An Exploration of the Changing Reputation of Spring In A Small Town at Different Times

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2024.597

Keywords:

Fei Mu, Chinese cinema, Douglas Sirk, melodrama, gender

Abstract

This article argues that while the power of political factors should not be underestimated, the change in the reputation of Fei Mu's Spring in a Small Town was a complex process that involved a combination of factors, such as the cultural construction of a symbolic system of the nation-state and the awakening of ontological consciousness brought about by economic development. More importantly, the study of audience reception of Spring in a Small Town has not been introduced in previous studies, and the lack of this perspective makes it impossible to grasp the complete journey of Chinese film conceptions and film viewing contexts. As Adorno argues, art is a product of social forces - economic, political, technological, etc. - and the proper study of art is the study of these forces. The fame of Spring in a Small Town has evolved from a controversial release in '48 to a classic of Chinese cinema today, providing a path to grasp the political, economic and cultural roles behind the film's critique and to understand the deep psychology of the audience at the time.

References

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Published

2024-09-12

How to Cite

Bi, K. (2024). An Exploration of the Changing Reputation of Spring In A Small Town at Different Times. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 12(1), 207–240. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2024.597

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2024): Spring

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2024 Kaihui BI

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