Honestly, Xi doesn’t seem like a funny guy. I’m super curious how he is in his private life though. I had read somewhere (don’t remember where) that he’s a big of Jia Zhangke’s films and that took me by surprise. Who knows, maybe he’s hilarious in private and just great at hiding it.
It is inherently funny when someone speaks about funny matters with such seriousness and gravity—this, in itself, is a kind of solemn comedy worthy of respect. Indeed, being funny has its own levels (it can be rated), and it has its own authenticity (you simply cannot force people to laugh). This article is a concise, vivid, and lively demonstration of that.
At the same time, to be fair, Xi Jinping being funny—genuinely or not—can become an official topic on the Chinese Communist Party’s official website should be seen as a rare sign of progress (keeping up with the times), something previously unseen.
I'd bump the Cao Kefan joke up to a 4 personally--a hint of menace, maybe, but it's the only one where he displays some self-awareness and ironizes Chinese state policy. (Also, is "hip culture kid" translating 文青 or something else?)
Vibes-wise at least, I like to think of Xi as a Chinese version of Stephen Harper, who was infamous for telling Canadians that he "love(s) television and movies". Now I'm worried whar the Chinese Justin Trudeau will be like...
It was ”很潮的文化人” — lotta creative liberty with that but 文青 was where I was gong with it. Wanted it to be silly and self-abasing as they’re all old… and not “hip” (hence the outdated language)
I love Substack as people would seriously rate xi jinping’s jokes
Numbers 9 and 10 are underrated, you could have given them a slightly higher score.
No 2: I'm an Aussie. We make jokes about Tasmania all the time here. Raise rating level.
Messi joke wins the prize on all accounts.
Thanks for this official investigation.
thanks for reading! I've yet to visit Australia... do I get a demerit?
I mock AI blogging. Nothing I publish here is touched by AI.
The Messi joke is the clear winner, right?
Xi is always at his funniest with soccer, he's truly a pained fan. This with Thailand's prime minister was great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExSk3shaHOE
I guess I could've given him a 9 there.
Honestly, Xi doesn’t seem like a funny guy. I’m super curious how he is in his private life though. I had read somewhere (don’t remember where) that he’s a big of Jia Zhangke’s films and that took me by surprise. Who knows, maybe he’s hilarious in private and just great at hiding it.
that's from Wikileaks, I believe. he tempered that comment with an expression of admiration for the moral clarity of hollywood's WWII films...
It is inherently funny when someone speaks about funny matters with such seriousness and gravity—this, in itself, is a kind of solemn comedy worthy of respect. Indeed, being funny has its own levels (it can be rated), and it has its own authenticity (you simply cannot force people to laugh). This article is a concise, vivid, and lively demonstration of that.
At the same time, to be fair, Xi Jinping being funny—genuinely or not—can become an official topic on the Chinese Communist Party’s official website should be seen as a rare sign of progress (keeping up with the times), something previously unseen.
I'd bump the Cao Kefan joke up to a 4 personally--a hint of menace, maybe, but it's the only one where he displays some self-awareness and ironizes Chinese state policy. (Also, is "hip culture kid" translating 文青 or something else?)
Vibes-wise at least, I like to think of Xi as a Chinese version of Stephen Harper, who was infamous for telling Canadians that he "love(s) television and movies". Now I'm worried whar the Chinese Justin Trudeau will be like...
It was ”很潮的文化人” — lotta creative liberty with that but 文青 was where I was gong with it. Wanted it to be silly and self-abasing as they’re all old… and not “hip” (hence the outdated language)