Journalism
Chimerica explores the ethical complexities of journalism and the difficulties reporters face when trying to uncover and present the truth to the public. Chimerica does not portray journalists as selfless, idealistic truth-tellers but rather as complex individuals who, though often idealistic, can be corrupted by their own biases.
An American photojournalist, Joe Schofield, takes the iconic Tank Man photograph as he is overcome with the anonymous protestor's apparent bravery and heroism. Decades into his career, Joe revisits Tank Man, hoping to write a follow-up piece that celebrates Tank Man's survival and the "American Dream." Joe states that his interest in Tank Man reflects his pure commitment to journalistic truth and free speech; Joe's actions reveal a far more complex motivation. As Joe crosses ethical and legal lines, blackmailing a senator and assaulting a source, the audience realizes that Joe's interest in Tank Man is an attempt to cling to relevance and fame by sharing in Tank Man's heroism.
Chimerica also discusses the evolving nature of journalism in the digital age. As Joe Schofield, representing traditional print journalism, laments that in an age where anyone, even "schoolkids armed with iPhones," can do the job of a photojournalist, photographs carry less impact, as the more pictures are circulated, "the less any individual one means."
However, Chimerica does not dismiss digital-age citizen journalism entirely. Zhang Lin, an English teacher, creates more impact than Joe, a photojournalist, by writing an article criticizing the Party's air quality index. Zhang Lin also uses the technology available to him to circumvent censorship laws by recording his memories onto an iPod, which his brother smuggles out of China.
Geopolitics
As evidenced by its evocative title, Chimerica explores the interconnected nature of Chinese and American politics following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. The play's title is a portmanteau of "China" and "America" and sounds similar to the term "chimera," a mythical hybrid of several types of animals. The title thus argues that Chinese and American politics are inextricably linked, forming a formidable beast.
The American characters, particularly Frank and Joe, criticize China's strict censorship laws and seemingly callous policies regarding free speech and economic growth; however, Frank and Joe fail to see how American corporate interests censor journalists, just like in China, and how American companies enable rights violations abroad. For example, Frank tells Joe to drop the Tank Man story after the newspaper's parent company expands into the Chinese market. Though Joe disagrees with this censorship, he does not publish his findings and instead sells his protest photography. In this way, Joe self-censors his work. Conversely, Zhang Lin publishes an article and is censored; the consequences of his bravery are severe, as he is arrested and tortured. In a brief scene, software developer Peter Rourke provides Zhang Lin's IP address to the Chinese authorities, though he knows Zhang Lin will be arrested and brutalized.
The theme of geopolitics is best summarized in Tess's presentation. Using the Tank Man photograph as a tasteless backdrop, she explains that China "exchanged democracy for an economic miracle," an opportunity on which American companies capitalized.
Self-Delusion
As Zhang Lin eloquently explains during his interrogation, the "happiest people are the ones who are best at lying to themselves." Chimerica explores how individuals participate in self-delusion to maintain their sense of identity and make sense of the world around them.
Throughout his investigation, Joe Schoefield insists that his actions are oriented toward the greater good and that his article about the Tank Man will inspire at least "more than twenty million" people. Joe harms others by blackmailing, lying, and physical violence, yet maintains his belief in his own moral superiority. However, as Joe eventually discovers, his interest in the Tank Man is a selfish pursuit of fame and relevance.
Conversely, Tess begins her journey jaded and nihilistic, deluding herself into thinking she only cares about making money. However, after she sees the true impact of China's economic boom and America's involvement, she changes her views and actively participates in protests.
The clearest example of self-delusion comes from Zhang Lin's interrogation scene. Though Zhang Lin publishes empirical data that the published air quality levels are inaccurate, the guard interrogating him insists that there is only "fog," not "smog," and that the air quality in Beijing is good. However, many people die from pollution, and even more, like the businesswoman Deng, wear masks even on "good" days.
East vs. West
Chimerica explores how, though cultural and ideological differences between the United States and China are often presented as opposing forces, China and America have much in common in the twenty-first century. As Tess explains in her presentation, like America, China "values the supremacy of its culture above all else." Chinese characters throughout the play criticize Americans for being unethical and profit-obsessed, while American characters level the same complaints against Chinese characters. Americans condemn Chinese censorship and propaganda, yet American newspaper companies insist on spinning the Tank Man story to highlight American political superiority before ultimately censoring the entire project.
One example of this false dichotomy is the Chinese concept of "guanxi" (关系), or relationships. To Zhang Lin and Zhang Wei, Joe fails to honor his "guanxi" with Zhang Lin, as Joe ignores Zhang Lin's many requests for help telling his story and fails to meet Zhang Lin's nephew, Benny. Joe himself tries to solicit favors from friends, like Senator Dubiecki, but resorts to unethical or cruel methods, like blackmail, when he cannot trade in on his relationships for personal gain. Joe's actions earn him criticism that he is "neither East nor West," which Benny insists is a "pretty bad insult."
Censorship
Censorship, the suppression of stories and information, is a central theme throughout Chimerica. Following the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, China enforced strict censorship laws to maintain internal order and a strong international image. Though the American characters in Chimerica insist that America's "free speech" laws protect them and ensure endless freedom, they are confronted with censorship and suppression, though in a slightly different form than the censorship confronting their Chinese counterparts.
The clearest example of censorship is found in Zhang Lin's storyline. Zhang Lin is horrified when his neighbor, Ming Xiaoli, suffers and dies from a respiratory infection caused by air pollution. Zhang Lin is frustrated that the air quality index reports are intentionally misleading and publishes an article criticizing the party. Zhang Lin is interrogated, tortured, and surveilled before finally being arrested.
Meanwhile, Joe's boss censors the Tank Man story in America, first insisting that it must be used to praise American freedom and economic prosperity. This "spinning" of the story is a subtle form of propaganda. Later, Joe is prohibited from pursuing the story at all because the newspaper's parent company attempts to expand overseas and cannot publish anything controversial. Thus, despite seemingly robust freedom of speech laws, American reporters are also censored, though in a less dramatic way.
Heroism
Joe Schoefield becomes obsessed with discovering the Tank Man's identity because he believes the Tank Man's standing before a line of military vehicles is the ultimate act of heroism. Joe wants to be part of that heroism and feels disenfranchised since his photographs no longer hold the influential power they did before the digital age. Throughout the play, Joe is confronted with differing definitions of heroism and is forced to examine his power and motivations.
For example, Joe believes that his Tank Man follow-up story will be internationally impactful, renewing the Tank Man's reputation as a "national hero" and contributing to Joe's own heroism. To find the Tank Man, Joe blackmails Senator Maria Dubiecki with embarrassing photos of her doing hard drugs while "wearing nothing but a Nixon T-shirt." Joe believes Senator Dubiecki's past disqualifies her from heroism. Yet, her assistant, Dave, argues that her daily dedication to serving the public makes her more heroic than Joe could ever be.
Similarly, when Wang Pengsi declares his brother, Wang Pengfei, is an "Unknown Hero," Joe dismisses him, insisting that any Chinese soldier is a villain. However, as Pengsi astutely argues, Pengfei was executed for refusing to mow down a civilian, and his act of disobeying orders is heroic; Pengfei's heroism also allowed Tank Man to become the international symbol of resistance.
Moral Hypocrisy
Joe begins the play as an idealistic, seemingly brave photojournalist committed to showing the public the truth. Joe is criticized for his "pious, holier-than-thou, sanctimonious" attitude. Though on the surface, Joe seems more likable than his unpleasant colleagues, Frank and Mel, Joe ultimately is the least heroic of the group and the most morally hypocritical.
For example, Joe criticizes Frank for frequenting strip clubs and even briefly blackmails Frank, assuming Frank is having an affair. However, Frank actually gave Mary Chang a job at his newspaper when Joe did not bother even to pass along her resume. Joe also insists that his story will benefit and inspire the Chinese community, but instead assaults Wang Pengsi and forces him to disclose dangerous secrets, likely resulting in Pengsi's deportation. The most ironic example of Joe's hypocrisy is how, in searching for the Tank Man, he neglects his relationship with Zhang Lin, who actually is the Tank Man. Unavailable when Zhang Lin needed him most, Joe is indirectly responsible for Zhang Lin's suffering and arrest.
At the end of the play, Joe presents his protest photographs in a corporate-sponsored gallery show and sells the images, including Tank Man, for thousands of dollars. Mel, an unlikeable and insensitive character, arrives at the gallery opening missing an eye after he sustained an injury reporting in Syria. In this contrasting interaction, Joe seems to profit off the bravery and suffering of others, though he once thought he championed those without a voice.
