Shiny, Shiny…Barthes would love this

Now that the Olympics are over, I’d like to offer a PAUSE of sorts. A lot of magnificent things happened – I’m not one to deny that I was absolutely caught up in the Phelps mania – seriously – he was amazing. But with all the shiny, shiny – I was on vacation during the opening ceremonies and no less then five people asked if I had seen it – it strikes me that we have let who China is slip away from us. With all the shiny, shiny experience there was quite a bit of manufacturing – mostly through technology. China needed the world to see a fantastic and omnipotent games – their human rights issues needed to remain off-off-off-Broadway and then take a train to a bus.

Everything about Beijing needed to be pristine – so pristine that the little girl who sung during the opening ceremonies was actually a lip syncer. Apparently the other girl wasn’t pristine and cute enough. The fireworks – many were digitally added post-ceremony for airing on NBC. The city itself was transformed, from new buildings (usurping older ones, often family-run businesses) to duct taping brand names (even on toilets).

All is not as it appears. (The games have been a Barthes heaven really.) As we continue into our digital existences, I hope that we do not lose sight of the smoke and mirrors. Yes, China gave us an opening and closing ceremonies the like we haven’t seen. They also needed to in order for us to turn our attention away from Tianamen Square, Tibet, a controlled Internet and press. Etc. Etc. Etc.