Two weeks ago I worked for Transmit China program, a conference for people in Music industry to exchange ideas and meet each other.
In the roundtable discussion, I learned a new word –sell out. “sell out” doesn’t mean something is sold outJ It means someone is compromising their integrity, morality or principle in exchange for money or success. This word is frequently heard in musical community, where it implies an artist (艺人) has compromised their artistic integrity to game fame or radio airplay or a record contract. I would like to translate it into “(为了出名/迎合商业化而)出卖艺术”.
Interestingly, people from different cultural background found the differences of Chinese fans and western fans’ perception towards artists endorsing big brands. One speaker said in Asia he saw some famous American female actresses or singers appeared in the commercials for some cosmetic brands. But those actresses don’t do this in USA because if they do so, their fans may call them “sell out” and they might lose many fans by being spokesperson for big brands.
However, Chinese fans generally speaking don’t mind their favorite artist endorsing big brands. In contrast, pop starts may become even more popular if they become spokesperson for big brands because their fans think those stars are very good because they are recognized and selected by those big brands. It’s like big brands endorsing artists.
Very interesting finding, isn’t it? What’s your take?
Wow I just received some photos taken by Mathias, a professional photographer, who I met in Hennessy’s new product launching event last month. I was the interpreter for the media interview with Hennessy’s CEO and Mathias was their photographer.
After I opened the attachment and was amazed by the quality of the photos. Look great! Actually that was my first time that I met him and I was bold enough to ask him email me the photos with me inside:-) I know it must take him a long time to pick out those photos with me inside through thousands of photos he took that day. Not even to mention the time he spent on editing.
Here come the photos! Millions of thanks to Mathias! I will definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to hire a photographer!
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Hennessy Media Interview
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@Hangzhou Fuchun
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hennessy new limited cognac
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Dancing on the water
My answer is simple—don’t interpret itJ
But if conditions allow, I will tell the speaker that I won’t interpret the joke because it will be offensive to the listener.
Once I accompanied two American clients to inspect a factory in city G. During the lunch, the factory owner, a 50 something male who can’t speak English, ordered a black chicken, which interested my two American clients. They had never seen a black chicken before. Then the factory owner said: “Obama”. I didn’t under-stand his point and asked what? He continued: “It’s black, like Obama.” I was shocked and told him that this joke would be offensive to these two Americans so that I wouldn’t translate it. (If he was an American em-ployer, he could be accused of racial discrimination. But this is another story.) And then I just told the two Americans that the factory owner said the black chicken was very delicious.
