China revises textbooks after uproar over ugly and immoral cartoons

China revises textbooks after uproar over ugly and immoral cartoons

China has replaced the cartoons printed in several primary school textbooks after the content was deemed offensive by the public.

Although the original cartoon had been used in books for many years, it suddenly caused controversy in May when the Global Times described it as 'ugly, racist, horrifying and sexually suggestive'.

The publisher apologized at the time and promised to remake the cartoon.

Thousands of books have now been reviewed and many illustrators and publishers have been reprimanded or fired.

China's Global Times newspaper described some of the images, writing that they showed a boy with "an apparent tattoo on his ankle", a girl in a "rabbit costume" and children wearing American flags.

Many critics of the cartoons accused the cartoonists of 'deliberately spoiling the aesthetics of the Chinese people' and called the publishers 'irresponsible', the Global Times reported.

A team of 350 experts had to examine nearly 2,000 books to ensure the new content was appropriate. On Monday, new illustrated illustrations were released that were approved by China's National Textbook Committee.

A total of 27 people have been punished in one way or another, the China Daily newspaper said.

They include Huang Qiang, head of the People's Education Press, who was given a "serious warning" and the publisher's editor-in-chief, who was fired.

At least three painters were fired over the scandal, and Chinese media reported on Monday that several others would be punished for "dereliction of duty."

The transformation of textbooks on social media is being widely praised. However, most of these comments appear to be the work of China's 50 Cent Party. These are social media users taking money from the government and posting messages in support of the government.

There was some confusion over textbook reforms in May. On Sina Weibo, a social media platform like Twitter, some people commented that 'aesthetics are subjective'.

Others suggested the move reflected a change in Chinese attitudes. For example, rising tensions between China and the United States have made a child wearing an American flag at least acceptable.

This is not the first time China has been sensitive to cultural content depicting the Chinese people.

In November, a Chinese photographer apologized for his 'ignorance' after people were outraged over a photo he shot for French luxury brand Dior.

Some said it was a 'derogatory' image of a Chinese woman based on Western stereotypes.

In 2019, a debate erupted online that a Zara campaign portrayed Chinese people as 'ugly' by featuring a Chinese model with facial shadows.