JOLLY DAYS

The Olympics: The Opening Ceremonies

An easily damaged sense of honor can be perilous for all concerned. There was much that was of concern for China: world wide protests and an off-putting ethos of unbridled capitalist competitiveness; dubious political and international actions. Viewers were left with ambivalence about China bringing all enterprise to a halt to clean up the presentation, like the host who tosses the mess into the closet before the party goers arrive. Seeking to achieve international recognition on that tightrope makes you hold your breath. Not to mention that many in the West detest nationalism.

There is an upside to nationalism however…and if you like spectacles…The opening ceremony is said to have meant so much to China. It showed in its scope and the enormous investment of energy and resources. The money was on the screen — nothing wasted. The last time a government sought to impress at the Olympics to this extent was in mid-20th century Europe; the point was to express the power of a deranged German government. Superiority was the message. China was not interested in that arrogant message. Rather the Chinese have sought to impress and gain approval.

The scale of the opening ceremonies was balanced with a graphical beauty — it was a deeply visual presentation; they did not go Las Vegas gaudy, but rather this was Julie Taymor with heft and focus: there was a subtle, muted, comprehensive visual sense. The traditional costumes were beautiful — especially those grading grey to white ancient costumes. Those dancer-acrobats “performing” and simultaneously creating an ink painting was so clever and restrained — it was reminiscent on a larger scale of the film of Picasso drawing in the air with light.

Notes:

• The Chinese anthem sounded, at least in its orchestration, like France's La Marseillaise.
• One can't help but note: Every one of the Chinese women, dressed in red, carrying placards identifying individual delegations, was striking. A seemingly endless stream of beauty.
• The early appearance of children in ethnic costume representing the many cultures of China had enormous appeal.

Spectacles are corks bobbing on the sea of a society. The opening ceremony was disciplined, brilliantly executed. Now if China can just do something about Tibet and Burma; can just loosen up their society and provide their people with more than economic freedoms — something that looks like they get it — then we really got something.