Archives - Page 13 of 21 - Jottings from the Granite Studio

The significance of singing ‘Red Songs’

June 27, 2011

Does singing “Red Songs” really mean a new revival of the old Party spirit? Or is it something that has been happening all along but makes for easy headlines with Bo Xilai’s recent Chongqing campaign and the CPC anniversary just around the corner? A Guest Post by Zhang Yajun. [Read More...]

The Cuckolded Communist Party

June 9, 2011

Would Hu Jintao ever consider allowing his daughter and/or wife to film an Internet group sex video with Charlie Sheen, “Snooki” from Jersey Shore, and half a dozen or so rabid chimps if it meant a guaranteed six months of ‘harmony and stability’? Maybe, maybe not. [Read More...]

Mao more than ever: On the legacy of Mao and the moonbat denunciations of Mao Yushi (no relation)

May 30, 2011

When lunatic Mao worshipers collide with history, wacky hilarity ensues. [Read More...]

Dylan in Beijing: final thoughts and a bit of a rant

April 10, 2011

Those who thought that Dylan was going to get up on stage in Beijing to harangue the CCP and then lead the crowd in a singalong of "Ai Shall be Released" were seriously kidding themselves. [Read More...]

How to marry a Billionaire (If you can’t find the PhD student of your dreams)

April 6, 2011

An article in the Global Times about How to Marry a Billionaire causes Yajun to wonder about the cost of equating money with love in today's China. [Read More...]

Zhou Enlai, the Qingming Festival, and the spring demonstrations of 1976

April 5, 2011

Is our lasting image of Zhou Enlai to be the smooth, urbane diplomat showing up for talks in Geneva in a tailored-suit, silk tie, and a fedora, exchanging quips about the French Revolution? Or will it be the Zhou Enlai standing on top of Tiananmen with a red armband and a little red book, screeching in a high-pitched hysterical frenzy, “Long Live Chairman Mao!” as hordes of fanatical teenagers chant in the square and the Chairman looks on in approval? [Read More...]

Political trust, not something to be taken with a grain of salt…

March 18, 2011

In a crisis, many Chinese people simply don’t have faith in the government, so they listen to rumors and take actions they believe will protect them and their family. [Read More...]

Envy and Antipathy: Chinese historical attitudes toward Japan

March 16, 2011

The roots of modern day attitudes toward Japan in China have roots dating back over a century, characterized by a mix of envy and antipathy. [Read More...]

The Sino-Japanese Relationship: (apologies to Facebook) It’s Complicated

March 15, 2011

(A Guest post by Yajun) Over the last four days, [Read More...]

A Sunday stroll with the forces of (in)security

March 6, 2011

Today being a beautiful day in the ‘jing, I [Read More...]

Google is the new opium

March 6, 2011

There are days when the state media in China just [Read More...]

A Chinese Perspective on the “Jasmine Revolution” (Another guest post by Yajun)

February 21, 2011

On Saturday, an anonymous letter circulated [Read More...]

A guest post from the Granite Studio Online Shopping Expert, Yajun: Why Groupon is flailing in China

February 19, 2011

I confess. I love tuangou (团购 Chinese for [Read More...]

Diversity When? A Guest Post by Yajun

February 17, 2011

(Ed Note: With several major projects in the [Read More...]

Sun Yat-sen versus Barack Obama: The Breakdown

February 6, 2011

2011 is the 100th anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising, which Sun Yat-sen had nothing to do with, but that won't stop me from making cross-century historical comparisons with another Third Culture Kid turned politician, Barack Obama. [Read More...]