Communications in Humanities Research
- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences
Communications in Humanities Research
Vol. 24, 03 January 2024
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A Comparative Study of Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige “Main Melody” Films
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Abstract
This paper delves into the contemporary landscape of Chinese "main melody" cinema, shedding light on its developmental trajectory and distinctive attributes. It particularly hones in on the creative contributions of two prominent directors in this genre: Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. Through an exploration of their works, this paper aims to provide readers with a comprehensive grasp of their filmmaking styles and thematic innovations. Zhang Yimou, a celebrated filmmaker, is introduced with a focus on his melodramatic masterpiece, "Impasse." This paper goes on to scrutinize the thematic content of this film, offering readers an insight into its narrative depth and emotional resonance. In parallel, director Chen Kaige is introduced, with a detailed analysis of his "main melody" opus, "The Battle at Lake Changjin," revealing its narrative structure and character portrayals, thereby facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the film. Furthermore, this paper delves into the innovative elements, character development, and cinematographic techniques employed by Zhang Yimou in "Impasse," while also dissecting the narrative structure and characterizations found in Chen Kaige's "The Battle at Lake Changjin." In conclusion, the paper conducts a comparative analysis of Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige's distinct approaches to crafting "main melody" films, illuminating the unique characteristics that distinguish these two accomplished directors in the realm of Chinese cinema.
Keywords
Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, "main melody" film, Chinese cinema
References
1. Wang, Y., Qianxian, C. (2023). Collective Memory Building through Medium Rituals in Melodramatic Movies: From the Heroic Image of Changjin Lake. Comedy World (First Half), 6, 81-83.
2. Li, Z.(2020). Research on the Aesthetic Style of Contemporary "Main Melody" Films (2009-2018) [Doctoral Dissertation, Jiangxi Normal University].
3. Zhu, B. (2020) The Underlying Narrative of the New "Main Melody" Cinema--Take "Me and My Country" as an Example. World of Sound and Screens, 8, 43-44.
4. Zhong, T. (2020). Research on Aesthetic Style of Contemporary “Main Melody” Cinema (2009-2018) [Doctoral Dissertation, Jiangxi Normal University].
5. Chen, R., Zhai, L. (2019). A Study on the National Image in the “Main Melody” Cinema Over the Past 40 years of Reform and Opening up. Art Hundred, 1, 125-129+148.
6. Lin, X. (2022). The Group Narrative of 'Impasse' and the “Main Melody” Cinema's The Construction of National Identity. Ancient and Modern Culture and Creativity, 27, 89-91.
7. Li, H. (2023). Panoramic Narrative and Poetic Emotional Expression: Brief Introduction to the Narrative Strategies of The battle at Lake Changjin- The Narrative Strategy of Lake Changjin. Western Radio and Television, 4, 108-110.
8. Li, H. (2023). The Construction of National Image in War Theme Films from Lake Changjin. Art Education, 8, 161-164.
9. Xu, H., Zhang, Q. (2022). Historical Memory and National Identity: Coming-of-Age Narratives and Epic Beauty in Lake Nagatsu. Movie Review, 8, 24-27.
10. Xu,Y.,Zhang, L. (2022). The Battle at Lake Changjin: The Practice of Innovative Development of “Main Melody” Cinema Creation Method, 43(17), 157-159.
Data Availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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- Volume Title
- Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
- ISBN (Print)
- 978-1-83558-251-0
- ISBN (Online)
- 978-1-83558-252-7
- Published Date
- 03 January 2024
- Series
- Communications in Humanities Research
- ISSN (Print)
- 2753-7064
- ISSN (Online)
- 2753-7072
- DOI
- 10.54254/2753-7064/24/20231458
- Copyright
- 03 January 2024
- Open Access
- This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited