| Abstract [eng] |
The focus of this thesis is critique of Social Credit System in Chinese Society, which is expressed through art. The appreciation of Social Credit System in Chinese society is not as ambiguous as it may seem to be based on official government’s narrative and some researches on public opinion. Criticism of government and its initiatives is not acceptable in an authoritarian state. In China’s case this tendency is well illustrated by the emergence of Social Credit System itself. However, the fact that criticism cannot be expressed in traditional ways does not mean that it does not exist at all. It can be expressed using indirect ways, through art. Therefore, the goal of the thesis is to determine how criticism of Social Credit system is reflected in artworks of contemporary Chinese artists. The main objectives of the thesis are: a) to present how Social Credit System operates; b) to critically present the theory of panopticism formulated by Michel Foucault and apply it to the context of contemporary China; c) to analyze artworks that reveal the negative attitude towards Social Credit System and to compare ways of expressing criticism reflected in them. Having evaluated the forms of Social Credit System’s critique, it can be concluded that contemporary Chinese artists express criticism using indirect ways like allegories and metaphors, without specifically naming the system. Criticism expressed in this way cannot be detected and evaluated by Social Credit System itself. This means that inventive Chinese find a way to bypass the system that aims to control society, so that they can express their true opinions on political issues. Criticism of Social Credit System reflected in the artworks discussed is mostly related to violation of privacy rights. Therefore, despite the fact that Chinese society is perceived to be prone to collectivism, Social Credit System is unacceptable to some of the citizens due to its excessive invasion of privacy. This thesis may be useful for scholars and students who want to get further acquainted with Social Credit System and forms of resistance to the prevailing political ideology in contemporary China. |
