Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: 'Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao's China' (news.sky.com)
from CollisionResistance@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 04 Feb 2024 21:37
https://lemmy.world/post/11569361

#world

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 04 Feb 2024 21:40 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Political censorship in the West today is “exactly the same” as it was in China under its ruthless communist leader Mao Zedong, exiled artist Ai Weiwei has told Sky News.

The 66-year-old dissident told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that “society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument”.

He was responding to a question about the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November following comments on social media referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict.

He also argued the Jewish community had a significant influence in the media, finance and culture in the US, and that America’s $3bn (£2.45bn) annual military aid to Israel meant the two countries had a “shared destiny”.

Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, Ai said: "This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not even a clear opinion.

Read more from Sky News:US and UK launch fresh strikes against Houthi targets in YemenFacebook turns 20Indian model fakes death in cancer publicity stunt


The original article contains 552 words, the summary contains 184 words. Saved 67%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

YoorWeb@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 13:21 collapse

Hey bot, the last paragraph is unnecessary.

Daxtron2@startrek.website on 04 Feb 2024 21:43 next collapse

And yet I can post pictures of Winnie the Pooh here in the west

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 04 Feb 2024 21:48 next collapse

And the Tienanmen Square massacre.

Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 04 Feb 2024 22:13 collapse

Shit I can even talk about how much I hate specific politicians without issue as well

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 04 Feb 2024 22:14 next collapse

No one has ever told me what my social credit rating was.

ItsAFake@lemmus.org on 04 Feb 2024 22:57 next collapse

It’s 42.

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 04 Feb 2024 22:57 collapse

But what’s the question?

ItsAFake@lemmus.org on 04 Feb 2024 23:00 next collapse

Just give me a sec and I’ll get back to you on that.

HikingVet@lemmy.ca on 05 Feb 2024 02:06 collapse

I have to wait for the mice to get a British dude’s brain to give you that.

agent_flounder@lemmy.world on 05 Feb 2024 03:37 next collapse

Shoot, I don’t even think we have one…?

sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 2024 15:55 collapse

What’s your credit score

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 16:17 collapse

My credit score is “in the toilet because you dared to not own a credit card.”

sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 2024 17:49 collapse

Me too man

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/a8e3f146-b1ea-495b-8d8c-1a0032cab130.png">

Me too

Infiltrated_ad8271@kbin.social on 05 Feb 2024 00:17 collapse

You can even label governments as tyrannical oppressors, and their media will give you a voice ¯\(ツ)

Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee on 04 Feb 2024 23:01 next collapse

Did you read the actual article?

PugJesus@kbin.social on 04 Feb 2024 23:29 next collapse

Yeah, a guy comparing getting his art exhibit canceled over a poorly worded tweet to Maoist China, where people were imprisoned, exiled, murdered, and worked to death for having wrong opinions, or wrong parents, or wrong possessions.

orclev@lemmy.world on 04 Feb 2024 23:36 next collapse

There is an entire universe of difference between the government telling you you can’t say something and arresting and/or disappearing you if you ignore them, and privately owned museums, exhibit halls, or online platforms refusing to do business with you if you say something stupid in public that harms people’s perceptions of you. You’re absolutely free to spout every hot take and conspiracy theory you want (there’s certainly no shortage of people who do), but nobody is obligated to respect you or do business with you if you do. What’s not going to happen is an FBI agent or cop coming around to “have a chat” and if you refuse to publicly retract your statements then quietly sending you off to some gulag without telling anyone where you’ll be worked to death and then your organs harvested and sold. That’s the difference between “the West” and China.

Daxtron2@startrek.website on 05 Feb 2024 01:26 collapse

I did actually, thanks

wurzelgummidge@lemmy.world on 05 Feb 2024 04:51 next collapse

You’ve clearly never been to China. Winnie the Pooh mugs, t-shirts and the other usual shit are all available in China. Most of it is made there.

You can’t believe all you read in western media. When it comes to coverage of places the US doesn’t like, you can’t believe very much at all.

Daxtron2@startrek.website on 05 Feb 2024 05:54 collapse

you know exactly what I meant and deliberately tried to steer the conversation away from it. Bravo

Linkerbaan@lemmy.world on 19 Feb 2024 10:45 collapse

Now try saying you support BDS

Deceptichum@kbin.social on 04 Feb 2024 23:29 next collapse

Dude discovered that you can’t criticise Israel and says it’s the same as people being locked up or executed under Mao.

Yeah it’s fucked that anyone critical of Israel is shutdown by pressure from various associations and lobbying groups, but it’s a massive reach to say this is the same as under Mao.

Tarte@kbin.social on 05 Feb 2024 06:36 next collapse

You can. He is not being imprisoned or even punished. But other people are not obligated to do business with him, either. That is their freedom.

rikudou@lemmings.world on 05 Feb 2024 08:02 collapse

Yeah, thinking society is stupid for their societal pressure versus going to jail for having the wrong opinion. Truly no difference.

dubyakay@lemmy.ca on 05 Feb 2024 05:31 next collapse

While a bit over the top, I respect his opinion. Watch any of the documentaries made about him or attend any of his exhibitions and you’ll see this guy is the real deal. He’s been through shit with the CCP and has always been pushing boundaries with his criticism on repressive politics, policies and social issues for as long and he’s been alive.

Akasazh@feddit.nl on 05 Feb 2024 12:18 collapse

Technically all of his art is Ai generated.