Chapter Two: Re-collecting "History" on Television

Overview

• Main Focus: Television dramas about China's emperors, their impact on national identity and historical consciousness.
• Cultural Context: The rebirth of "emperor dramas" reflects contemporary China's social transformation and cultural dynamics.

Emperor Dramas and Their Rise

• Definition: Known as diwang ju or huangdi ju, part of the history drama subgenre on TV.
• Origins: Emerged in early 1990s, influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan, exchanging cultural ideas and styles.
• Popularity: The success of dramas like "The Yongzheng Court" marks their significant cultural impact.
• Critics' Perspective: Often criticized for historical inaccuracies and trivializing history.

Historical and Cultural Context

• Television's Role: TV became a medium for historical narratives post-Cultural Revolution (1976).
• Historical Dramas: Early success with adaptations of classical novels and martial arts dramas from Hong Kong.
• Example: "Playfully Told Tales of Qianlong" (1991) marked the start of emperor dramas as a notable cultural phenomenon.

Playful vs. Serious Styles

Playful Style

• Characteristics: Emperors portrayed as cool, humorous, and possessing human flaws.
• Examples:
  • Kangxi weifu sifang ji: Emperor Kangxi travels undercover, akin to a superhero/detective.
  • Huanzhu gege: Focus on Xiao Yanzi's comedic interactions with Emperor Qianlong.

Serious Style

• Characteristics: Emperors as tragic, heroic figures within a serious narrative structure.
• Examples:
  • The Yongzheng Court: Portrays Yongzheng as a sympathetic, tragic hero.
  • Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: Explores themes of power struggles and Confucianism.

Themes and Tensions

• Cultural Dichotomies: Persistent themes include truth vs. fiction, high vs. low culture.
• Historical Consciousness: Reflects the ambivalence and tensions within modern Chinese cultural identity.

Critical Perspectives

• Ambivalence in Representation: Serious-style dramas show emperors in a complex light, often as tragic heroes.
• Public Reaction: Discussions on how these narratives shape and challenge historical consciousness in China.

Conclusion

• Contemporary Relevance: Emperor dramas mirror the ideological and cultural shifts in modern-day China.
• Implications for National Identity: These dramas highlight the struggle to balance traditional and modern values in defining Chinese identity.