Between Political Discourse and Classic Inheritance: the State of Chinese Cinema in the 21st Century

Authors

  • Ying Wang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25038/am.v0i10.137

Keywords:

political discourse, classic inheritance, Chinese movie, new century

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Chinese movies have shown a strong tendency towards the adaptation of classics in an attempt to draw audiences. However, of all the productions churned out by the film industry, very few win audience acclaim. One of the main reasons for this is that adaptations, in attempting to weave new themes and plots into the originals, become followers of mainstream values and ideology. While this does contribute to the moral construction of the citizenry, as desired by the Chinese government in the current political context, it is not justified from the perspective of classic inheritance. What means, if any, exist to reconcile the conflict between political discourse and classic inheritance? How to strike a balance between the two? These have become urgent questions which must be addressed.

Author Biography

Ying Wang

Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing
China

References

Hu Jintao, “Firmly March on The Path of the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive to Complete the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in all Respects.” Report to the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China on November 8, 2012, Beijing, People’s Publishing House, 2012, 31–32.The English translation: www.xinhuanet.com

Hu Jintao, “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive for New Victories in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in all Respects.” Report to the Seventeenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 15 2007, Beijing, People’s Publishing House, 2007, 35. The English translation: www.xinhuanet.com

Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Penguin Classics), trans. by John Minford. London: Penguin Books, 2006.

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Published

15.10.2016

How to Cite

Wang, Y. (2016). Between Political Discourse and Classic Inheritance: the State of Chinese Cinema in the 21st Century. AM Journal of Art and Media Studies, (10), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.25038/am.v0i10.137