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As controls, the face situations that were on foreign athletes and countries reflected a different picture. In face-enhancing situations, the victories of their athletes or countries were either basked in as glories for Asia, the world in which China had her part, or detached from the owners of success, or even devalued. Many victories of foreign athletes were not given due space and coverage. Even when they tied with Chinese athletes, they were concealed from the readers by either hook or crook: smaller characters, indirect mentioning, or even total disappearance.
It may be argued that because they did not concern Chinese readers that they were swallowed up by the press. But why were there so many negative portrayals of foreign victors, why was there so much coverage on the foreign losers, so much space on foreign athletes succumbing under Chinese sportsmen? Why could foreign victors not be lauded for their efforts, for their good national sports infrastructure? Why could foreign losers not be excused for injury, for weather, for crowd noise; justified for hard work, for good morale; accounted in favourable contexts of past victories, good records and so on?
The reason for all these partial presentations is that the Chinese press had to downplay the favourable images and to blast the unfavourable ones of foreigners so as to boost those of the Chinese. And in doing so, the press could present a picture of China's benevolent national face, with the Chinese victories enhanced and entitled to the delegation, the sports bureau, the people and the country as a whole. And the fundamental motive for such favourable presentations may be originated from political considerations.
Face And Politics
Some scholars have already discussed the relationship between face and politics. Among them, two studies are of relevance for discussion here. First, Lucian Pye's study of political factions in China has been quoted in the foregoing chapters. He came to the conclusion that loss of face would mean total disfunctioning for a person, so a politician or a political faction would never be entirely defeated (Pye, 1980: 188-189). This is to reserve some room for the defeated individuals to live in. Likewise, the defeated athletes were never heavily scolded. In fact, they were often excused, justified and saved from the loss of face. This is perhaps because of the same reason.
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As controls, the face situations that were on foreign athletes and countries reflected a different picture. In face-enhancing situations, the victories of their athletes or countries were either basked in as glories for Asia, the world in which China had her part, or detached from the owners. of success, or even devalued. Many victories of foreign athletes were not given due space and coverage Even when they tied with Chinese athletes. they were concealed from the readers by either hook or crook: smaller characters, indirect mentioning, or even total disappearance.
It may be argued that because they did not concern Chinese readers that they were swallowed up by the press. But why were there so many negative portrayals of foreign victors, why was there so much coverage on the foreign losers, so much space on foreign athletes succumbing under Chinese sportsmen? Why could foreign victors not be lauded for their efforts, for their good national sports infrastructure? Why could foreign losers not be excused for injury, for weather, for crowd noise; justified for hard work, for good morale; accounted in favourable contexts of past victories, good records and so on?
The reason for all these partial presentations is that the Chinese press had to downplay the favourable images and to blast the unfavourable ones of foreigners so as to boost those of the Chinese. And in doing so, the press could present a picture of China's benevolent national face, with the Chinese victories enhanced and entitled to the delegation, the sports bureau, the people and the country as a whole. And the fundamental motive for such favourable presentations may be originated from political considerations.
Face And Politics
Some scholars have already discussed the relationship between face and politics. Among them, two studies are of relevance for discussion here. First, Lucian Pye's study of political factions in China has been quoted in the foregoing chapters. He came to the conclusion that loss of face would mean total disfunctioning for a person, so a politician or a political faction would never be entirely defeated (Pye, 1980: 188-189). This is to reserve some room for the defeated individuals to live in. Likewise, the defeated athletes were never heavily scolded. In fact, they were often excused, justified and saved from the loss of face. This is perhaps because of the same reason.
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