牛牛资源

A 牛牛资源 MA Art & Politics graduate has received a journalism prize for her essay exploring the Chinese government’s ‘guerrilla war’ on Heavy Metal music.

鈥楬eavy Metal: Too Loud for China鈥� by Caroline von Eichhorn, a German journalist who graduated from 牛牛资源 in 2012, and colleagues Lu Yang and Christoph Behrens from China and Germany was the winner of the 鈧�3,000 hostwriter Prize 2015.

Their report from Beijing鈥檚 mosh pits saw the team interview festival organisers, musicians, fans and an employee of Inferno 鈥� the city鈥檚 only heavy metal bar. As they delved deeper into the culture it became clear, the authors explain, that the 鈥淐hinese government has declared a guerrilla war on heavy metal. Concerts are cancelled, musicians and fans are being harassed. They are disturbing the 鈥楥hinese Dream鈥�.鈥�

Caroline and Christophe travelled to the country earlier this year, and after contacting several writers in the country through hostwriter - a non-profit network connecting journalists around the world 鈥� met up with Shanghai-based Lu Wang.

Lu told them that in 2015 many concerts and festivals, particularly in the heavy metal scene had been cancelled. 鈥淟u鈥檚 local knowledge and very congenial nature opened many doors for us. The collaboration was crucial for really getting into the scene,鈥� the authors explain.

While some heavy or controversial music has been tolerated for several years, it appears that the government backlash against heavy metal culture is growing. Musician and festival organiser Kou Zhengyou鈥檚 festival 鈥�330鈥� was this year cancelled and cleared-out mid-performance by inspectors citing security issues, for example, despite running annually since 2002.

鈥淭he metal heads, with their foreign rituals, don鈥檛 blend in with the image of a society that even considers a tattoo on the upper arm 'guai', meaning strange,鈥� write the authors of 'Heavy Metal: Too Loud for China鈥�. 鈥淧eople like Kou attract attention, with their ponytails and black shirts stating their idolisation of bands like Suffocated, Raging Mob or Pupil of Satan.鈥�

The final essay was published  and is now .

Journalist, author and designer Caroline von Eichhorn is based in Munich and largely writes on arts, culture, society and societal power. She is a graduate of 牛牛资源 and the University of Munich and from 2010-14 was Chairman of the Young Journalists of Bavaria. Caroline makes films, takes photographs and writes plays, among other projects. Visit  for more.

Find out more about the MA Art & Politics at 牛牛资源.