Min tibetanska barndom i Zorgay - Life and Culture on the Tibetan ...

have nothing to say about a movie or TV series."
"Monkey-head is so clever, but that stupid Lama Tang
chanted magic words to tighten his head ring, which caused him
pain whenever he exorcized a ghost…"
"Pig is so funny. He is so crude …"
"Yes, that monk is the most honest-looking one. And in
the movie they said if they ate his flesh then they would keep
their youth forever…"
They spent their former chanting mornings in a new, but
enjoyable way. No longer did we see them chanting while
fingering their prayer beads. The elders also talked about
television <strong>and</strong> believed every deed <strong>and</strong> action they saw in that
magic box was real. Before TV arrived, they talked about their
past deeds with a certain reverence, <strong>and</strong> with a sense that the
past was best. Later, they seldom gathered <strong>and</strong>, when they did,
their conversations were full of what they saw on television.
Their lives seemed suddenly full of joyful laughter.
"Our King Gesar is absolutely nothing at all in
compared to those Chinese actors. He didn't know martial arts
<strong>and</strong> didn't have a gun," one old man said, putting his maniwheel
beside him.
"My gr<strong>and</strong>son told me the name of an actor, Cheng
Long (Jacky Chan). 23 He's so great. We have wasted our lives.
Watching TV is much more fun than telling boring old stories,"
said another.
"Isn't that monkey-headed man amazing? He can fly <strong>and</strong>
can see ghosts with his golden eyes," chimed in another old
man.
I said to Father, "Why do they say such things about
King Gesar? Gr<strong>and</strong>mother told me he could also fly <strong>and</strong>
exorcize evils. He doesn't need a gun because he has his own
bow <strong>and</strong> arrows. They don't know what a film is trying to teach
us, but they say it's better than King Gesar. Don't you think it's
ridiculous?" Though I watched martial arts films <strong>and</strong> was
entertained by seeing people killing <strong>and</strong> hurting each other, I
was upset by what they said about King Gesar, because he had
23 Jackie Chan (Chen Gangsheng; b. 7 April 1954) was born in
Hong Kong, is a martial artist, <strong>and</strong> is active in the film industry.
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