IShowSpeed shows China

As the United States of America trends in a more insular, isolationist, inward looking direction, China, its major opponent, is making global waves with the opposite approach.

While the US was stirring up anxiety globally with its imposition of tariffs and President Donald Trump boasted of world leaders lining up to kiss his derriere, another US celebrity was stirring up excitement in China while on vacation. As opposed to exposing its private parts, China showed the world its best and most spectacular face.

Social media sensation IShowSpeed, who has around 38 million subscribers on Youtube and 120 million subscribers across all platforms, recently concluded a visit to China which he broadcast live on his platforms, uninterrupted for up to six hours at a time to around ten million live views. The live streamed vacation by the American influencer has been hailed as a massive exercise in soft power. The display of technology, friendliness, and modernity contradicts a common portrayal of the country as a drab, melancholy, over policed state where people are not free, and all live in quiet misery.

In fact, such is the strength of that stereotype that questions have arisen over the level of state involvement in the visit.

Many have speculated that IShowSpeed’s visit to China is an example of Chinese propaganda.

But this itself may be a result of the success of US anti-China propaganda. It is being reported that the Chinese tourism authorities reached out to IShowSpeed, but he never responded, choosing instead to be guided around by independent Chinese social media personalities.

The claims of Chinese state orchestrated propaganda are also countered by the unfiltered nature of the live streams.

There were incidents of some instances of racism caught on camera which did not paint China or the Chinese people in a positive light.

In one incident, a woman screamed at the streamer: “I’m racist! “Yes!

I hate n*****s. I’m so sorry about that!” She then added how she loves his “girlfriend because she’s white people! I love her. Yes, that’s true, I’m so sorry about that.” The sentiment seems to be that if the visit was orchestrated by the Chinese government such instances would not have occurred.

Despite these exceptions, viewers seem to have blown away by how beautiful and technologically advanced the side of China shown was and how welcoming the people mostly were. As if this were not enough, the African American celebrity hinted at a possible future collaboration with Chinese movie star Jackie Chan. Maybe a reboot of the popular movie franchise Rush Hour starring Chan and African-American comedian Chris Tucker is possible?

Did you hear about this visit? If not it may be for several reasons. It might be that you are not the target demographic.

IShowSpeed is 20 years old and much of his fan base is even younger. It may be that you get your news from the large American media corporations and they have not given the event a lot of coverage. If so, is it because internet influencers like IShowSpeed are over taking these outfits as sources of information? Or could it be that many of the large media houses are complicit and invested in the stereotyping of China?

Maybe the story was not a big enough deal. The irony is that China is demonstrating what the US and its media used to understand but may be forgetting. That is, how to use culture and the media to make friends, build bridges and gain influence.

Incidentally, it is a skill Barbados hasn’t been too bad at during this administration.

Adrian Green is a communications specialist.

Email: Adriangreen14@gmail.com