The Defining Fiction of Modern Chinese Society
Commentators have borrowed Ma Jian in writing vigorous — sometimes caustic — attacks on the Chinese government. And even those inclined to feel sympathy toward Chinese authors seem disappointed that they’re not pushing harder. Everyone seems to be waiting for the writers to speak with the kind of courage and moral clarity displayed by political dissidents like Liu Xiaobo and Chen Guangcheng. What’s holding them back? Asked directly, most will say that they have perfect freedom to write but imperfect freedom to publish — namely, that self-censorship is not an issue.
I don’t believe this for an instant.
Comments
Eric’s piece got me thinking about the self-censorship amongst writers during N Ireland’s Troubles. As I remember it, they hardly engaged with this bitter conflict, even though it affected the whole of the UK. Republican views (or simply portraying Republicans as human beings) was off-limits.
Since the end of the Troubles, no one seems to have reflected publically on this issue. Because self-censorship is pretty inglorious, isn’t it? Admitting it must be almost as bad as speaking out, knowing, to paraphrase Eric on Yan Lianke, you have pushed into territory where almost no one – not readers, not censors, not even other writers – wants you to go.
What about the media during the Troubles? We all know about the censorship rules which operated then – from the less-than-sublime (the banning of pop songs) to the ridiculous (the words of dissenting voices on British television and radio having to be read by an actor). But there’s little on self–censorship, what journalists stopped themselves writing.
Then I read Michael White in the Guardian. He talks about what journalists now know to avoid if they don’t want their articles spiked. ‘[Take] Mohammed Al Fayed, for example. I'd love to know more about his money …. But it's time-consuming and difficult work so Fleet Street usually - not always - goes after the low-hanging fruit….. And remember, dear reader, that we are also striving much of the time to tell you what you'd rather know rather than challenge your prejudices and make you cross.’ Ouch.
So, yes, we should continue to ask Chinese writers difficult questions. But we shouldn’t underestimate how complicated an issue self-censorship is.
Nicky Harman, May 6, 2012, 9:12a.m.