Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy

With this riveting study of the relationship between U.S. and Chinese movie studios, author and Wall Street Journal film industry reporter Schwartzel has produced a blockbuster of his own. Schwartzel parses the complex ways in which movies have often defined accepted cultural values and how that effort has been subsumed in the attempt to boost international sales. This process was all too common in the 1930s as Germany prepared for war (for instance, All Quiet on the Western Front was censored because of its unflattering portrayal of Germany) but has never been more prevalent (and egregious) than in the self-censorship of American films today as U.S. firms seek to insinuate themselves in the lucrative Chinese market. Schwartzel skillfully addresses the issues of “one country censoring another country’s art” and his work should be required reading—before we find ourselves popcorn-deep in frightening sequels.