Planet Shanghai

From a 2010 article in Neatorama:

'In preparation for the 2010 World Expo opening in May in Shanghai, city officials have been busy making sure the metropolis and its inhabitants are presentable ... The government is determined to whip the city into shape, even if it stretches the very fabric of society, which in Shanghai happens to be … cotton and silk pajamas! Shanghai officials have been rallying local community volunteers to chase down anyone wearing pajamas in the streets and give them a stern talking to.'

Photojournalist Justin Guariglia set out to document the ease and charm of the PJ-mad locals in his book Planet Shanghai. Here are some of the sartorial statements he found on the city's streets:

The most powerful drug

Despite the reality of the political context, there's something about the colour and crazy-happy-shiny world of communist propaganda posters that appeals to me ...

 Supplying good quality products, serving people with all my heart.

 Exhibitions are good!

Push patriotic sanitation work to new heights!

 Vigorously promote patriotic sanitary activities!

Strive to be cultured, polite, hygienic, organised, and morally upstanding.

 Love manual labour!

 We love labour!

 Mobilize yourself to eliminate pests and eradicate diseases.

 Denounce the preference for sons over daughters and do a good job of family planning.

 Let's honour our teachers!

Make your own things.

 Face the enemy courageously!

  (??!!)

(Posters from Maopost)

Red Army remix

Hello again! Today I invite you to witness a little bit of YouTube genius.

What happens when you masterfully edit Michael Jackson's Beat It into a 1976 video of the Chinese Red Army performing the Long March Song Cycle?
This, my friends, this ....




* Love the erhu solo! *

(found at Geek System)



A little note - Apologies for my recent lack of blog activity; despite having a squillion wonderful things to blog about lately, my plans have been undone by a series of unfortunate events. I do intend to return this weekend, when I shall no doubt write several posts and upload lots of pics to catch up on the last few weeks ... stay tuned!