Can AI Desecrate a Country’s Culture?
by Camilla Fatticcioni
Netizens use AI video tools to “meme” all sorts of Chinese classics, but the authorities are not amused.
AI-generated videos are having their moment of glory online, and we’ve come a long way since that very first AI footage of Will Smith devouring a plate of spaghetti. AI animation software is now accessible to everyone, and recently our social feeds have been flooded with amateur videos where people have experimented with bringing famous memes, such as the “Distracted Boyfriend,” to life.
Even though the results of these “animations” still appear grotesque and somewhat like the product of a fever dream, in China, the trend of using AI to animate historical or traditional figures is raising concerns among authorities. On Weibo, China’s equivalent of Facebook, AI-generated videos featuring characters from famous literary works of Chinese tradition—such as Dream of the Red Chamber or Journey to the West—have become popular in short videos and memes that authorities have recently labeled “sacrilegious” and a “profanation” of the country’s cultural heritage.
From famous generals eating a hamburger in the midst of battle to imperial court ladies engaging in weightlifting, these irreverent AI-generated video memes have proven extremely popular among young Chinese users, garnering thousands of shares.
But does this widespread and easily accessible use of AI truly pose a risk to a country’s cultural heritage?
According to Chinese authorities, these videos risk undermining respect for traditions and historical values, which are already under pressure from modernization and globalization. For months, restrictions have been introduced to limit the spread of such content, particularly those deemed offensive or disrespectful.
According to Chinese authorities, these videos risk undermining respect for traditions and historical values, which are already under pressure from modernization and globalization.
In 2024, applications for video generation experienced a surge in popularity in China, especially with the advent of new text-to-video software. Recently, a Chinese startup unveiled an AI-powered system capable of generating high-definition videos lasting up to 16 seconds, marking a significant milestone for China’s AI industry and positioning itself as a main competitor to OpenAI’s similar American software, Sora.
Chinese netizens quickly realized that these tools are ideal for creating parody memes. Users can upload reference images from TV series based on Chinese classics and add textual prompts to generate videos, which can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Some platforms can even simulate the original voices of characters, synchronize lip movements, and provide voiceovers based on user instructions. Recently, a series of AI-modified videos has gone viral on Chinese video platforms, including Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. One particularly viral parody of the Chinese novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicts Marvel superhero Iron Man being executed after a battle with Jack Ma, the Chinese magnate and founder of Alibaba.+
However, these videos have also provoked negative reactions from regulatory authorities, who have accused some of violating the law.
In September, China proposed new regulations requiring all AI-generated content to be clearly labeled with watermarks and embedded metadata in an effort to curb the rise of AI-related fraud.
Chinese social platforms have been left to enforce this policy, with most requiring creators to manually check a box confirming that their content is AI-generated before posting. Some of the viral videos display the required watermarks, while others do not. According to national media reports, some AI video tools have taken steps to prevent the use of frames from classic movies and TV shows.
The widespread and creative use of AI to generate videos is opening up new horizons in the field of digital culture, offering powerful tools to anyone looking to experiment or have fun with personalized content. However, the phenomenon also raises crucial questions about the relationship between technological innovation and the preservation of cultural heritage.
On one hand, these videos offer a way to engage younger generations with historical works and characters, reinterpreting them in a contemporary light. On the other hand, the irreverent and parodic use of these tools obviously risks trivializing fundamental symbols of a country’s cultural identity, fueling tensions between modernity and tradition.
The response of Chinese authorities, with stricter regulations and demands for transparency in AI-generated content, reflects the need to find a balance between respect for cultural roots and creative freedom.
As technology continues to progress rapidly, the future of AI-generated content will depend on society’s ability to balance innovation with responsibility. While it is true that AI can enrich the global cultural landscape, it is equally important to prevent it from becoming a tool for misinformation or disrespect toward traditions. Ultimately, the challenge is not just technological, but deeply cultural and social.
Camilla Fatticcioni
China scholar and photographer. After graduating in Chinese language from Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, Camilla lived in China from 2016 to 2020. In 2017, she began a master’s degree in Art History at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, taking an interest in archaeology and graduating in 2021 with a thesis on the Buddhist iconography of the Mogao caves in Dunhuang. Combining her passion for art and photography with the study of contemporary Chinese society, Camilla collaborates with several magazines and edits the Chinoiserie column for China Files.
