The Epoch Times penned 17,000 articles to promote Shen Yun's agenda
- The New York Times conducted an extensive investigation into Shen Yun's operations, focusing on its practices involving young performers.
- Findings indicate that the dance group, linked to Falun Gong, may have exploited these performers to generate significant profits.
- These revelations prompt questions about the ethical treatment of performers within arts organizations and the influence of religious ideologies.
Shen Yun, a dance group associated with Falun Gong, has been under scrutiny from The New York Times for its practices surrounding young performers. The Times' investigation involved a thorough review of tax documents, court filings, and extensive interviews with over 150 individuals connected to the group. These revelations emerge as Shen Yun began a five-month tour, with performances starting in New York at Lincoln Center, set to begin on March 26. Since its establishment, Shen Yun has garnered attention not only for its cultural presentations but also for its deep connections to the Falun Gong religious movement, which has been persecuted in China for decades. The articles indicate that significant wealth has been amassed by the group, with much of the financial success attributed to the exploitation of its young dancers, who are encouraged to offer free labor as part of their commitment to the Falun Gong ideology. The coverage highlights troubling practices including the management's demand for excessive dedication from performers and shifts attention toward the ethical implications of such demands. Ultimately, these antics appear to serve to bolster the Falun Gong movement's visibility and financial backing. Additionally, the relationship between the Falun Gong movement and The Epoch Times, a publication known for its right-wing views, underlines the promotional strategies used to bolster the public perception of Shen Yun. Since 2009, The Epoch Times has published over 17,000 articles celebrating the dance group while attacking any dissenters. The Times' findings suggest that this extensive network of interconnections raises questions about the journalistic integrity of coverage around Shen Yun, as it blurs the lines between art promotion and religious advocacy. In conclusion, the Times’ investigation paints a complex picture of Shen Yun, revealing how a celebrated cultural entity is intertwined with contentious religious beliefs and how this connection impacts its treatment of performers. The fallout from these revelations may provoke deeper discussions about labor practices in the arts and the intertwining of cultural expression with potentially exploitative structures.