Part 8/12:
The regulations also extend to the content shown in media. Shows with idols, especially those with youthful or androgynous appearances, are being removed or heavily censored. The guidelines explicitly call for promoting what they term as "correct political direction" and "traditional culture," essentially seeking to purge popular culture of influences deemed incompatible with socialist values.
Broader Implications and Global Parallels
While China’s censorship policies are some of the most aggressive and controlled globally, similar themes resonate elsewhere. The discussion of "traditional" masculinity versus contemporary styles has echoes in the United States and other Western countries, where debates over gender norms and cultural influence continue to unfold.