Pomp and Levers

Ceremony is an integral part of public events in China. Conferences, seminars, and grand openings are excruciatingly formulaic and full of pomp. I was at one such conference this afternoon. It took place at the old Russian-built Exhibition Hall on Nanjing Road in Shanghai. Every conference is opened by local government officials and this one was no exception. The director of a government agency was led onto the stage by a pretty young lady in a red Chinese dress. With sweeping Vanna White gestures she directed him toward a large prop that resembled a giant gearbox with an over sized lever. The official could hardly reach the handle on the contraption but with effort he grasped the lever and to the tune of Star Wars he pushed it forward, engaging the electronics inside the fake gearbox ... and lit a small lamp. With this grand gesture the conference was opened and the official tottered back to his seat in the front row.