shinbangclani think what we associate as chinese culture (dragons, imperial symbolism) is what the chinese themselves pretty much erased during the cultural revolution in 1966-76. China as a state does not need to be interested in the aesthetics—they want to show that they are the industrial powerhouse of the world. Setting our very western notion of freestyle skiing in front of their industrial complex (even if it is abandoned) is most likely intentional.
Somebody else mentioned this and I agree: Aesthetically dope, symbolically fucked
This! I’m under the impression that China is very proud of what the industrial revolution has brought to them. After they decommissioned this steel mill for the ‘08 Olympics they didnt tear it down instead they kept it and turned it into an art district.
the event name is ‘Big Air’ with almost exclusively European/North American riders. So they showed the blue skies around what was once one of the smoggiest polluted areas on the entire planet for the rest of us to see.
honestly i think the views have brought extra attention to big air and skiing even if it is just people shitting on the view they still probably saw just a bit more ski big air than they would have otherwise.