“They say that God created all human beings equal, but you are so limited by who you are, whom you know, how much money you have, who your father is, and your education. Nonetheless, through the internet, everything is abstract, but you do not know about that” (Ai Weiwei). Those are the powerful words of the 61-year-old China’s enigma, Ai Weiwei, which drove him to become one of the greatest activists. He uses internet and art to push for freedom of expression in his country that has faced censorship from the Communist Party of China. Censorship refers to the suppression of images, words, or notions, which are perceived subversive of the common good ("What Is Censorship?"). The Chinese activist and contemporary artist were born in Beijing to poet Ai Qing (father) and writer Gao Ying (mother). He spent his childhood in exile with his family until Chairman Mao’s rule ended in 1966 that they came back to Beijing. Later on, he joined an art school whereby he continued his education until he moved to New York City to further his art skills for around 12 years ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). The harsh childhood that Ai went through in getting a better education and helping his father in the labor while they were in exile managed to influence his activism and artwork. Over the years, Ai’s critical art in museums and social media has faced censorship in China leading also to his arrest. His art is diverse in mediums such as paints, music, blogs, sculpts, and photos. In this paper, ways in which Ai Weiwei uses his art show to the world how censorship works in China and the rest of the world in his effort to promote freedom of expression as a philosophy of the society.
Censorship thrives on punishing those who threaten the rule of the communist party. Ai Weiwei father was famous in China for his poetry; however, he was arrested before Ai’s birth by the Nationalist government on suspicion of being a Leftist ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). Later on, after the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, he was accused again of being a Rightist under the reign of Chairman Mao, thus his family being exiled when the activist was around one year old ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). In exile, they stayed in small villages near the province of Xinjiang, which was on the border of North Korean for about 20 years in which Qing was mandated to do hard labor and clean the communal toilets. However, after Mao’s leadership ended, they returned to Beijing. China has strict internet censorship system globally. China’s censored topic areas comprise of political criticism, pornography, and other topics, which may affect the Communist Party rule. The extreme censorship existence mirrors the conservatism and political caution of the Chinese Communist Party that thrives on autocratic policies.
Ai Weiwei first censorship after his father began with the internet use whereby he challenged China’s autocratic rule, which limited the freedom of speech. He was among the first generation of Chinese to utilize the internet in which he spent 16 hours a day or 24 hours on blogging about social and political events that were unfolding in the country ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). The blog enabled him to have direct communication with other people. He reported issues that the Chinese media could not since they depended on the government directions that used brute power to spread their controlled propaganda. For instance, the Southern Weekly magazine, which publishes only what the party wanted to be published and not the opinions of the citizens (Weiwei). The editors also fail to mention the freedom of expression due to fear of their jobs being terminated or facing punishment from the state. In an interview conducted in Royal Academy of Arts, Ai pointed out how his blog on Sina Weibo has been censored several times while sharing his ideas and publishing the names of the children that were killed in Sichuan earthquake that the government did not approve ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). The blog made people know the details of the incident that the government had censored. During the incident over 5, 000 children were killed. However, the authorities were angered by his actions thereby shutting his IP off and deleting his sentences. Even when he uses different IP addresses and names, the state would still recognize his style of writing and variations in his name such as “Ai,” “Weiwei,” and so on. Nonetheless, he received support for other people who supported his course in blogging by registering the same names on the internet to confuse the authorities regarding his real identity. They also wore a virtual mask and called themselves “Wei” or other names. Even though, the authorities still managed to shut off the access to the popular blogging website, Sina Weibo, and also deactivated other trending accounts connected to him
In the DW documentary, he explains how the refugees’ rights have been suppressed by the countries denying them entry. In his anti-refugee rhetoric, he states, “People have a short memory and very, very shallow understanding about why people have to come so far. Who wants to leave their home? Nobody. They have their establishment, they have their neighborhood, they have memories which no money can buy back, and they have their career, they have their language, and they have given up everything to get to this land for a little while” ("Ai Weiwei Drifting| DW Documentary"). Ai explains how those countries denying refugees entry are selfish since they have enough resources in feeding and offering them a play to stay. In the film, he interviews people who are hungry with no place to go since their families were killed in their birth countries and all they wanted was some peace. Ai points out how the refugees are brave in seeking their freedom; however, they are denied that opportunity by being perceived as terrorists or dangerous by the European countries.
In further explaining the censorship of the Syrian refugees regarding their rights and freedom of expression, Ai took a photo of himself lying on the beach in the same position that a 3-year-old refugee Aylan Kurdi was found washed up near Bodrum beach in Turkey ("Ai Weiwei Drifting| DW Documentary"). He used the image to speak on behalf of the dead child and offer him justice together with other refugees whose lives continue to remain at risk with European countries denying them entry. Ai utilization of the image even though it received a lot of criticism with the majority calling it an insensitive thing to do; however, it created awareness regarding the plight of the Syrian refugees with countries reconsidering their positions.
Censorship system in China has led to the demise of Tibet and its current humanitarian crisis. It has regulated the internet content strictly by developing the infamous Chinese Firewall that has managed filter out topics that are related to Tiananmen Square demonstrations, Taiwanese independence, and human rights. Ai points out in an interview in Royal Arts Academy that if the government stops the censorship, perchance the relationship or the conditions of people living in Tibet would improve with the two countries having proper social, economic, and political affiliation ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei").
How Censorship Works
Ai Weiwei’s art exhibitions have also been censored in Beijing and Shanghai in 2014 (Weiwei). His name and work were blotted out in one scenario by authorities while the other one by the exhibitors in the museums themselves. That was due to his art seeking a change in the system, which is freedom of expression in the country.
Ai states that censorship in China exists due to the current regime that supports denying the citizens their liberty. Majority of the party leaders prefer censorship since they have already and are continuing to build their empires on the same system thus without the structure, the cease being powerful and gain profits. Their political life relies on the denial of democracy whereby they have never participated in real elections for more than 60 years. Chairman Mao stated, “As communists, we gain control with the power of the gun and maintain control with the power of the pen” (Weiwei). That is how the state of China has relied on the autocratic rule for an extended period with its principles based on dictating to their citizens what they need to be done. In Mao’s words, any change to the system will be fought with the army, therefore, forcing all the citizens to abide. The soldiers also utilize propaganda in instilling fear to the people through the media that the state controls.
Ai points out how censorship harms people by impoverishing their intellectual lives and distorting their rational order whereby the spiritual and natural world is understood ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). The system robs people their self-perception, which they need in maintaining their independent existence thus cutting their happiness and independence. When speech is censored, the freedom of choosing what is right or wrong is limited thus leading to depression in many people. When fear dominates an individual, individual willpower and true happiness run dry. Their judgments become clouded with their rationality slipping away with at times when in a group, their behaviors turn to b abnormal or violent.
Censorship also exists in a country also due to the people themselves. Ai points out how in China, there is a lot of pretence whereby the citizens speak in ambiguities and feign ignorance ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). They already know that there is censorship in the country but they tend to avoid the topic. They agree to be brainwashed by the state itself since the information that they received in the media has been filtered and double-checked by the government; however, they still chose to believe in the propaganda. For a person to adjust elegantly in censorship, he or she has to engage in self-sponsorship, which a perfect way in joining forces with the state and setting stage for the mutual benefits that accompany the relationship. The kowtowing to power act to receive the gains contributed to brutal reality that is directed toward those who oppose the system. For the majority who accepts the passive position in supporting the authoritarian state, getting by for them becomes their key in life. They bow and nod their heads to every decision that the authority points out even when they feel uncomfortable thereby living like a slave with no choice. That sympathizing attitude becomes their lifestyle thereby criticizing anyone who does not conform to their acts. Ai further illustrates how in China, majority are sycophants of the regime by following the regime blindly. They tend to be resentful to people who speak their minds out and they are bitter because they know that their own hands bring their demise with the self-defence becoming their self-comfort. Censorship requires implicit understanding and cooperation from the censored thus the censored are not usually the victims, as they have been perceived since they voluntarily accepted to live under the system. Voluntary self-censorship always offers gains to the person and also the system itself would not proceed if the voluntary aspect did not exist. Individuals who censor themselves are defenseless when they are faced with the moral challenges. Every time they show their support to the system, they encourage the growth of authoritarians while harming the rest of the citizens who are protesting. The acts of the censorship sympathizers always lead to the collapse of a moral society.
Censorship system typically rewards their sympathizers for their cooperation automatically; thus, no competition is needed in receiving the rewards while punishing those who protest. For instance, in April 2011, Ai was convicted for 81 days. Later on, he was released on probation after the state fabricated accusations against him thereby fining him on tax evasion charges ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). However, those who supported him who were more than 30,000 individuals donated funds to pay his fine that was over 9 million yuan even though they refused to reveal their identities due to fear of being tracked the authorities or even attacked by the state sympathizers ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). Through suppression of bloggers’ voices, the Chinese authorities utilize the threat of punishment in discouraging other citizens from posting things that contradict the daily operations of the state. The government censors information, which can threaten the performance of the communist rule.
How Censorship can be ended
It can only occur if the government of China provides an open platform for public opinion expression where people can come together to portray their views. The principle will be perfect in ensuring social justice is achieved in the society. Without the platforms, speaking the truth will make a person be seen as naïve contrary to rest of the people who support the authoritarian system.
According to Ai, censorship in China will take time to end due to the past social and economic structures that were built under the system many decades ago and are still being run by the heirs of the influential individuals ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). However, if the managers of cultural and artistic projects show proactively that they can deal with the authoritarians without fear while also protecting their public image to avoid being despised at the same time; they can take down the Communist Party censorship rule.
The media who are slaves of the system drive censorship. As per Ai, the Chinese media rely on the propaganda made by the authorities in relaying the information to the people ("An Evening with Ai Weiwei"). Therefore, to stop censorship, the media should be able to challenge the system without fear of protecting the freedom of expression. They should avoid letting their information to go through the system before being published.
Conclusion
Majority of the countries in the world offer their citizens complete liberty. That mostly lies in democratic states. However, China still being under the Communism, their authoritarian rules have not changed with censorship being used by the majority of the leaders in ensuring that no one manages to break the system that has built their fortunes. China uses censorship in controlling the media and voices of the artists who are supposed to be created and vocal regarding any social or political change in the system. With Ai Weiwei being a well-known activist and artist in China, the influence of censorship has been seen in his works. First, it all started with his father, Ai Qing, a known poet at the time was accused by Chairman Mao’s administration of being a Rightist thereby exiled for 20 years in the border of North Korea to carry out hard labor. However, after Chairman Mao died, they were able to return to Beijing, Ai Weiwei’s birthplace. Then after Ai finished his education in New York City, he became involved in the social and political affairs of his country whereby he started blogging. Nonetheless, after posting on his blog about the Sichuan earthquake that killed many children in a school, his IP address was shut off by the government who were not happy with him revealing details of the incident such as the names and total numbers of the victims. He also faced arrest in China’s prison whereby he was mentally tortured. In the DW documentary, Ai expressing the plight of Syrian refugees liberty regarding the poor conditions that they are living in, lack of food, and other crisis that they are facing after being denied entry into the European countries. He showed how their freedom was being censored especially with the case of Aylan Kurdi whose body was found washed up in a beach in Turkey. Ai also shows that censorship exists in China only because the citizens sympathize with the government that in turn rewards them for their allegiance. He also points out how the media contributed in the censorship by failing to relay the truth and depending on the governments’ propaganda. Nevertheless, he states that censorship can end if the state provides a platform for fair public opinion expression to relay what they want. It can also happen if the artists face the autocratic system with no fear of being intimidated. Indeed, the struggles and artwork that Ai Weiwei has gone through in his career in fighting censorship proves that he is an enigma that other people need to emulate for democracy to be achieved all over the world and in all sectors.
Works Cited
"What Is Censorship?". American Civil Liberties Union, 2018, https://www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship. Accessed 7 May 2018.
WeiWei, Ai. "Opinion | Ai Weiwei: How Censorship Works". Nytimes.Com, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/06/opinion/sunday/ai-weiwei-how-censorship-works.html. Accessed 5 May 2018.
WeiWei, Ai. "Ai Weiwei on Censorship in China-Creative Time Reports". Creative Time Reports, 2013, http://creativetimereports.org/2013/04/15/china-every-day-we-put-the-state-on-trial/. Accessed 5 May 2018.
"An Evening with Ai Weiwei". Youtube, 2015, uploaded by Royal Academy Arts, 16 Sep 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpg2uvl1Rpc"t=3716s. Accessed 5 May 2018.
"Ai Weiwei Drifting - Art, Awareness and the Refugee Crisis | DW Documentary". Youtube, 2017, uploaded by DW Documentary, 21 June 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MkcTI00_uw. Accessed 5 May 2018.
