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The Development and Aesthetic Pursuit of Opera Films in This Century (2000-2015) Xiufeng Yang* National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, Beijing 100073, China

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The Development and Aesthetic Pursuit of Opera Films in This Century (2000-2015) Xiufeng Yang* National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, Beijing 100073, China Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 2021, Volume 5, Issue 5 http://ojs.bbwpublisher.com/index.php/JCER ISSN Online: 2208-8474 ISSN Print: 2208-8466 The Development and Aesthetic Pursuit of Opera Films in this Century (2000-2015) Xiufeng Yang* National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, Beijing 100073, China Abstract: This paper examined the development of opera films in regard to cultural traditions and modernization, the evolution and analysis of new aesthetic concepts, the cultural reasons for continuous development and the expansion of communication channels. Based on these analyses, this paper concluded with the call for China to continuously improve and develop of the Chinese opera films in the hope for a new “golden age.” Keywords: Development; Opera films; Creation situation Publication date: May, 2021; Publication online: 31 May, 2021 *Corresponding author: Xiufeng Yang, [email protected] 1 Introduction innovation for future developments in the cultural With rapid development, various art forms are industry. The affluence of the opera stage naturally continuously enriched and developed. The internet led to the creation of opera films. Hence, it is worth has greatly impacted people’s culture at an paying attention to the following aspects: unimaginable speed. Each art form is a reflection to different trends along the timeline. After 2.1 Remake of classic Chinese opera films as experiencing setbacks in the 1990’s, the traditional spectacular innovations Chinese opera films that progressed from stage to In the production of opera films for more than a screen also followed the development in this hundred years, many films have demonstrated their century in terms of production, form of work, and unique artistic charms in terms of selection of aesthetic performance, thus, indicates a flourishing repertoires, actor’s performances, and film progress. presentations. Many of these films have become classics such as “The Wild Boar Forest,” “The 2 Development in Cultural Traditions and Female Generals of the Yang Family,” which is Keeping Them Alive directed by Cui Wei and Chen Huaiai, “Fifteen In 2001, Kunqu Opera ranked first among the first Strings of Coppers,” directed by Tao Jin, “Dream batch of 19 “Masterpieces of the Oral and of the Red Chamber,” directed by Cen Fan, “Liang Intangible Heritage of Humanity” announced by Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai,” directed by Sang Hu and UNESCO. Kunqu Opera is recognized and Huang Sha, etc. They are all influential works from appreciated worldwide for its unique artistic and the 1950’s and 1960’s. There are common features cultural values, which has motivated the entire among these productions. First, these are excellent Kunqu Opera and the opera circle. original repertoires that have been performed on The subsequent introduction of a series of stage. Second, the actors in these productions are wholesome “plans”, “methods” and “procedures” famous artists of various dramas, and thirdly, the has established the status of “opera” in the artistic value in stage performance is creatively development of national culture. Having such transformed in these films, whereby the unique heritage has consolidated the foundation of charm of the opera is better demonstrated. 5Distributed under creative commons license 4.0 61 Volume 5; Issue 5 The production of other opera films such as “A 2.2 Focusing on new rural development Dream of Red Mansions” (Kun Opera in 2007), Rural themes have a certain weight in the “The Legend of the White Snake” (Peking Opera in production of modern operas. Local operas with Yu, 2007), and “Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai” (Yue Huagu, and Ping opera as their inspirations have Opera in 2009) are spectacular innovations in this more advantage in portraying rural themes, in century. addition to more freedom in terms of performance. “The Legend of White Snake” (Peking Opera) The lively language used and performance such as played by Zhang Huoding and Song Xiaochuan in singing, dancing, etc., displays a prosperous 2007, “The Legend of White Snake” (Peking Opera) element. Changes in people’s living conditions and played by Li Ping and Song Xiaochuan in 2013, ideology in social development with new rural and “The Legend of White Snake”" played by Jin development have become interests for creative Jing and Ye Jing in 2015 (Yue Opera), have their contents in this period. own artistic charms, genres, character portrayals, The shadow puppet show, “The Road to a and conveyance of emotions. In addition, the Well-off Society” is about a town chief who leads aesthetic appeal by the creative team also masses to overcome difficulties and improve contributes to the film’s style. economically. On the other hand, the Hunan flower Since 2000, the traditional opera, “Dream of drum opera’s “The head of the township is Zhao,” Red Mansions” has been made into traditional humorously depicts how cadres do practical things opera films for three times. In 2007, the Central for the masses and the Yu opera’s “Country Police Studio for Documentary Film launched the Officer” which is based on real characters is about “Rescue Project of National Cultural Repertoires.” the relationship between cadres and the masses. “A Dream of Red Mansions” (Yue Opera) was the Huangmei Opera’s “Song Nostalgia” reflects first project launched. It was based on the Yue young people's involvement in advancing the Opera recorded by the Chinese record company in agricultural sector with science and technology, 1961 and the adaptation was produced by Director meanwhile, Yu Opera’s “Village Officer Li Cen Fan in 1962. In this project, the deleted songs Tiancheng” tells of the villager’s diligent work in in the 1962 adaptation were restored and it focused order to be wealthy. On the other hand, Huagu on expressing the emotions of Bao and Dai. Soon Opera’s “Village Officials Are Visitors,” portrays thereafter, an orchestral adaptation of “A Dream of a female village chief in leading the villagers to Red Mansions” was released. Five years later, in cultural prosperity and so on. These films vividly 2012, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater presented illustrate ideas and concepts in the new rural the same repertoire, however, this production not development, such as the relationship between only tells of the love story of Bao-Dai, but also cadres and masses, economic and cultural growth, illustrates the rise and fall of the Rongguo Building and individual values and pursuits. from Baoyu's perspective. These three works have Among them, “The Road to a Well-off Society” their own unique artistic charms in content and is a unique work. It uses ancient shadow puppet art form. Classic works are inherited from generation to present contemporary stories. The shadow to generation, and it would be a challenge to puppetry in the film integrates cartooning, three- reproduce the same repertoire. They are dimensionality and drama into one, hence, its continuously polished, refined and fine-tuned for artistic presentation is fairly innovative. According an exceptional inheritance process. Generally, to historical records, shadow puppetry began in the different types of productions of the same Western Han Dynasty, thrived in the Tang Dynasty, repertoire display their own styles and artistic and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. It has a history charms. of more than two thousand years and is called the “living fossil” of world cultures. In 2011, it was selected -in- the - “Representative- List -of- the 5Distributed under creative commons license 4.0 62 Volume 5; Issue 5 Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” As an Production of Chinese opera films during this ancient Chinese art, this rare shadow puppet show period is focused on the retention of traditional art, allows more people to see its artistic forms and while keeping up with the development and appreciate its charms. changes, thereby providing possibilities for the These works are based on actual real-life formation of new aesthetic concepts. events. They create a distinctive image for the character while conveying the characters’ emotions 3 Evolution of New Aesthetic Concepts and the in a modern language context. They also try to fit Formation of Aesthetic Images these events to current ideas and concepts in regard In this century, traditional culture has once again to the story, artistry and performance level. contributed to the development in opera art. In December 2001, the Ministry of Culture devised 2.3 A diversified large-scale production the “Ten-Year Plan for the Protection and Throughout the production of films, the industry Revitalization of Kunqu Opera.” At the same time, has gone through practical explorations, as well as the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and the a studio and theater troupe-led approach. In this Ministry of Finance introduced a series of policies century, with the collaboration of various creative such as the “National Stage Art Quality Project concepts, the key national cultural project which is Implementation Plan and Project Management,” as the “Peking Opera Film Project,” the “Plum well as the “Management of Special Funds for the Blossom Award Digital Film Project,” and the National Fine Stage Art Projects.” These plans and "Rescue Project of National Cultural Repertoires" projects have ushered in more comprehensive has taken productions to a new level. The first two development opportunities for the opera art. In projects were sponsored by the China Federation of 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping hosted a Literary and Art Circles, the Chinese Theatre symposium in Beijing on literatures and artworks, Association, and the Central News Documentary whereby he clearly stated that the “great Film Studio. Led by the cultural authorities to form rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” required the planned and large scales production models, the vibrance in Chinese culture. In July 2015, the collaborations were effective. Various provinces national opera symposium was also held in Beijing and cities have also developed “projects” such as to further emphasize the significance of the “Rural Film Local Opera Project” in Hunan revitalization of opera.
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