In recent weeks, wholesome videos pairing Sun Wukong and Lin Daiyu, characters from classic Chinese novels, have captivated Chinese internet users. The unlikely couple, reimagined by fans using AI and video splicing, sparked a government crackdown. Authorities argue the adaptations violate the spirit of the original works, with the People's Daily warning against "malicious alterations that ridicule heroes." Citing a directive to remove AI animations that "seriously violate" classical literature, platforms like Kuaishou removed thousands of videos, citing "improper romantic associations." The 1980s TV adaptations are childhood staples for Chinese millennials.
Sociologist Liang Ge notes the government demands reverential interpretations, while the phrase "improper romantic association" highlights concerns over "unauthorized authorship of intimacy at scale." Despite official restrictions, adaptations of the classics have been encouraged, with Xi Jinping urging a revival of traditional culture. The blockbuster game Black Myth: Wukong was hailed as soft power, though the regulatory boundary between storytelling and subversion remains ambiguous.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing