Man in Hong Kong, “Shu Jierui,” comes a link to this morning’s NYT. “Where’s Mao? Chinese Revise History Books” (NYT 9/1/06). Starting this fall, Chinese history textbooks will pay less attention to key moments in Marxist history (revolutions, politics, class struggle) and instead focus on the social history and economics. Socialism takes a backseat to globalization and technology. Bill Gates takes precedent over the Bolsheviks. Chinese history undergoes further revision, this time deemphasizing dynastic change and revolution in favor of getting the Braudel total history treatment. Some say it’s following trends in Western history classrooms, others say it’s an attempt by the Chinese government to play down the role of rebellion and ethnic rivalry in China’s past. (And hopefuly lessen the part these play in China’s future.) Thanks to Jeremy for the heads up.

In the spirit of back to school, I’m also watching news that China this fall will make elementary education compulsory and waive the 杂费 “incidental fees” for poor students. IHT last week published a great overview of the incredible education disparities in China’s go-go economy. Under the new proposed regulations, even with the incidental fees waived, textbooks will continue to be the responsibility of the parents, a prohibitive expense for many rural families.