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A U-Turn on Mao
Ahhh, globalization!
A French car company's ad running in Spain has angered the Chinese, the BBC reports.
The ad in question is a print execution featuring the iconic portrait of Mao, but with his lips twisted in a frown and a Citroen hatchback in the forefront.
"It's true, we are leaders, but at Citroen the revolution never stops," the ad reads.
Between the likes of a Beatles song, screen prints by Andy Warhol, and cheeky t-shirts from Urban Outfitters, the West has long considered Mao more a pop culture icon than a subject fit for reverence.
But it turns out that for all its liberalization, Chinese citizens continue to harbor a deeper respect and love for the controversial figure than Citroen had realized.
Even more 30 years after his death, the Chinese seem to have little tolerance for even benign humor - light ribbing - at the Chairman's expense. Chat rooms have erupted with displeasure at the ad, which they consider to be disrespectful of their culture and history.
The French - themselves not the best sports about political humor at their own expense - have discontinued the ad and have let a thousand apologies bloom.
Liz Gunnison
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