These days the world hangs on the words of China’s leaders, whatever the subject of their latest pontifications. The state of China’s economy? Nothing to worry about. Rule of law? We’re working on it. The future of Hong Kong? None of your business.
So let’s hear what President Xi Jinping had to say recently about how art should serve socialism in China. That’s surely worth listening to, at a time when China is buying up bits of Hollywood and Hollywood is building a foothold in China. Beijing has a plan for everything, so what about art?
State media carried blanket coverage earlier this month of Mr Xi’s how-to guide to Chinese creativity. In case anyone missed it, the paramount leader’s views were rebroadcast not only during my morning commute to work on the Shanghai metro, but on the way home too.