On the Margins of Realism - Tracing Alternative Aesthetics in a Century of Chinese Cinema

This book argues that alternative aesthetics to realism have always existed in Chinese cinema throughout its history, from the early silent era to the new century. These alternative aesthetics are closely linked to the indigenous Chinese ontology of cinema, namely shadowplay (yingxi).

List of contents

1. Representing Dreams as Technique, Genre or Style: Prohibition and Expression of Modern Subjectivity 2. The Doubling of (Female) Characters: Visual Modernity, Photographic Specificity, and Divided Identities 3. The Device of Self-Reflexivity: Self-Promotion, Demystification, and Self-Deconstruction 4. The Allegorical Construction of Space: Imagining China through Landscapes

About the author

Ting Luo is an assistant professor in the College of Media and International Culture and a research fellow at the Center for Digital Communication Studies, Zhejiang University. She holds a PhD from the University of Auckland. Her research interests include Chinese film, Asian cinema, and media studies.

Summary

This book argues that alternative aesthetics to realism have always existed in Chinese cinema throughout its history, from the early silent era to the new century. These alternative aesthetics are closely linked to the indigenous Chinese ontology of cinema, namely shadowplay (yingxi).

Product details

• Authors: Ting Luo
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 21.03.2025
• EAN: 9781032815718
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3281571-8
• No. of pages: 186
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Society; China, History, Media Studies, ART / Asian / Chinese, PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / General, Humanities, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, PERFORMING ARTS / Film / Genres / Historical, Realism;Film Aesthetics;Contemporary Chinese Cinema