Source: Audio – Black Mirror S2E1, Video of “Ethical Conformity” – Nirvana in Fire E54
Project Description
Basic Background
Research demonstrates the formation of classical sex-related Chinese profanities are generally rooted in traditional prevailing ideas of sexual repression, gender discrimination, and ethical conformity. First, society stressed privacy and uncleanliness of sex, leaving it a taboo topic in public discourse, giving individuals a huge boost in creativity for making up relevant swear words. Second, because of Chinese patriarchy values, females were apt to be disrespected, unvalued, and even distained. Unrighteousness and sexism took full advantage of this societal attitude, thus created abundant dirty words associated with females. Finally, Ancestor worship is a major characteristic of Chinese culture. Profaning ones ancestors can be outrageously insulting for Chinese people.
Sexual Repression
The dynamic shadow, as a typical strategy used in Chinese TV programs, connotes ongoing sexual activities, attempting to symbolize sexual repression.
Gender Discrimination
The plug and sockets respectively represents a male and females. In China, the practice of concubinage was widely accepted. Dominated by males sexually and socially, females were objectified as a means of procreation, which signifies gender discrimination.
Ethical Conformity
Wooden tablets in a shrine carries spirits of ancestors of one family. Insulting them sexually and imagining their sexual activities are both extremely unethical, making it possible to be one kind of swear words.
Possible Development
After communicating with friends whose majors are Chinese literature and Chinese history, and classmates from western background, I found ethical conformity distinguishes Chinese profanities from others. Therefore, I want to focus on Chinese clan system and study its relationship with relevant dirty words, such as “cao ni ma bi” (have sex with your mother), “ri ni zuzong shiba dai” (have sex with your ancestors), “sheng nv shishi wei chang, sheng nan daidai wei nu” (if you give birth to a boy, the fate of slavey will pass on from generation to generation; if you give birth to a girl, the fate of prostitution will pass on from generation to generation).
Resources are supportive. “Cao ni ma bi” is unbearable for it apparently goes against morality supported by filial piety, but also impacts on household hierarchy, which means more like “being your father”. Furthermore, the honor of a clan is inherited from ancestors and expects descendants to glorify the clan/family. With the connotation of dominating power and uncleanliness, others having sex with ones ancestors or offspring would bring stigma and shame to himself and his family, making them destructive to social relationship in China even today.
Consequently, I want to film a video clip reflecting classical Chinese family lifestyle, alluding to its connection with dirty words.
Possible Scenario
In a early morning, a mother turned up the light, went to the kitchen, and cooked for her child. When she put food in the pan, the sound of “ci” came out. After finishing cooking, she fed his child, followed by the sound of “a”. Then she came back to sleep with her husband’s snore sounding like “o”. The light was turned off. (“ci” “a” “o” make “cao”, Chinese counterpart of the f-word)
Possible Technique
Dynamic shadow same as the video clip “Sexual Repression”
