The Chinese Ministry of Education has ordered a state-owned textbook publisher to make changes to a math book, following massive reactions on social media, writes The Guardian.
In addition, all of the country’s textbooks must be “carefully reviewed” to ensure that all children of primary school age have access to books that “adhere to correct political guidelines and values, promote the unique Chinese culture, and conform to the aesthetic taste of the audience.” »
It is the illustrations in a number of math books that have created reactions.
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«Tragically ugly»
On the Chinese social media Weibo, the illustrations have been hard hit. The denoted as «tragically ugly», «pornographic» and «racist».
Several similar topics have received millions of views on Twitter-like social media.
WRONG FLAG: An incorrect Chinese flag has led many to point to Western infiltration. There is no evidence for this, writes CNN. Screenshot: Whatsonweibo
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The illustrations show everything from underwear, boys with cool pants, and boys pulling on the girls’ skirts. In one of the pictures, a boy also holds both his hands over a girl’s breasts.
The pictures, most of them children, are also drawn so that the children have small, dull eyes and large foreheads. This is described by some parents as racist, writes CNN.
Some parents are also said to have expressed concern that their children are being trained in poor aesthetics, as the illustrations are “tragically ugly”.
COOL IN TROUSERS: Chinese parents react to these pictures. Screenshot: Whatsonweibo
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«Alien forces»
On Saturday, the publisher is said to have said that, after listening to the people’s reactions, they felt guilty. A team has therefore started work on changing the books.
The critique of textbooks also has another side.
The drawings are accused, among other things, of being “anti-Chinese”, as an incorrect Chinese flag can be seen in the background of a motif.
Some nationalist influencers have also claimed that the books are the result of an infiltration of Western culture. These have claimed – without any proof – that the illustrators have worked for “foreign forces”.
Screenshot: Whatsonweibo
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In addition to the fact that the new review of textbooks can ensure even stricter censorship in China, the illustrators have received large amounts of provocation.
Wu Yong, who heads the studio behind the cartoons, is one of those accused of carrying a spy for the US CIA.
Concerned about censorship
Paul Huang, who is the father of a four-year-old in Guangzhou, tells CNN that although he is happy that the poorly designed books are disappearing from the classrooms, he is worried that the case will be politicized.
TRAGIC UGLY: The illustrations have made several parents worry about their children’s aesthetic impulses. Screenshot: Whatsonweibo
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“As a father, compared to infiltration from foreign forces, I am more concerned about overtly strict censorship of content that could give children a freer, more diverse perspective,” he told the American news giant.
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