Geographies of the Ethnic Minority Children in Chinese Cinema (1990S and 2000S)
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Geographies of the ethnic minority children in Chinese cinema (1990s and 2000s): rurality, ethnicity and nationalism Zhenhui Yan A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities and Languages Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences June 2018 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Yan First name: Zhenhui Other name/s: Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Humanities and Languages Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Title: Geographies of the ethnic minority children in Chinese cinema (1990s and 2000s): rurality, ethnicity and nationalism Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) The subject of ethnic minority children and childhoods has attracted Chinese filmmakers over the past three decades, yet relevant research is rare. The thesis draws on theories in cinematic landscape and children’s geographies to explore how ethnic minority childhood experience is constructed cinematically. What in particular is made of rurality versus urban living, how are such geographies imagined, and how do these vistas and landscapes facilitate the understanding of the children’s identities and reflect certain ideological agendas of filmmakers in the context of a Han-dominated multi-ethnic nation during its rapid social-political transformations in the 1990s and 2000s? In individual chapters, various theoretical approaches are also deployed, such as the idea of natural space in a musical, a rural idyllic childhood, focalisation in film narrative, relational construction of space, transitional space of play and media’s impact on identity construction. The thesis concludes that, in different historical periods, the ethnic minority children’s connections with rural space carry different connotations. In the early 1990s, they aspire for the more ‘advanced’ urban space dominated by Han Chinese as a route to better education and upward mobility. In the 2000s, they are returned to rurality, admired for maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature, land and community. The children are also positioned by films in different relationships with ethnic traditions, either forced into creative reimagination of the world by appropriating diverse cultural resources or existing in harmony with their local heritage as imagined by Han nostalgia. In these (Han) narratives, the children adhere to traditional practices and rural spaces, immune to impacts of modernisation. Conversely, in a film directed by a filmmaker of their own ethnicity, the complexity of identity construction in the child protagonist is revealed complete with contradictions and flexibility. Finally, despite convenience, the children are used to embody multi-ethnic unity with surprising nuances. In the 1990s, their aspiration for urban space serves the discourse of development and nationhood. But, in the context of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, their temporary location in the city deconstructs nationalism due to the special circumstances of left-behind children and enforced displacement of ethnic minorities away from their homelands. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. 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Table of Contents Acknowledgements i Notes on Romanisation, Translation, Abbreviation and Image Capture ii List of Figures iii Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Natural Landscapes as Musical Spaces: Utopia and Yearnings of the Uyghur Children in a National Narrative 26 Chapter 2 Nostalgia and Rural Idyllic Childhood: An Idealistic Vision of the Miao Children’s Relationships with Nature, Agricultural Land, Village Community and Ethnic Tradition 55 Chapter 3 Beijing Landscapes in Internal and External Focalisations: Deconstruction and Tension in a Miao Child’s Nationalism 82 Chapter 4 Space of the Grasslands in a Relational Construction: Heroes and a Reconstruction of Ethnic Relationships through Interactions between the Han and Mongol Children 103 Chapter 5 Grasslands as Transitional Spaces of Play: The Mongol Children’s Reimagination of the World 135 Chapter 6 A Young Lama as Sun Wukong: Contradictions and Flexibility in a Contemporary Tibetan Child’s Identity Construction 161 Conclusion 191 References 195 Acknowledgements This thesis would be impossible without the generous help of many individuals. Most of all, I am extremely grateful to my supervisor Stephanie Hemelryk Donald, who encouraged me to pursue Ph.D. studies in the first place. She has helped me tremendously at every stage of my research, offering me critical comments and valuable feedback on every draft of the thesis. I owe many ideas in individual chapters to her creative thinking. I feel fortunate to be a beneficiary of her profound knowledge, academic rigour and originality. In particular, I thank her for trusting me and helping me out at all times and in all circumstances. I also owe a huge thank you to Zheng Yi, who became my joint (later primary) supervisor at a critical moment when Stephanie was temporally away. During the subsequent years, she has taught me a great deal about academic writing. Her academic critique, intelligence and encouragement have benefited me enormously. I am especially inspired by her insights and comments on my writings and appreciate the time she spares conversing with me. She has stimulated, challenged and guided my thoughts at critical junctures. I thank her for her generous sharing of her research experience and for her consistent support, understanding and company along the way. My sincere appreciation also goes to Ayxem Eli, who has engaged herself in my research much more than what is normally expected of a co-supervisor. She has read my chapters and provided me with useful advice, comments and extended readings. Her expertise in anthropology has particularly inspired me. I thank all my supervisors for their excellent supervision. Their active engagement and unfailing feedback turn my Ph.D. research journey into a rewarding experience. Furthermore, I thank George Kouvaros, Jon Eugene von Kowallis and Yu Haiqing for their critical comments and suggestions at my annual progress reviews as external