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Published Jan 17, 2023

780: Chris Fenton | China's Harrowing Hold Over Hollywood

Chris Fenton discusses China's powerful grip on Hollywood, unveiling how China's government exerts pressure on American studios to integrate its political agenda and shape global narratives, while exploring the tension between cultural localization, censorship, and the potential pushback from the film industry.
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  • Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

    China's aggressive diplomatic style, known as Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, mirrors Western film narratives like Rambo, but with a Chinese twist. explains how this approach involves China portraying itself as a savior in international affairs, akin to the heroic narratives seen in Hollywood films. He notes that this strategy sometimes backfires, as seen in the Milan controversy, where China's attempt to control the narrative led to geopolitical tensions 1.

    Wolf Warrior and Wolf Warrior 2 and Wolf Warrior 3 were essentially Rambos. But from the China perspective of, "Hey, we're going to go to Africa and we're going to save innocent people that are in jeopardy, and we're going to make the countries better because we are China and we're going to do what's best for you because we are so powerful and mighty and good-willed."

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    This approach, while intended to showcase strength, often results in international criticism and skepticism 1.

       

    Media Manipulation

    China's manipulation of media narratives is a powerful tool for maintaining control and projecting its desired image globally. highlights how celebrities, like John Cena, have been compelled to apologize to the Chinese government to maintain their market presence, often at the cost of their Western fan base 2. This tactic extends beyond individuals to broader geopolitical narratives, as seen in the Senkaku Islands incident, where China shifted focus from domestic unrest to nationalistic pride against Japan 3.

    I mean, look, we all use narrative to spin certain things. You do it with your — I mean, I have 15-year-old kids, you know, you'll see as yours get older, you got to come up with like, reasons to get them to do something and you're creating a little bit of spin and that's just like something that happens in a daily household, right?

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    This ability to swiftly alter narratives underscores China's adeptness at media manipulation 3.

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