{"id":17419,"date":"2018-10-11T14:06:50","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T21:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=films&p=17419"},"modified":"2022-12-21T09:51:20","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T17:51:20","slug":"peoples-republic-of-desire","status":"publish","type":"films","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/peoples-republic-of-desire\/","title":{"rendered":"People’s Republic of Desire"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an age where the power of technology helps us connect, are we as isolated as ever?<\/span><\/p>\n

People\u2019s Republic of Desire<\/i><\/b> exposes the baffling reality of how virtual relationships are replacing real-life human connections through China\u2019s video-based social network YY\u2013\u2013a hugely popular gathering place for over 300 million people in China. From the super-rich, who lavish virtual gifts on their favorite live-streamers to the very poor, many of them migrant workers in urban areas searching for cheap entertainment and a way to feel connected.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disturbing and provocative, <\/span>People\u2019s Republic of Desire<\/span><\/i> explores the strange world of these live-streaming \u201cshowrooms,\u201d where the most popular stars can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a month from adoring fans who \u201ctip\u201d them with digital gifts paid for with actual cash. Is this a virtual dystopia, or a chance for a second life? What are the consequences for all of us when human connections are put up for sale to the highest bidder?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an age where the power of technology helps us connect, are we as isolated as ever? People\u2019s Republic of Desire exposes the baffling reality of how virtual relationships are replacing real-life human connections through China\u2019s video-based social network YY\u2013\u2013a hugely popular gathering place for over 300 million people in China. From the super-rich, who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":17516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[1216,1219,1239,1250],"class_list":["post-17419","films","type-films","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-arts-and-culture","topic-health-and-environment","topic-identity","topic-music-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPeople's Republic of Desire | Step Into Virtual World of Livestreaming Showrooms | Independent Lens | PBS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This is not a Black Mirror episode, this is real life. 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