BEIJING - China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has announced censorship criteria underlining a current crackdown on on-screen smut and horror.
In a statement titled "Reassertion of Censorship Guidelines," the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said it informed all major film and broadcast entities and governing bodies on Monday that it was renewing prohibitions on "lewd and pornographic content" and content that "show[s] promiscuous acts, rape, prostitution, sexual intercourse, sexual perversity, masturbation and male/female sexual organs and other private parts."
Lust, Caution star Tang Wei was banned in the Chinese media because of the sexual nature of her performance in the Ang Lee film, local press reports said Friday. Chinese movies are not allowed to depict hardcore sexual activity, rape, prostitution or nudity. "Vulgar dialogue or music and sound effects that had a sexual connotation" also are barred.
The State Administration of Radio Film and Television reportedly sent a memo to all Chinese television stations and print media Thursday night, stating that the broadcast of a new television commercial featuring Wei was to cease immediately. All print ads and feature content using the actress also were to be pulled, the memo stated.
The memo gave no reason for the ban.
An executive for the local film regulator said implementing a film classification system in China would be like legalizing porn, and the country won't do it until the market has been "completely standardized."
China's rigorous censorship system also bans depictions of "murder, violence, horror, evil spirits and devils, and excessively terrifying scenes, conversations, background music and sound effects."
Also banned are films that "distort the civilization and history of China or other nations ... or ... tarnish the image of revolutionary leaders, heroes, important historic characters, members of the armed forces, police and judicial bodies."
The country also disallows reconstructions of crimes, pictures that reveal police investigatory techniques, and pictures that advocate nihilism, environmental damage, animal abuse and the capture or killing of rare animals.
