Comments on: Ashes of Modernity http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/ China's vision of modernity and progress and its impact on a now globalized planet... Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:31:26 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: professional translation services http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-111 professional translation services Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:16:17 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-111 It sounds like you're creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of seeking at why their constantly a problem in precise first location It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of seeking at why their constantly a problem in precise first location

]]> By: Icon inferno: OMA’s TVCC Burns http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Icon inferno: OMA’s TVCC Burns Tue, 05 May 2009 12:21:00 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-97 [...] thoughts: Matthew Niederhauser Bert de Muynck Geoff [...] [...] thoughts: Matthew Niederhauser Bert de Muynck Geoff [...]

]]> By: Ben Russell http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Ben Russell Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:24:11 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-96 My appreciation for structure and form extends from inspiration to materials, motivation to image. I love construction and Real Estate and I experinced epic sadness when I heard of the blaze. To me, the beauty of real estate is the enduring story that it tells ( empire state building, 30 St Mary Axe, 101 California St........ ). Of all that could be imagined at its inception, I never would have thought that this would be its fate? Sad. To tear down and rebuild ( as China always does ) just wont fill the void of an architectural idea executed at a financial point in time, with such a cultural purpose. My appreciation for structure and form extends from inspiration to materials, motivation to image. I love construction and Real Estate and I experinced epic sadness when I heard of the blaze. To me, the beauty of real estate is the enduring story that it tells ( empire state building, 30 St Mary Axe, 101 California St…….. ). Of all that could be imagined at its inception, I never would have thought that this would be its fate? Sad. To tear down and rebuild ( as China always does ) just wont fill the void of an architectural idea executed at a financial point in time, with such a cultural purpose.

]]> By: Matthew Niederhauser http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Matthew Niederhauser Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:58:30 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-91 When I wrote the blog post the morning after the fire the causes where still unknown. That's why I only quoted the Xinhua News Agency. Plus, I never said there was a cover up, but rather they were trying to downplay the scale of the disaster and suppress commentary and videos. Anyway, as you mentioned, it is now clear that the tower was set ablaze by fireworks. You can actually see it catch on fire with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP50yddytzs When I wrote the blog post the morning after the fire the causes where still unknown. That’s why I only quoted the Xinhua News Agency. Plus, I never said there was a cover up, but rather they were trying to downplay the scale of the disaster and suppress commentary and videos. Anyway, as you mentioned, it is now clear that the tower was set ablaze by fireworks. You can actually see it catch on fire with this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP50yddytzs

]]> By: Marc http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Marc Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:32:31 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-90 hey thanks for the updated post on the news story by NY times. I think if you try to report an event and seem unbiased and journalistic it is a good idea to include such information as the causes of the fire as well as the reason for the coverup (quoting the NY times article, or at least putting a link to the article) Now that you've cleared those posts up, I'm more aware of the situation, and thus can retract my comments. The reason for their being "tightlipped" can be understood since it was the CCTV illegal fireworks display that caused the fire in the first place. Of course it's an embarrassing situation. I was not aware of the cause and thus suspected it might have been terrorism, etc etc. Anyways, also thanks for clarifying the superstitious comments which I had misunderstood to mean that possible terrorist threats would loom this year. Anyways cya. hey thanks for the updated post on the news story by NY times. I think if you try to report an event and seem unbiased and journalistic it is a good idea to include such information as the causes of the fire as well as the reason for the coverup (quoting the NY times article, or at least putting a link to the article)

Now that you’ve cleared those posts up, I’m more aware of the situation, and thus can retract my comments. The reason for their being “tightlipped” can be understood since it was the CCTV illegal fireworks display that caused the fire in the first place. Of course it’s an embarrassing situation. I was not aware of the cause and thus suspected it might have been terrorism, etc etc.

Anyways, also thanks for clarifying the superstitious comments which I had misunderstood to mean that possible terrorist threats would loom this year.

Anyways cya.

]]> By: Matthew Niederhauser http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Matthew Niederhauser Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:29:34 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-89 Marc: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel burning down being an inauspicious portent has nothing to do with the fact that China will continue to experience high levels of growth in the coming year and still sits on large capital reserves. What makes it inauspicious is that it occurred on the last day of Spring Festival/the first full moon of the new year. I am merely riffing on superstitious beliefs held by many in the Beijing. Also, it is definitely going to take more than six months to rebuild the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It is not your normal brick and mortar structure. As for the "tightlipped" comment, I was not only referring to laborers, but also the blocking of videos and other blog postings. The Chinese media continues to downplay the events and close online discussion forums concerning the tragedy. I do not think they are stupid enough to try to pull a complete cover up, too many people witnessed the blaze, but they are doing their best to silence the issue and avoid further embarrassment. You should also check out Andrew Jacobs followup article in today's NY Times: "A directive sent out by propaganda officials, which found its way to the Internet after it was leaked, made it clear that the authorities were eager to reduce public attention to the blaze, a colossal embarrassment that many people believe augurs poorly for the new year. 'No photos, no video clips, no in-depth reports,' read the memo, which instructed all media outlets to use only Xinhua dispatches. 'The news should be put on news areas only, and the comments posting areas should be closed.'" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/world/asia/11beijing.html Thanks for the comment, but I still stand by my original post. Marc: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel burning down being an inauspicious portent has nothing to do with the fact that China will continue to experience high levels of growth in the coming year and still sits on large capital reserves. What makes it inauspicious is that it occurred on the last day of Spring Festival/the first full moon of the new year. I am merely riffing on superstitious beliefs held by many in the Beijing. Also, it is definitely going to take more than six months to rebuild the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It is not your normal brick and mortar structure.

As for the “tightlipped” comment, I was not only referring to laborers, but also the blocking of videos and other blog postings. The Chinese media continues to downplay the events and close online discussion forums concerning the tragedy. I do not think they are stupid enough to try to pull a complete cover up, too many people witnessed the blaze, but they are doing their best to silence the issue and avoid further embarrassment. You should also check out Andrew Jacobs followup article in today’s NY Times:

“A directive sent out by propaganda officials, which found its way to the Internet after it was leaked, made it clear that the authorities were eager to reduce public attention to the blaze, a colossal embarrassment that many people believe augurs poorly for the new year. ‘No photos, no video clips, no in-depth reports,’ read the memo, which instructed all media outlets to use only Xinhua dispatches. ‘The news should be put on news areas only, and the comments posting areas should be closed.’”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/world/asia/11beijing.html

Thanks for the comment, but I still stand by my original post.

]]> By: Marc http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Marc Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:30:35 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-88 I don't understand the opening line now how this could be an "inauspicious portent" of things to come. China's future actually looks fairly bright compared to the west, with it's projected growth rate close to double digits, and it's huge Financial reserves backed in U.S. Treasuries, and as to the suspicion that it may have been a terrorist act, that's yet to be seen. I don't understand how this could be seen as anything but a catastrophic fire caused during the festival in which the fireworks are at it's brightest. You should see the way people here light the fireworks. In my apartment complex I saw a huge amount of fireworks hitting the buildings. People light them so close and when they shoot up, sometimes they actually hit the buildings or explode right next to them. It's no surprise firefighters are so busy that night. Besides, the Chinese are so good at rebuilding, it will take no more than 6 months (heck! maybe even 3) to rebuild the place and keep things moving as if nothing happened. Don't underestimate the ability of their Central Government. As for the Chinese media being "tightlipped" about the situation, I think you should check your sources. In fact, it's been all over the news for the past few days here. The ming gong (labor workers) who were interviewed and didn't know about it, probably don't watch the news, nor read newspapers, OR, since they have to wake up at 4am to go to work had slept through the fire, they just didn't know, so that barely serves as proof of the point that the media was being "tightlipped." It doesn't seem fair to say that because a few people didn't know, then that means the media is not talking about it. Anyways, it was a catstrophic fire, and luckily not many people were hurt or killed. Thanks for the photos though, and for the link to the youtube video. I don’t understand the opening line now how this could be an “inauspicious portent” of things to come. China’s future actually looks fairly bright compared to the west, with it’s projected growth rate close to double digits, and it’s huge Financial reserves backed in U.S. Treasuries, and as to the suspicion that it may have been a terrorist act, that’s yet to be seen. I don’t understand how this could be seen as anything but a catastrophic fire caused during the festival in which the fireworks are at it’s brightest. You should see the way people here light the fireworks. In my apartment complex I saw a huge amount of fireworks hitting the buildings. People light them so close and when they shoot up, sometimes they actually hit the buildings or explode right next to them. It’s no surprise firefighters are so busy that night.

Besides, the Chinese are so good at rebuilding, it will take no more than 6 months (heck! maybe even 3) to rebuild the place and keep things moving as if nothing happened. Don’t underestimate the ability of their Central Government.

As for the Chinese media being “tightlipped” about the situation, I think you should check your sources. In fact, it’s been all over the news for the past few days here. The ming gong (labor workers) who were interviewed and didn’t know about it, probably don’t watch the news, nor read newspapers, OR, since they have to wake up at 4am to go to work had slept through the fire, they just didn’t know, so that barely serves as proof of the point that the media was being “tightlipped.” It doesn’t seem fair to say that because a few people didn’t know, then that means the media is not talking about it.

Anyways, it was a catstrophic fire, and luckily not many people were hurt or killed. Thanks for the photos though, and for the link to the youtube video.

]]> By: Georgia http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Georgia Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:19:34 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-87 There is a word for the conversation/discussion that took place in the wee hours of the blaze. It is Blamestorming. I love the building too, infact, I love the whole complex. It can and will be rebuilt. One must remember that GuGong was struck by lightening on it's opening. It is now one of the principle tourist draws of Beijing. Art lives! I also think yours is a needed post. Thanks Mi You. There is a word for the conversation/discussion that took place in the wee hours of the blaze. It is Blamestorming.
I love the building too, infact, I love the whole complex. It can and will be rebuilt. One must remember that GuGong was struck by lightening on it’s opening. It is now one of the principle tourist draws of Beijing.
Art lives!
I also think yours is a needed post. Thanks Mi You.

]]> By: Julian http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/2009/02/10/ashes-of-modernity/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Julian Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:29:43 +0000 http://www.mdnphoto.com/visionsofmodernity/?p=37#comment-86 Nice post. I saw some of the videos online. It's good to know what it was all about, and that there was only one death. That last photo really puts it into perspective. Nice post. I saw some of the videos online. It’s good to know what it was all about, and that there was only one death. That last photo really puts it into perspective.

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