#Discovering Urban China

[vintagegeekculture]

What do you feel is the most influential science fiction novel in the 1900's?

In terms of real world effects, the most important scifi novel of the turn of the century was one that is almost never read today: Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward." Its impact in its own time was colossal. A novel about a modern day American who wakes up in the year 2000, he discovers it is a socialist utopia. Only Ben-Hur and Uncle Tom's Cabin were bigger bestsellers in the US. The book was the center of an entire political movement, centered on clubs and reading societies of the book.

It's not well read today, despite being one of the three best selling books of the 19th Century, for several reasons. The first is that there was a conscious attempt to scrub the history of American socialism after the Red Scare (the Haymarket Riots are a holiday in every country except the one where it happened), certainly, but more importantly, the book is incredibly boring and didactic, with conversations about the economy and factory production. Imagine if Fry from Futurama mostly asked questions about factory production and you get the idea. Reading it, you start to understand why scifi writers sugar things up with fistfights and chases.

Nonetheless, the book was so widely read that it was the basis for hundreds of socialist clubs all over America and the US actively involved in politics, and also in the UK and China (where it was translated during the early 20th Century of US/China friendship). It's view of futuristic urban planning centered on green spaces for recreation led to the Garden City Movement in the UK, which changed UK urban planning. It's very likely that if you're British, you live in a Garden City, or close to one.

A lot of writers predict something, but Bellamy's "Looking Backward" was so influential that people actually brought what it predicted into existence. For instance, it had public cafeterias, which were a reality in the USSR, and a key characteristic of political and social life there.

[bat-besties]

People often say Cass’ reason for identifying as nonbinary is “not understanding gender” and while it’s often a joke, I do think it’s the complete opposite to Cass’ knowledge. (I’m using she/her for canon, this applies however and whichever way you headcanon Cass’ gender identity)

I feel it’s often coming from a place of her not understanding language, but gender is so much more than language. A lot of sociologists and gender theorists would kill for the ability to perfectly understand body language and then travel across (at least) China, Vietnam, and the US observing people in urban and rural environments, in both peaceful and violent situations. 

 In many ways, her lack of preconceptions about gender or need for language to shape her observances would make her more able to see the reality of gender performance rather than ideals. The idea that women are weak or men are unemotional would be foreign to her. 

As a child she’s isolated, but she still trains with the League of Assassins briefly. Unfortunately, the first time she is heavily gendered is as a disguise and a weapon in the most traumatic event in her lift, which undeniably shapes her attitude to femininity as this post covers. 

But as she runs, her world suddenly expands to, well, the entire world. 

Her gender identity may have come to words and self-expression in America, but the first place she would be able to really observe people is in south China, likely passing through Guangdong and Guangxi over the course of a year or two. That’s a really formative period, and as I personally think Lady Shiva is from south China (specifically Yunnan), is also unintentionally Cass connecting with her heritage. 

She’s a homeless and very traumatised nine year old, so obviously her experience would have been overall awful. However, a teenage Cass still strongly believes in the sanctity of life and the capacity for goodness in people, and I have to think that while she’s seen a lot of darkness, she’s seen a lot of goodness too. Cass isn’t always curious about things she doesn’t understand (as with her reading), but she has to have been observant to keep travelling and keep escaping from Cain. 

She will have seen the wealthy gamblers of Macau, the street vendors of small-town Vietnam, the pickpockets of Gotham. She will have seen different gender norms across cultures, even if she doesn’t know how each language reflects those norms. She would have to adjust to each new place, and refine her body language reading more generally (like how Americans smile way too much), including gendered readings. 

Cass will have seen a million couples, straight and gay. Pairs of women afraid to hold hands but projecting their nervousness on the first date like a signal. Unhappy marriages hidden by false smiles for the neighbours. Elderly couples where the man still walks on the road side of the pavement.

Considering herself an orphan, she will have seen mothers nursing their babies, fathers pushing their daughters on swingsets, sisters yelling at each other one moment and laughing the next. 

Watching unobserved, she would see all kinds of women in the city. Groups of women going from club to club in high heels, schoolgirls copying each other’s homework on the train, business women in neat makeup and a purposeful walk.  

She will have met other homeless girls like herself. Despite being unable to speak with them she might recognise the guarded set to their eyes, the way they are always poised to run - but they might have a smile for her, and a willingness to share a sheltered spot. They might have cut her hair spiky and short, or taught her to play cat’s cradle.  

Unfortunately, she will have seen predatory behaviour, men who leer or talk with deceptively friendly tones to a little girl alone. (I know she’s meant to “discover” men being attracted to her in the comics as a teen but that’s optimistic). When those men approach other girls, she doesn’t hesitate to protect them. 

But she would have seen so much joy too - boys playing football and grown men joining in, old men sitting on plastic chairs and observing the street together, gangly teen boys play-fighting.

On the streets, clustered and sometimes hidden, she would have seen people whose clothing and body language doesn’t match their bodies. Before Cass knows the words transgender and drag and gender nonconforming, she knows that these people are at risk for being different - at risk like she might be, if she couldn’t convince herself she only needs her fighting skills to protect herself. She wouldn’t need words to take each person as they look to her, to have an amorphous and wordless idea of performativity. 

And then of course, she has Barbara, and Batgirl, and finally language. 

So, I think Cass’ gender identity is something she discovers with the background of this huge tapestry of humanity she’s observed over the years. And if she goes “fuck that it makes no sense”, that’s a deeply informed, nuanced Fuck That. 

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham and Mary R. Walsh

Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor’s world—Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn’t promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by “log, lead, and lookout.” Nat’s long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the “Sailors’ Bible”), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.

Un Lun Dun by China Mieville

What is Un Lun Dun? It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too–including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.

When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last. But then things begin to go shockingly wrong.

Malory Towers by Enid Blyton

Darrell Rivers begins her happy life at Malory Towers two terms later than the other girls, but she soon makes firm friends with Sally, the steady one, and the adoring Mary Lou.

The Littles by John Peterson

The Littles live in the walls of the Biggs' house. But when the Biggs go on vacation a messy family comes to stay, the trouble begins. Mice! Cats! How much can one small family take? Will Tom and Lucy, the littlest Littles of all, be able to save the day?

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who or what is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.

100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson

Twelve-year-old Henry York is going to sleep one night when he hears a bump on the attic wall above his head. It's an unfamiliar house—Henry is staying with his aunt, uncle, and three cousins—so he tries to ignore it. But the next night he wakes up with bits of plaster in his hair. Two knobs have broken through the wall, and one of them is slowly turning...

Henry scrapes the plaster off the wall and discovers doors—ninety-nine cupboards of all different sizes and shapes. Through one he can hear the sound of falling rain. Through another he sees a glowing room—with a man strolling back and forth! Henry and his cousin Henrietta soon understand that these are not just cupboards. They are, in fact, portals to other worlds.

Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton

Read the hilarious, candid, (and sometimes not-so-nice,) diaries of Jamie Kelly, who promises that everything in her diary is true...or at least as true as it needs to be.

School was okay today. Actually, it was better than okay. Angeline got her long, beautiful hair tangled in one of the jillion things she has dangling from her backpack, and the school nurse -- who is now one of my main heroes -- took a pair of scissors and snipped two feet of silky blond hair from the left side of her head, so now Angeline only looks like The Prettiest Girl in the World if you're standing on her right. (Although personally, I think she would look better if I was standing on her neck.)

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald

The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top—and line his pockets in the process.

Mumintrullen by Tove Jansson

En av Tove Janssons mest älskade berättelser, Det osynliga barnet, kommer nu som bilderbok. En kall höstkväll dyker Too-ticki upp i muminhuset i sällskap av ett barn, en osynlig flicka! Hon har blivit osynlig för att någon varit mycket elak mot henne. Mumintrollen låter flickan flytta in och den hösten får både hon och familjen lära sig om respekt, vänlighet, och vikten av att ibland bli riktigt arg.Tove Janssons älskade "Det osynliga barnet" är anpassad för bilderboksformatet av författaren Cecilia Davidsson och illustrerad av Filippa Widlund. Boken är en del i Bonnier Carlsens satsning på att ta fram nya bilderböcker om Mumintrollen för nästa generation Muminälskare. I text och bild knyter boken an till Tove Janssons klassiska berättelse och förmedlar dess säregna magi och klokskaper.

Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones

A humorous fantasy from Diana Wynne Jones. In a world next door to ours, the tourist industry is devastating the population by its desire to experience all the fantasy clichés - Dark Lords, impoverished villages, dragons etc.

The Head of the University resolves to shut the tours down; the only problem being the ruthless tour-master - and his all-powerful demons. To save them all, the incompetent wizard Derk is appointed as Dark Lord in the hope that he will ruin the tours, and sure enough proceeds to fail at everything due to his general uselessness. But can failing at everything lead to a win this time?

[gwendolynlerman]

Discovering the world

Lebanon 🇱🇧

Basic facts

Official name: الجمهورية اللبنانية (al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah) (Republic of Lebanon)

Capital city: Beirut

Population: 5.3 million (2023)

Demonym: Lebanese

Type of government: unitary parliamentary republic

Head of state: vacant (President)

Head of government: Najib Mikati (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $78.23 billion (2022)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 31.8% (medium) (2011)

Human Development Index: 0.723 (high) (2022)

Currency: pound (LBP)

Fun fact: It hosts the highest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from Mount Lebanon, whose name derives from the Phoenician root lbn, meaning “white”.

Geography

Lebanon is located in West Asia and borders Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

There are two main climates: Mediterranean-influenced humid continental in the center and east and hot-summer Mediterranean in the rest. Temperatures range from 11 °C (51.8 °F) in winter to 30 °C (86 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).

The country is divided into nine governorates (muḥāfaẓāt), which are further divided into twenty-five districts (aqdyah). The largest cities in Lebanon are Beirut, Tripoli, Jounieh, Zahlé, and Sidon.

History

2500-64 BCE: Phoenicia

1650-1180 BCE: Hittite Empire

1550-1069 BCE: New Kingdom of Egypt

550-332 BCE: Achaemenid Empire

332-64 BCE: Seleucid Empire

64 BCE-394 CE: Roman Empire

394-635: Byzantine Empire

619-629 CE: Sasanian Empire

636-661: Rashidun Caliphate

661-750: Umayyad Caliphate

750-1517: Abbasid Caliphate

1099-1291: Kingdom of Jerusalem

1102-1289: County of Tripoli

1250-1516: Mamluk Sultanate

1516-1842: Emirate of Mount Lebanon

1516-1918: Ottoman Empire

1843-1861: Double Qaim-Maqamate of Mount Lebanon

1860: civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus

1915-1918: Great Famine of Mount Lebanon

1920-1926: State of Greater Lebanon

1923-1946: Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon

1926-1943: Lebanese Republic

1943-present: Republic of Lebanon

1948: Arab-Israeli War

1975-1990: Lebanese Civil War

1976-2005: Syrian occupation

1985-2000: South Lebanon conflict

2005: Cedar Revolution

2006: Lebanon War

2006-2008: protests

2007: Lebanon conflict

2011: Intifada of Dignity

2019: 17 October Revolution

2020: Beirut explosion

2021: Beirut clashes

Economy

Lebanon mainly imports from the European Union, Türkiye, and China and exports to the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. Its top exports are diamonds, polyacetals, and gold.

It has natural gas, limestone, oil, and salt reserves. Services represent 83% of the GDP, followed by industry (13.1%) and agriculture (3.9%).

Lebanon is a member of the Arab League, la Francophonie, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

95% of the population is Arab, while Armenians make up 4%. The main religion is Islam, practiced by 55% of the population, 27.6% of which is Sunni.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman. 89% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 78.3 years and the median age is 31.3 years. The literacy rate is 96.7%.

Languages

The official language of the country is Arabic. French is spoken by 40% of the population.

Culture

Lebanese culture has Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and French influences. Lebanese people are very gregarious.

Men traditionally wear a shirt, a dark vest, baggy pants (sherwal), a belt, and a headdress. Women wear a shiny dress (gambaz), a wide belt, and a conical hat with a long piece of silk (tantur).

Architecture

Traditional houses in Lebanon are made of stone and wood and have flat roofs and terraces.

Cuisine

The Lebanese diet is based on fish, meat, pulses, and vegetables. Typical dishes include bamieh bi-zeit (okra and tomato stew), kibbeh (fried balls made of spiced meat and bulgur), sayadieh (seasoned fish and rice), sfouf (an almond-semolina cake), and tabbouleh (a salad of bulgur, onion, tomatoes, and parsley).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian and Muslim countries, Lebanon celebrates Epiphany, Armenian Christmas, St. Maroun Day, Feast of the Annunciation Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Assumption, Christmas Day, Islamic New Year, Ashura, Mawlid, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

Specific Lebanese holidays include Rafic Hariri Memorial Day on February 14, Liberation and Resistance Day on May 25, and Lebanese Independence Day on November 22.

Independence Day

Other celebrations include the Aerial and Circus Arts Festival, the Baalbeck International Festival, which features dance and music performances, and the Beiteddine Art Festival.

Baalbeck International Festival

Landmarks

There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Ouadi Qadish (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab), Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli, and Tyre.

Ouadi Qadish and the Forest of the Cedars of God

Other landmarks include Jabal Moussa, the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, the Moussa Castle, Our Lady of Lebanon, and the Tripoli Citadel.

Tripoli Citadel

Famous people

Amin Maalouf - writer

Elie Saab - fashion designer

Fares Fares - actor

Jackie Chamoun - skier

Khalil Beschir - racing driver

May Ziade - poet and writer

Nadine Labaki - actress

Najwa Karam - singer

Ragheb Alama - singer

Rima Fakih - model

Rima Fakih

You can find out more about life in Lebanon in this post and this video.

[blackmoonlightexpress]

TTEOTM is the most viewed non-dangai xianxia drama since Ashes of Love 😮

With the conclusion of Yunhe (云合)'s airing period on Jun 11, we can officially say that TTEOTM is the biggest non-dangai xianxia drama since 2018, with 68M views/episode!

2023 Yunhe Playback per Episode - #1 is The Knockout, #2 is TTEOTM

Kuyun (酷云), a different data platform unaffiliated with any online streamer, also put TTEOTM at 70M views/episode, but its data only go back two years, so we use Yunhe to compare further back.

This makes TTEOTM the #2 show in 2023. Since 2023 is not yet over, if it aired in another year, it would overtake #2 in 2022, #4 in 2021, and #6 in 2020. (Viewership used to be higher in past years, more on that later)

Just to provide a bit context on why this is so insane, so beyond anyone's expectations:

TTEOTM aired exclusively on Youku, the weakest of the big 3 platforms. Youku only has 1/3 to 1/2 of iQiyi and Tencent's daily active user base. If you look at the top 10 dramas in 2018-2022, all of them aired on iQiyi, Tencent, many of them on both or even all 3 platforms. Before TTEOTM, Youku's biggest web exclusive drama is Who is He, police mystery featuring Knockout Star Zhang Yi at 44M views/episode. And before 2023, the highest a Youku exclusive web drama has ever ranked on the annual list is #15 (The Blue Whisper).

The xianxia genre is thought to have a limited audience (young women) even though it generates a lot of fanfare. This might be surprising given how well it travels abroad. However, if you look at the top 3-4 shows each year, it's usually a mix of historical family dramas, crime/thrillers, modern/urban dramas.

April is considered a shit airing slot, especially for xianxias which rely on students on break. Almost all of the top shows in previous years aired during summer or winter holidays. The #1 show in 2022 aired in Nov-Dec, but that was when everyone in China was stuck at home with Covid...

TV viewership has been on the decline with share of attention shifted to short form content and other forms of entertainment. Since 2019 there have been very few mega hits at the same level of Eternal Love or Yanxi Palace until Knockout came along. Very few costume dramas are able to land a coveted TV slot, and web dramas now tend to air on one instead of multiple platforms.

Therefore, most of the data observers thought that 35-40M would be a win and 50-60M near impossible. It's fun to see people bumping up old posts/polls to see how far off predictions were (especially when commenters start backtracking and raising the bar for an explosive hit.) Most people, like myself, benchmarked against Youku's 2022 xianxias: Blue Whisper (37M) and Immortal Samsara (36M). Both featured dual dinglius and the latter aired during the summer.

There are also a few other things stacked against TTEOTM's playback numbers:

Yunhe is affiliated with iQiyi (created to provide data to advertisers). It tends to discount views more harshly when it comes to Youku & Tencent dramas.

Youku has weaker "long-tail" effect again due to its smaller default user base. The drama is bringing users to the platform, not the other way around. After the big promotional push and buzz dies down, it's harder for new viewers to discover the show.

Immediately after TTEOTM finished airing, Youku pushed users towards Back from the Brink and stopped promoting TTEOTM on its main page.

In fact, Youku locked most episodes unusually quickly (such that people have to purchase VIP to watch older episodes) and only unlocked it for the last few days of the airing period. (Some fans argue it's because TTEOTM is a "copyright" drama. This means Youku only has the airing rights and may even have to pay Otter a bonus for high playback volume)

That's why it's a pretty exciting/shocking that TTEOTM is now just behind Ashes of Love, which aired during the summer on all 3 platforms and 2 TV channels back in the heyday of 2018. (Basically we just love watching LYX being bullied and spitting blood)

Online playback volume of non-dangai xianxia dramas, 2018-2023, *Year not over yet

(Before 2018, there's also Eternal Love and Journey of the Flower which are definitely bigger hits, but I don't have the data and the industry landscape is too different back then for fair comparison.)

====

TTEOTM seems to have attracted a group of "data fans" who enjoy watching expectations blown apart. (Some don't even rate the story or the actors. They just like the idea of data prevailing over fan wars.) It's especially fun when the drama is strong in every dimension possible. Here's a compilation (and a bit of explanation) of the drama's achievements:

Commercial Value

1. Viewership

This is the most important & direct measurement of a drama's success in general.

Opening - good indicator of how much drawing power the stars have, but not how well the drama does overall (big debuts often flop while dark horses emerge)

>5.4M reservations ahead of the premiere, highest of any drama in Youku history

Reaches Youku's maximum heat index of 10,000 in 29 hours, fastest in Youku history

23.74M views on its premiere day, highest of any drama in 2 years (Yunhe) - In fact, it's nearly double the views of other dramas led by bigger stars

22.76% market share on its premier day, highest of any costume drama in 3 years (Dengta)

Top Dramas by Opening Viewership, 2021-2023

Market Share - how well the drama is doing compared to other shows airing at the same time

33.2% peak daily market share, highest of any xianxia drama in history (Yunhe)

24.39% peak daily market share on Kuyun (very high considering that it includes TV)

#1 drama in Dengta (everyday), Yunhe (all except 3 days)

Playback Volume per Episode during Extended Airing Period - how well the drama retains its viewers till the end and performs overall; since it's per episode, it penalizes shows where viewers drop midway. Because the airing period ends X days after the last episode airs, it's also an early indicator of whether the drama will have a long tail (which is key to becoming a classic)

67.98M views per episode during airing period (Apr 6-Jun 11), #2 in 2023 (see above)

70.06M views per episode during airing period (Apr 6-Jun 8), #2 in web drama since 2022

Most number of days at heat index of 10,000 for the full day (Youku)

2. Platform new user acquisition 

Arguably what matters most, at least to online streaming platforms, whose income mainly derives from members. Youku is the underdog, so I'm sure customer acquisition is their #1 KPI and why they've invested so much in promoting TTEOTM

TTEOTM has generated the highest number of Youku iOS app download in 5 years

Highest premiere day viewership, new user count, and membership income in Youku history

Youku App Downloads, 2018-2023

3. Advertisement

A major income for platforms. Brands can place ads on specific shows (should be cheaper if you bet right) or pay for random, dynamic placement (you can tell based on whether the drama's title is on the ad itself). The earlier the brand buys in, the cheaper the rates, which I believe is a fixed amount based on production class. Often big IP, big stars, modern dramas get the most upfront, especially if the star brings in their own "brand daddies" (sorry, that sounds naughty).

Some shows start out with nothing, but as more and more people watch, advertisers place more ads in subsequent episodes. The opposite also happens. That's why it's also an indicator of how well the show is performing according to the industry. Advertisers have access to proprietary data and are putting a lot of money on the line.

TTEOTM has 27.6 seconds of ads per episode, 2nd highest of any costume drama in 2023

This includes 26 brands, highest of any xianxia drama in 3 years

It is only one of 12 dramas this year so far with ads in every single episode

Big brands like Huaiwei and Master Kong placed ads as the show progressed, with ad time peaking in episodes 26-30. This is a big stamp of approval from advertisers.

After the drama finished airing, a brand "chased" the hype by placing more ads, which is quite rare

4. Merchandise Value 

Beyond being supplementary income (more here), this is also an indicator of fan engagement. Expect this to become bigger going forward as platforms perfect the process of commercializing IP and fusing e-commerce with entertainment.

TTEOTM has broken the merchandise sales record for TV shows, selling >25M RMB to date (this number does not include Shi Shan Yu costumes and other co-branded products like the ice cream, video game, and photography studio)

>10M RMB came from the bracelets alone, with 3M RMB worth of Ancient Demon God bracelets sold within 24 hours (it's likely a new record but no one has kept track before)

Tantai Jin and Ye Xiwu's costumes were auctioned off for charity for 170K RMB and 100K RMB respectively

=====

Buzz-worthiness

In addition to commercial value, another major dimension of success is buzz/heat -- whether fans are talking about a show, whether the general population knows about the show. This gets into subjective territory, but there are three broad types of data sources:

5. Heat Indices

Heat indices such as Maoyan, Datawin, VLinkage, pull data from the social media platforms like Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou and have their own proprietary methodology to assess how "hot" a drama or a character is based on views, likes, comments, trending topics.

Maoyan (tends to peak on the first few days)

Peak daily index of 9898.15, highest of any drama in 3 years

Heat index of >9800 for over 20 days, on par with historical record

Most popular character in the weekly ranking for over 6 weeks

Datawin (penalizes for negative sentiment)

Avg index of 2.188, #1 drama in 2023

Peak index of 2.669, #2 drama in 2023 behind Knockout

6. Social Media Platforms

This is where fans congregate, so more a measurement of how much fan engagement and discussion there is, or fan intensity in general.

Douyin (biggest platform by daily active users right now, and the new battleground for marketing)

>29B views on the official hashtag, highest of any costume drama and 2nd highest behind Knockout (~60B views)

Heat index of 120M on the platform, a new record for dramas

35 clips with >1M likes (of which 11 were from the official account)

More importantly, TTEOTM inspired a lot of user-generated/led trends & memes on the platform (e.g. the Black Moonlight dance, Bengbu tourism) which engage viewers in a deeper way than just watching clips from the show.

Read Douyin's own "battle report' here.

Weibo (China's Twitter, where different fandoms congregate)

5774 ranked trending hashtags, highest of any drama in 2022-2023 (TTEOTM is differentiated in having a lot of low-ranking trends in the "rising" and "trending outside fan circle" tables. These are not bought but truly user-generated)

>30B views on Weibo, #3 highest in 2023

TTEOTM's official account has the highest number of followers (622K) of any drama that aired in 2023. It'd be the third highest if including dramas from 2022.

Read Weibo's own "battle report" here

7. General Indices

Not entertainment specific and mostly pulling data from parts of the internet that are more functional, where the show doesn't even have an official presence. Good indicator of general population interest and awareness. Difficult for fans to manipulate and "manufacture data"

Baizhi (Baidu search, equivalent to Google): Heat index of 790K, highest of any xianxia in the last few years. TTEOTM is also #5 drama in 2022-23 combined, behind Knockout (1894K), Sword Snow Stride (936K) (both aired on CCTV), Dream of Splendor (913K), and Reset (892K)

Weixin Index (WeChat, equivalent to Facebook & Whatsapp): Peak heat index of 166M, #1 drama in 2023 (even in front of Knockout) and highest of any xianxia or costume idol drama in the last few years. (Note Weixin is owned by Tencent)

Baike Page Visits (Wikipedia): A bit random, but if you take it at face value, it's just how many people have heard about the show and looked it up. A good indicator for general awareness. Note that this is cumulative so we cannot fairly compare across years. TTEOTM is #1 costume drama (likely #2 overall) 2023 and even ahead of some of the dramas from previous years

====

Socio-economic Contribution

8. Tourism GDP

Finally, people are starting to look at tourism GDP as TTEOTM unintentionally generated a lot of interest in Bengbu (literally "clam town"), which has sculptures related to Mingye and Sangjiu. According to the local government, Bengbu gained an incremental 1.5B RMB in tourism GDP during the May 1 holidays thanks to interest from TTEOTM fans. (I feel like this might be a post for another day)

[cognitivejustice]

In 2009, the City of São Paulo made history by passing the Municipal Policy for Climate Change, making it the first city in Brazil to pass such legislation. Since then, this 12 million-people megacity has emerged as a shining example of dedication and progress towards sustainability. Central to this effort is São Paulo’s Action Plan for the Agenda 2030, comprising over 600 actions towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Last February, the City of São Paulo declared the acquisition of 32 private green areas as a public utility. Combined, they encompass 16,531 hectares, representing 11 percent of São Paulo’s territory, equivalent to the size of Paris or 15,500 football fields

Brazil ranks second globally in bus fleet electrification, only behind China, with São Paulo boasting the largest fleet of electric buses in Latin America.

Cultivating food security and urban farming

The Fight Food Waste and Loss Program collects surplus fruits and vegetables, preventing disposal from free fairs and municipal markets. Similarly, the city’s food bank buys fresh produce from family urban farms and redistributes surplus food from retail chains to registered assistance entities. This year, 321 tons of products have been delivered.

The city also has established programmes that offer essential goods at 50 percent lower prices for low-income residents. Other programmes provide free or very inexpensive meals for vulnerable communities, totalling over 2 million meals served in 2023.

Recognising urban agriculture’s multifaceted benefits, the SAMPA+RURAL Program aims to establish 400 urban farms and five school greenhouses by 2024. The programme’s online platform hosts over 2,600 initiatives, allowing citizens to discover local farmers and access eco-tourism options. São Paulo is thus creating a sustainability hub, fostering rural and urban agricultural development while promoting healthy living.

[the-monkey-ruler]

The Chronicles of the Ranger (2021) 游侠战纪

Director: Hu Liang Screenwriter: Hu Liang / Luo Xiaojiu / Ji Pingping Starring : Xie Tiantian / Peng Xiaopang / Jiangju / Shen Dawei / Wan Suwan / Xiao Zheng / / Sun Ye / Zhao Yang Xianglong / Meng / Wang Yuhang / Xu Zongzhe / Black Stone Minoru / Buyi / Gao Qichang / Meng Yin more Lv Shujun Genre: Science Fiction / Animation / Suspense / Adventure Country/Region of Production: Mainland China Language: Mandarin Chinese Date: 2021-07-27 (Mainland China) Number of episodes: 20 Single episode length: 20 minutes Also known as: Nightcrawler: Twenty Years of Peace / 平妖二十年 Type: Reimanging

Summary:

"The Chronicles of the Ranger" is adapted from the novel "Night Walker: Twenty Years of Peace". It tells the story of Hou Mo, an aspiring young man who has the potential ability of his genes in an accident and transformed from a small person to a knight who fights against the strong and helps the weak. Hou Mo, a young man drifting to the south, suffered an accident in 1998. Discovering that he has the blood of Night Walker hidden in his body, he is also the "Intelligent Stone Monkey". This is a bloodline cursed by God. He has a genetic defect that prevents him from living past his thirties. In order to survive, he had to step into that unheard-of world. Struggling desperately, he overcame his own shortcomings, surpassed himself, and gradually grew into a responsible and responsible young man. Together with a group of partners called the "Ranger Alliance" who also have special talents, they battled with wits and courage against the evil organization "The Ferryman" and completed their just mission as a member of the Ranger Alliance organization.

As a sci-fi and adventure-themed animation with urban characteristics, "The Chronicles of the Ranger" takes urban life as the background and genetic science fiction as the focus, explores unknown scientific mysteries, and promotes that ordinary people can become extraordinary and positive through hard work. When the protagonist Hou Mo faces the drastic changes in his own destiny and the oppression of external forces, he is always high-spirited, always hopeful, and always insists on the righteous choice. This film conveys to us a new era spirit of fighting against fate, seeking up and down, and being self-reliant and brave.

Source: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35170381/

Link: https://www.iyf.tv/play/2JxK4h9uzh0

[heyteenbookshey]

If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang

Goodreads summary:

Alice Sun has always felt invisible at her elite Beijing international boarding school, where she’s the only scholarship student among China’s most rich and influential teens. But then she starts uncontrollably turning invisible—actually invisible.   When her parents drop the news that they can no longer afford her tuition, even with the scholarship, Alice hatches a plan to monetize her strange new power—she’ll discover the scandalous secrets her classmates want to know, for a price.   But as the tasks escalate from petty scandals to actual crimes, Alice must decide if it’s worth losing her conscience—or even her life.

I love urban fantasy. Like so much that maybe I would like fantasy fantasy if I gave it a shot but why would I give it a shot when cool books like this are out there?

Poor student at a wealthy school is not a new premise, but the nuances of Alice's situation upped the ante. If she has to leave her school where she is a top student Alice's options are to be a student lagging behind in a local Chinese speaking school, or going across the globe to face familiar discrimination and live with a distant relative. So I get it when my girl starts using her invisibility for monetary gain, and I can roll with the moral weirdness of some of it.

It's all fun until it gets VERY SERIOUS ALL OF THE SUDDEN?? Like 70% of the novel is reasonably increasingly complicated invisible heists then suddenly it gets VERY REAL but also not real at all because in a lot of ways there's not enough consequences.

From the jump Alice identifies her academic rival Henry as her ultimate enemy--ENEMY ENEMEY ENEMY--but at the drop of a hat asks him to go into business with her, then is like oH yeah but I hate him! And at one point is like oh wait guess we're dating then she and then and then--

and it's not will they won't they, she's confused and conflicted and feels both things at once. It's like the book itself dropped all stakes in the relationship when she went to him with her secret then acted like the stakes were still raised for the rest of it. In this, and the iron straight moral conflicts, it honestly felt sometimes like I was reading a middle grade book until a "fuck" popped up.

But oh my god the starring moment of the book is when Alice realizes she forgot she has a test and her breakdown bleeds off the paper. It's so intense and shame filled and that awful sticky foggy devastation that this is it this is the world falling apart was so real and visceral I had to stop reading for a beat!!

Despite having familiar tropes the book feels incredibly fresh. I love a good boarding school book and an international boarding school in China is a completely different playing field. The book ends with some pretty big questions unanswered, and if there was a sequel it would be my next book.

Not everything has to be edgy edgy complicated, and this is good fun especially for urban fantasy fans looking for a little romance.

Date Published: Oct 11, 2022

Date Read: May 9, 2024

Rating: 3.5/5 ghosts

[lizmclam]

Blog #2

A monumental film in the realm of Japanese horror cinema during the 1990’s and 2000’s is Hideo Nakata's "Ringu" (1998). This iconic film, based on the novel by Koji Suzuki, introduced audiences to a chilling tale of supernatural terror that continues to captivate viewers to this day. In this blog entry, we will delve into the depths of "Ringu," exploring its haunting narrative, analyzing a key scene, and examining its enduring legacy in the world of horror cinema.

The film begins with the discovery of the disturbing legend surrounding a cursed videotape. According to the legend, anyone who watches the tape will receive a phone call immediately afterward, forewarning  them of their death in seven days. When four teenagers mysteriously die on the same night, Reiko becomes intrigued by the story and begins investigating. Reiko discovers that her niece, Tomoko, was one of the victims and decides to dive into the mystery behind the cursed videotape to save herself and her son, Yoichi, who also watched the tape. Reiko employs the help of her ex-husband, Ryuji Takayama, a university professor specializing in folklore. Reiko proceeds to track down the origins of the tape and finds its connection to a remote mountain resort. As Reiko digs deeper, she uncovers the tragic story of Sadako Yamamura, a young girl with psychic powers who was murdered and thrown into a well years earlier. It is revealed that Sadako's vengeful spirit is responsible for the curse, seeking retribution for her untimely death. Reiko learns that Sadako's spirit has manifested itself in the form of a disturbing video that serves as a conduit for her evil powers. With time running out, Reiko and Ryuji race against the clock to break the curse and save themselves from Sadako's wrath. They discover that the only way to lift the curse is to make a copy of the cursed videotape and show it to someone else, passing on the curse to another unwitting victim. In a race against time, Reiko and Ryuji race to uncover the truth behind Sadako's death and find a way to stop her vengeful spirit before it's too late. Their investigation leads them to a remote cabin where Sadako's remains are buried, and they must confront the terrifying truth of her existence to break the curse once and for all.

"Ringu" is celebrated for its atmospheric tension, chilling imagery, and psychological horror, becoming a seminal work in Japanese horror cinema and inspiring numerous adaptations and sequels both in Japan and abroad. With its innovative storytelling and iconic imagery, "Ringu" continues to captivate audiences with its tale of supernatural terror and the enduring power of urban legends.

One of the most iconic scenes in "Ringu" occurs when Reiko and her ex-husband, Ryuji Takayama, watch the cursed videotape together. The scene is fraught with tension as the eerie images on the tape slowly reveal themselves, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack that sends shivers down the spine of the viewer. As Reiko and Ryuji watch in horror, they realize the true nature of the curse and the dire consequences they face if they cannot solve the mystery in time. This scene effectively captures the sense of dread and impending doom that pervades the entire film, setting the stage for the terrifying events that unfold.

"Ringu" (1998) remains a pivotal work in Japanese horror cinema, captivating audience all over the globe with its eerie atmosphere, chilling narrative, and unforgettable imagery. “Ringu” (1998) has also inspired western cinema through its exploration of supernatural terror and psychological horror, the film continues to resonate with viewers and inspire filmmakers around the world as we see in the American remake “The Ring” (2002). As we unravel the mysteries of "Ringu," we uncover a tale of fear and dread that transcends cultural boundaries and leaves an indelible mark on the annals of horror cinema.

How does J-horror classic Ring (1998) compare to its 2002 Hollywood remake? | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)

It Came From the East... Japanese Horror Cinema in the Age of Globalization - Gnovis Journal (georgetown.edu)

[haseenachoti76]

Discovering the Best Time to Travel to Hong Kong Weather Guide

Hong Kong, a vibrant metropolis nestled on the southeastern coast of China, beckons travelers with its captivating blend of tradition and modernity, bustling streets, and culinary delights. Choosing the best time to visit this dynamic city involves considering various factors, with weather playing a significant role in shaping the travel experience. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you plan your trip to Hong Kong based on weather conditions:

1. Autumn (September to November):

Weather: Autumn marks the transition from the hot and humid summer months to cooler and more comfortable temperatures. Expect pleasantly warm days with lower humidity levels and cooler evenings.

Highlights: This season offers ideal weather for exploring Hong Kong's outdoor attractions, such as hiking trails, beaches, and scenic viewpoints. It's also a great time for cultural events and festivals, including the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.

2. Winter (December to February):

Weather: Hong Kong experiences mild winters characterized by cool and dry conditions. Daytime temperatures range from mild to cool, while evenings can be chilly. Rainfall is relatively low during this season.

Highlights: Winter is perfect for exploring Hong Kong's urban attractions, such as shopping districts, markets, and cultural landmarks. It's also an excellent time to indulge in hot pot dining or enjoy outdoor activities without the discomfort of summer humidity.

3. Spring (March to May):

Weather: Spring brings pleasant weather to Hong Kong, with gradually warming temperatures and increasing humidity. Expect mild to warm days and comfortable evenings. Showers are more frequent, especially towards the end of spring.

Highlights: Spring is an ideal time for outdoor adventures and sightseeing, as the city bursts into bloom with colorful flowers and lush greenery. Don't miss the annual Hong Kong Arts Festival, showcasing a diverse range of performing arts.

4. Summer (June to August):

Weather: Hong Kong's summers are hot, humid, and characterized by frequent rain showers and occasional typhoons. Daytime temperatures soar, often accompanied by high humidity levels, making outdoor activities challenging.

Highlights: Despite the heat and humidity, summer offers opportunities to experience Hong Kong's vibrant culture, culinary scene, and indoor attractions, such as museums, art galleries, and air-conditioned shopping malls. Water-based activities like swimming and water sports are also popular.

Conclusion: Choosing the best tim visit Hong Kong depends on your preferences and interests. Autumn and winter are generally considered the most comfortable seasons for exploring the city, with milder temperatures and lower humidity levels. However, each season offers its own unique experiences and attractions, allowing visitors to discover the diverse charm of Hong Kong throughout the year. Whether you're drawn to outdoor adventures, cultural festivals, or urban exploration, Hong Kong welcomes you with open arms, ready to unveil its wonders in every season.

[vierran45]

Dramas 2023

I’m listing the favourite dramas I watched this year. Most, but not all were released in 2023.

China had a lot of great dramas this year ranging from wuxia to urban fantasy.

The Blood of Youth Great wuxia ensemble cast and a fun story.

A League of Nobleman Lan Jue and his harem of boyfriends. Supposedly a mystery series.

Detective L Bai Yu in  Republican era suits solving crimes. What’s not to like.

The Starry Love Warring nations xianxia with mixed identities that was surprisingly lovely.

The Heart of Genius I hate math, but I still enjoyed this parallel world drama centered on maths.

Justice in the Dark (8 episodes) I’m still mad about it’s short run. Modu is a great novel and the casting in this drama was perfect.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook Just great.  Li Lianhua’s journey and his friendships with the various people in jianghu were wonderful.

Lost You Forever S1 Yang Zi did an awesome job as the lead and I also liked all of her companions (although I admit having an irrational dislike to Deng Wei).

My Journey to You Dark, but great series. Quite claustrophobic in tone, but Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe were both great. The poison brother stole the show.

I Am Nobody Urban fantasy where a young guy discovers he has superpowers and is part of a larger community with it’s own secrets.

A Journey to Love Lovely, tragic tale of a group of people who go on a quest to recover their useless emperor from the enemy country. Right from the start you know how it’s going to end. But denial is strong.

Btw, can we ban the words ”Love” and ”Journey” in English titles of dramas for a while, please.

Japan:

Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san A lovely slice-of-life drama about food, friendship, life as a maiko or as a geisha.

Informa A reporter gets juicy stories from a mysterious guy with his own agenda. A tour de force role by Kiritani Kenta.

Korea:

The Secret Romantic Guesthouse A lovely drama about a young woman who gets entangled with a secret prince and his protector.

Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938 Lee Rang rules this drama with his mermaid! Also, loved the brothers’ reunion and them working together.

Bloodhounds Contemporary drama about loan collectors who end up going against the big money.

Perfect Marriage Revenge Totally makjang soap opera about second chances, but I really enjoyed all the drama.

Taiwan:

Oh No! Here Comes Trouble Fun and quirky drama where a guy can see ghosts. Touching and tragic at times, humorous at other moments.

Kiseki: Dear to Me A mafia guy falls in love with a young student. Add in amnesia, various conflicts and delicious pastry to fill in the details.

[sonali2345]

Global Drilling Dynamics: A Comprehensive Overview of Directional Drilling Services Worldwide

Directional drilling is technique where multiple holes are dug from same surface. This form of digging is used by oil companies for accessing the reservoir of oil which saves the operational cost and done with less damage to the environment. The directional drilling has been a part of oil industry for a longer period.  The use of Directional Drilling has economic uses as well for the oil drilling companies because it has low maintenance and low equipment cost which is why it is preferred mainly.  With the rising demand for sources of energy, companies are investing huge amount into advanced methods for drilling services. Use of advanced tools and technique for the discovery for finding new reservoirs with minimum expense and drilling them to bring out maximum output. The market will be driven by increasing demand for energy, rapid industrialization.  

Request The Sample PDF Of This Report:    https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-toc-and-sample/14171  

COVID-19 Impact analysis 

The COVID-19 outbreak has highly impacted the oil & gases market. With rise in cases day by day, countries have been under complete lockdown. This resulted in low sales of automobiles and halt in industries such as airlines, transportation, and oil production.  

 The companies have to follow the lockdown protocol and shut down their production unit as per government rules and regulation. Also, because of shortage of labor and including their safety. Many ongoing projects have to be temporarily ceased with immediate effect. The oil & gas price and supply have been affected globally.  

Top Impacting Factors 

  The population is growing rapidly and so is the demand for energy. The demand is more from developing countries owing to increasing infrastructure and changing lifestyle of people. To cope with the demand, it has become important to discover new oil and gas fields, to meet the energy demand. Thus, the market has been expanding due to increasing investment. The fluctuating crude oil price in the global market oil field operators are cutting down their expenses in field operations. Also, the government is now strict on the oil & gas mining. In several regions, government has applied some rules and regulation regarding the safety of workers and environment. The companies have to submit a rough plan to the government about their drilling plans and environment safety measures which they are taking. Apart from this, the list of equipment to be used and an evacuation plan in case of emergency if anything happens. Before drilling to get the permissions can take time and slower down the production and increase in production cost, which is expected to   hamper the directional drilling services market. The increase in adoption of green energy sources will reduce dependency on oil & gas in the future is expected to affect the directional drilling services market. 

  Market Trends 

The growing investment in off-shore sector to find more reservoirs and increase the oil & gas production. This makes it the fastest growing segment into the market. Countries like China, America, and Russia have already invested, because the cost of offshore drilling has declined over the past few years. 

Currently the demand for coal, gases and fuels for transportation has been increasing due to globalization and urbanization, which needs the expansion of oil & gas industry and biggest market vendors such as China, Russia and the U.S. have increased their investment in search for oil fields. 

The increased use of energy has expanded the global oil & gas industry. They are mainly used for the purpose of transportation, power generation, and industrial use with many other industries. 

 Technological advancement which helps drillers to go into more depth and advancement of drilling tools with better visibility under the water, America is dominating the market because of their better technology. 

Countries which are largest consumer of oil & gas are China and the U.S.; they are investing more into renewable source of energy power generation to reduce carbon emission and their dependency on fossil fuels.  They are setting hydro, solar and wind power energy substation at a larger extent, which will affect the oil, gas and drilling market at a larger level. 

Enquiry Before Buying : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/14171  

Key Benefits of the Report 

This study presents the analytical depiction of the directional drilling services industry along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets. 

The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with detailed analysis of the directional drilling services market share. 

The current market is quantitatively analyzed to highlight the directional drilling services market growth scenario. 

Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market.  

The report provides a detailed directio 

 Directional Drilling Services Market Report Highlights 

Aspects & Details  

By Drilling Technique 

Conventional Methods 

Rotary Steerable System 

By Service Type 

Rotary Steerable System (RSS) Logging-While-Drilling(LWD 

Logging-While-Drilling(LWD 

Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) 

Motors (MUD Motors) 

Get a Customized Research Report @ : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/14171  

By Application 

Onshore Applications 

Offshore Applications 

By Region 

North America  (U.S, Canada, Mexico) 

Europe  (Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Rest of Europe) 

Asia-Pacific  (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific) 

LAMEA  (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of LAMEA) 

Key Market Players 

Weatherford International Plc, Jindal Drilling & Industries Limited., Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes Incorporated, Nabors Industries Ltd, Halliburton Company, Cathedral Energy Services Ltd, General Electric Oil & Gas, National Oilwell Varco 

[mariacallous]

For most of the past 15 years, my interactions with young Chinese in their late teens and 20s have obeyed a familiar pattern. Having grown up in an age when their country seemed impervious to major economic setbacks, they easily shrugged off each new wave of Western assessments that China’s political and economic model—like all models—faced serious vulnerabilities.

They had heard and rejected the idea that China’s political system was inherently inferior to Western-style democracy. The evidence to the contrary seemed largely sufficient to their eyes as the United States and other high-income countries fell victim to the 2008-09 global financial crisis while China sailed forward almost placidly by comparison. The “democracy is superior” argument took another big hit in their minds during the Trump administration, when U.S. politics was dominated by one poorly informed but powerful man’s impulsiveness. Wasn’t that supposed to be a key flaw of dictatorships?

They had dismissed the widespread notion that China’s relatively closed authoritarian system would prevent the country from innovating fast enough. Yes, it was true that China had blocked most of the trailblazing U.S. companies of the early internet age, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and many others. But hadn’t China come up with its own terrific domestic alternatives? Look at WeChat, young Chinese began telling me from the moment of that homegrown app’s birth. On “our” platform, they observed, one can seamlessly do everything that it takes a whole host of U.S. apps to accomplish. Has anyone in the West created something so brilliantly capable?

And if one thinks this is a matter of ancient history, which is what the early app era is when talking about the history of the internet, what about electrical vehicles and the batteries that make them run? China has gotten so good so fast at developing sleek, well-functioning, and competitively priced cars in this space that it even has the Germans trembling, as seen at this week’s industry show in what is probably the West’s premium car-producing country. Or look at the U.S. attempt to stifle Huawei, China’s biggest cellphone-maker. Although prevented from using U.S. technology for 5G components, China has, using homegrown technology, just rolled out a high-end smartphone model that is capable of 5G-like data connectivity speeds and which throws in satellite connection capability as a bonus.

Young Chinese have also heard that the country’s poor environment would bottleneck their growth or drive an uprising by the middle class. Not so long ago, the air in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai was frightfully polluted, drawing justified comparisons to the London of Charles Dickens. If one had to endure this much pollution in order to sustain further decades of fast economic growth, didn’t that call into question more than just the seeming disregard of the country’s leaders for the people’s well-being? What, in other words, is the purpose of growth if one’s child can’t play outside because it’s dangerous to breathe?

Well, something remarkable happened here, too. While traveling in China for much of the past summer, I discovered the air in many of the country’s biggest cities to be so vastly improved that a newcomer would have a hard time imagining the recent long era of “airpocalypses,” as the immovable domes of impenetrable smog encasing urban environments were called.

Though I have never believed that China had somehow repealed basic economic laws, which suggest that every great boom era must come to an end, I have always found a lot to admire in the great many young Chinese I have gotten to know over the last 15 years or so. Substantial numbers among them have been students in my own classes in the United States and elsewhere. And one of the qualities that has consistently struck me most among them is what I like to call civilizational confidence.

It is true that the Chinese state, through tightly controlled education and unstinting propaganda, works hard to instill this attitude, but there is something more at play here than just top-down manipulation. I suspect part of it comes from being part of such a large country with great historic depth and many, many cultural and scientific achievements to its name. Part of it, too, seems to be about resilience. Even if not during their lifetimes, young Chinese know that their country has been down before but has always sprung back impressively. All of this has bred self-belief.

But all of this also makes the impressions I received during my recent weeks of travel in China feel even more remarkable. What I heard over many conversations with young people was not a response to the perennial cycles of doomcasting about China that one finds in the Western press and in much publishing about the country. In fact, most of these people were not terribly well-informed about the current state of Western discourse about their country at all. What they were, however, was filled with their own doubts about the future, which they readily vented.

Some of the contours of this were unsurprising. After all, this was the summer that Beijing decided to suppress the publication of youth unemployment data, presumably because of how grim the numbers have become—in June, youth unemployment hit a record 21.3 percent. In conversation after conversation, my young interlocutors spoke with deep trepidation about their economic prospects in the near and even longer term.

It wasn’t the topic itself that surprised me so much as the swiftness and power of the shift in sentiment. At almost all times during this century, it has been an article of faith in the country that education, and especially higher education, would be rewarded with sharply rising incomes, secure entry into the middle class or better, and a version of the sentiment common in the United States during the boom decades that followed World War II: that it was the birthright of each new generation to be much better off than the one that preceded it.

If the problem of youth unemployment in a China whose economy may be set for long-term deceleration has been widely commented on, some of the profound problems that stem from this generally have not. A graphic representation of the number of new college graduates in the country over the last four-plus decades looks like the upward curve of a roller coaster track. Here we find the kind of problem that is an unintended consequence of what has always seemed like a very sensible proposition: Educating people equates to creating new waves of prosperity. In its current funk, though—and perhaps on a longer-term basis, due to deep contradictions in the country’s economic model—China can no longer find enough gainful employment for its huge numbers of newly educated people.

If you’re between the ages of, say, 17 and 28 or so—which was the case for almost everyone I spoke with—this is deeply discouraging and even scary, as so many people didn’t hesitate to tell me. “We are competing with each other in what has become a pure rat race,” a college freshman, whose name I am withholding for their security, told me in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. “Everybody is trying to push their education as far as they can, but we are competing for fewer and fewer jobs. As a result of supply and demand, lots of people are going to earn less, and lots of others will just have to accept low-grade jobs.”

But this was only the beginning of the new pessimism I was encountering.

For years when I taught in my graduate school classrooms in New York about the coming aging crunch in China—a time projected for the near future when the ratio of older adults to the young and working-age populations would rapidly flip in favor of the former—I drew a knowing look from many of my Chinese students. After all, it is a problem I have been writing about for many years already. “Here we go again,” the stares I received from some of my Chinese students seemed to say. “Professor French has given in to the doomsaying industry about our country, but we know better.”

This summer, though, I didn’t have to ask about aging. It was on everybody’s lips, not least the young people. I suspect that’s in part because the state quite belatedly has itself become alarmed. The Chinese government avoids shocking language about the stark nature of a demographic crisis of unprecedented scale, but the ability to read between the lines of official messaging to see the underlying urgency of this challenge is almost child’s play, especially for the dwindling numbers of young adults in the country who only recently were children themselves.

The country’s media are now filled with prompts for young people to get married earlier and have more children. Chinese President Xi Jinping has traditionally been loath to use social welfare spending or direct cash benefits to citizens to reduce China’s addiction to investment and stimulate the economy. But that is exactly what Beijing is rolling out in response to the alarming decline in birth rates. Suddenly, one city or province after another is introducing monetary inducements to women or couples to have more children.

The young people who will in theory be the source of the children of the future increasingly say they are discouraged by the costs of housing and of raising children. And as most of them belong to one-child families themselves, they also speak in fear of the financial burdens that await them when their parents grow old and infirm and need taking care of. Compared with most wealthy Western countries, the Chinese state’s social welfare provisions for retirement, health, and elder care remain bare-bones.

In response to this, not only are young people putting off marriage until later, but increasing numbers of young Chinese are also forgoing it altogether, with some even dropping out of dating. Young women, meanwhile, have been big beneficiaries of the enormous boom in higher education in the country, and with more and more advanced learning among them, growing numbers of them have been privileging their own career development and—“Why not?” some said to me—their personal fulfillment.

In my conversations in China this summer, I never once inquired about feminism, but one after another, young women freely identified with it themselves. Then came this comment from a 19-year-old in Shanghai, whose name I am also withholding for her safety. “Maybe you’ll think this is too dark, but I definitely don’t,” she said. “It seems like we are on track for a situation where the state tries to force women to have children, like take us away to a camp or something. It worries me a lot.”

During China’s long boom years, not succumbing to the skepticism and naysaying of others seemed like a real source of strength for the society, even a virtue. We are in a new era now, though, and one of the biggest tests will be something the country’s leaders are altogether unaccustomed to: how well the system can hear and respond to the growing concerns and doubts of its own citizens.

[anonsally]

Days 14-16 of Australia vacation: back in Sydney

On Day 14, we got up early to fly back to Sydney.

There were some nice views out the window of the plane, and we arrived early enough to go to the beach in the afternoon. On our way to the beach, though, we had to make a stop. Brother-in-law had found a Sydney funnelweb spider (which is the world's most venomous kind) in their outdoor shower, so he had captured it in a container to drop off so that the venom could be harvested for use in making the antidote. Eeek!

While we were looking for parking near the beach, I saw what the in-laws called an Australian bush turkey, though eBird calls it an Australian Brushturkey. The beach was pleasant; the others snorkeled and I just enjoyed being in the water for a bit and then did some tidepooling. I think I saw a sea slug! And there were medium-sized lizards called water dragons on some rocks on our way back to the car. It was nice to see some wildlife even in the city!

Unfortunately, right at bedtime I found some "wildlife" in the bedroom: a spider was perched on a corner of a cushion on the bed, and everyone else was already asleep. It was not a venomous spider, but I couldn't sleep with it on the bed, and I didn't want to wake anyone up. It took me a while to gather up all my courage to pick up the cushion from the other end and take it outside. But I did it!

Day 15 was our last day in Australia. We had a bit of a slow start. Sister-in-law had returned to work, and Brother-in-law had a work event in the morning but was joining us for lunch. We took the train (I saw what I think was a female Australasian figbird in a tree near the station) into town and took a little walk along the water in Barangaroo. Then we walked over to the Queen Victoria Building, where we had reserved a table for High Tea service at lunchtime with Brother-in-law; Sister-in-law joined us for a few minutes to say hello on a break from work. The Tea Room is a huge hall with fancy chandeliers, and it feels both silly and luxuriously indulgent to have a meal there. We ate an exquisite array of little sandwiches, pastries, and scones on ornate china, accompanied by tea (decaf Ceylon for me) and sparkling wine.

Afterwards, Wife and I visited the Powerhouse Museum, which had an eclectic mix of exhibitions on various industries, including a section on Indian textiles, a collection of clothing designed by Australian designer Carla Zambatti, and the first train engine to operate in Australia along with 3 restored passenger cars (1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class).

Then we took the modern commuter rail back, and spent a little while hanging out in a small playground waiting for one of the in-laws to get home since we didn't have a key to the house. While there, I spotted a gray butcherbird, which is a species I hadn't seen yet.

We had a relaxed evening at home. Brother-in-law cooked a scrumptious dinner of risotto, chicken, and broccoli, and we looked at some photos from the trip.

On Day 16, we said goodbye to Sister-in-law before she left for work. We then spent the morning packing; we had to borrow an extra piece of luggage to fit everything. When we were getting ready to leave, I noticed a large bird up in a tree. I unpacked the binoculars to look at it and discovered that it was my first Pied Currawong!

Brother-in-law dropped us off at the airport. He had made arancini (fried risotto balls) from the leftovers from the previous night and put some in a box to bring along, so I had a nice snack on the plane. The flight home was 13 hours long; I dozed for much of it, and it was a good thing I had the arancini because the flight was too turbulent for the flight attendants to serve breakfast before landing! We arrived a few hours before our departure time due to crossing the International Date Line.

All in all, we had a great trip--it really felt like a vacation. I was intrigued to notice how very not interested in the urban sightseeing I felt, but most of the time we weren't in cities, and the scenery, wildlife, and birds were great. Somehow I managed to see at least one new species of bird on each day of the trip!

I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to go back to Tasmania, but if I do, I must find a way to visit Bruny Island for a full-on birdwatching tour.

[longlistshort]

Edward Burtynsky’s photographs are visually arresting and often made more so by the need to look closer to discover what exactly is being captured. Some look like paintings at first glance before you realize there are roads or other man made structures contained within them.

From the Sundaram Tagore’s press release-

Since the early 1980s, Edward Burtynsky has been photographing industrial landscapes across the globe, documenting in remarkable detail the human imprint on the planet through terraforming, extraction, urbanization and deforestation. For African Studies, premiering in New York simultaneously at Sundaram Tagore Gallery and Howard Greenberg Gallery, he focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, traveling to Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar and Tanzania between 2015 and 2020.

Burtynsky’s interest in Africa was sparked 20 years ago while he was working on his landmark 2004 photographic project China, which explores the country’s rapid globalization and the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. The series, and subsequent award-winning documentary film by Jennifer Baichwal, Manufactured Landscapes (2006), chronicle China’s transformation into the world’s leading manufacturer and depository for its waste. Burtynsky witnessed firsthand the immense environmental—and by extension, human—cost of development, and he predicted Africa would be the next, and perhaps the last, region to undergo major industrial expansion.

Presented in large-format photographs, African Studies conveys the fragility of the natural world, bringing together images of lush, undisturbed landscapes and environments irretrievably altered by industry. The series was largely photographed from aerial perspectives, a viewpoint that distills the continent’s diverse topography into graphic patterns and gradients of sumptuous color. The resulting effect seemingly transforms the marks of human infrastructure into painterly abstract compositions. In these images, as in all his work, Burtynsky skillfully integrates critical reporting with sublime visual aesthetics creating a harmonious balance between content and form.

“With this project I hope to continue raising awareness about the cost of growing our civilization without the necessary consideration for sustainable industrial practices and the dire need for implementing globally organized governmental initiatives and binding international legislations in order to protect present and future generations from what stands to be forever lost,” Burtynsky said.

Also on view in another section of the gallery are works from his series, Natural Order. The photographs were taken in Grey County, Ontario, during the lockdown in the spring of 2020.

This quote from Burtynsky was on the wall nearby in regards to the series-

"From the frigid sleep of winter to the fecund urgency of spring, these images are an affirmation of the complexity, wonder and resilience of the natural order in all things. I find myself gazing into an infinity of apparent chaos, but through that selective contemplation, an order emerges an enduring order that remains intact regardless of our own human fate."

This exhibition closes 4/1 at Sundaram Tagore Gallery and 4/22 at Howard Greenberg Gallery.

[christmasintheloonybin]

so funny seeing right wingers discover what capitalism is and being opposed to it. I mean to say in the same way communists are, many American right wingers leaning towards libertarianism will say "hey, how come I'm making $16/hr on this job and my boss is making $200/hr for my labor?" the solution being, we all work for ourselves, we're all tradesmen and we all enjoy the fruits of our own labor. okay sure, on paper this sounds amazing, HOWEVER, you cannot be in favor of progress if you are opposed to capitalism. technological and social progress. the generally speaking great wealth and power of the United States only ever happened because of exploitation and capitalism. you need guys who do very little actual work investing money in other projects, expanding business, providing jobs etc. I'm not defending capitalism because I am also completely against progress. but the only way we could have a society of skilled workers who enjoy the fruits of their labor etc etc is in extremely small scale communities, which would be an extremely inefficient system if we are thinking in terms of social and technological progress.

also, let's be honest, most people do not have any kind of skill and have no desire to achieve a skill. most people are like animals in that they are content when there is a lack of physical suffering. they have no drive or will at all. what is to happen to them? should they starve? if we follow the principle of from each to each we would have probably at least a third of the population who have no desire to work and would only sit at home collecting rations (or whatever in a communist society). it could be argued in the soviet union or China "okay it's not great that we have to force all these people to work in factories but we are extremely underdeveloped and need to catch up with the west so for just a little while and then we can have real communism..." still this is not THE GOAL. but back to my point - then what do we have? exactly the same fucking thing in reverse! someone leeching off of you and making money off of your labor but without providing anything to the larger community. I think coercion to work is obviously a negative and unpleasant thing, but do you seriously think there is great fulfillment for the average dishwasher or sewage worker? these are unpleasant tasks that are only done because of CAPITALIST incentivization, and they NEED to be done in modern society. sure maybe a plumber or a cook or a blacksmith or whatever, a skilled laborer, is prevented today from reaching his full potential and when he can truly express himself and recieve the fruits of his labor properly then society will be fixed FOR HIM. but most people are not like this. even today in America welfare will guarantee you a quality of life that is MINIMAL, horrible for the western world especially in urban areas, but people will jump on it, why? because the labor they are coerced into doing is so unfulfilling, but this work is not only necessary for the functioning of a society but especially necessary for the PROSPERITY of a society like the United States. and in organized society the work now is much more unpleasant than ever before. in a natural setting it was maybe quite fun if tiring to gather firewood or plant seeds or whatever, and this was directly tied in with your life, but why should someone say "I'm going to go work sorting trash in a landfill just for fun." it's completely different, and maybe some people in theory really do care about society as a whole (I do not) but in reality only very small scale communities could compel the average person to give a fuck enough to do this unpleasant work. you see it. I don't want to clean up trash in the streets but I love my family and my neighbors and I want my community to look nice and be healthy. you see the results directly. but there is no real reason anyone with any sense would really be compelled to play some minute role in the production of something that would maybe better society but have no real impact on his life personally. ie capitalism AND communism, capitalism works because the capitalist will say "I don't care how you feel about it, you need to or you won't eat." the problem is not necessarily these two systems but MATERIALISM, LARGE SCALE SOCIETY, TECHNOLGY, AND PROGRESS.