China has ordered a ban on the sale of audio and video products
containing elements of mystery and horror. The move is the latest
initiative to "protect the country's children and teenagers'
psychological development", according to a newly-issued government
circular.
According to the General Administration of Press and
Publications (GAPP) circular, such audio and video products usually
"involve alien-looking characters and fictional story telling, both
specifically plotted for the sole purpose of terror".
It said the horror, violence and cruelty involved in these audio
and videos were unfit for children, and extremely harmful for their
psychological development.
The circular instructed all existing publications involving
elements of mystery and horror to be off the market, and ordered
audios and videos in production to delete any hint of mystery and
horror.
China began its crackdown on so-called "terrifying publications"
in April 2006, specifically targeting a Japanese comic story
Death Note. It involved a notebook that can kill people if
their names are written in it.
The comic depicted various scary ways of dying, according to
GAPP.
China also started a cleansing campaign against "vulgar" content
in video and audio products starting this year. It ordered audio
and video producers to stop the production and sale of vulgar
products and recall those already on the market.
(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2008)