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How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ

Sayı: 67 8 Ocak 2025
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How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ

Öz

This article aims to identify the discursive practices of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) cultural governance through the GenZ series (2023) and examine how transnational audiences perceive the series. In this context, two different research analysis techniques are used in a coordinated manner. Thematic discourse analysis is employed to reveal the series’ discourse themes, and the netnographic research technique is applied to discuss the compatibility of audience reviews with the series’ discourse. The research questions are as follows: How do the series’ themes reproduce the Chinese government’s cultural governance? How do audiences on global streaming platforms interpret the discourses of the ‘Chinese Dream’1 and ‘rejuvenation’ subtly embedded in GenZ, and do transnational audiences develop an interest and curiosity towards China? Can these two reactions be understood as the potential of Chinese television dramas (CDramas) to create a ‘China Wave?’ This study finds that the series’s discursive themes align with President Xi Jinping’s two ideological discourses and the CCP’s cultural governance goals. As can be seen, the series’ contribution to China’s cultural governance policy is evident. However, its role as a soft power tool is limited because while transnational audiences are interested in Chinese dramas, their focus differs from that of Chinese audiences, which in this series are more interested in traditional Chinese medicine as a cultural heritage. Artistic quality and idol culture are not enough for CDramas to create a ‘Chinese Wave’ among transnational audiences, the nature of the government’s cultural governance policy needs to change first.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kaynakça

  1. Albro, R. (2015). The disjunction of image and word in US and Chinese soft power projection. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 21(4), 382-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2015.1042471 google scholar
  2. Binark, M. & Karataş-Özaydın, Ş. (2020). Kurgulanmış k-erkeklik imgesi: Güney Kore yaratıcı içerik endüstrisi ve aşık olunacak “hallyu yıldızları”. M. Binark (Ed.), Asya’da popüler kültür ve medya (1st ed.). (pp. 141-168). UMAG. google scholar
  3. Bram, B. (2023, March 13). Generation N: The impact of China’s youth nationalism. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/generation-n-impact-chinas-youth-nationalism google scholar
  4. Cao, Q & Lang, I. (2021). Digital media, governance, and the making of youth in contemporary China. W. Wei (Ed.) China’s contemporary image and rhetoric practice (1st ed.) (pp.137-158). Routledge. google scholar
  5. Clarke, V. & Braun, V. (2014). Thematic analysis. Encyclopedia of critical psychology, 1947-1952. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5583-7_311 google scholar
  6. Fairclough, N. & Wodak, R. (1997). Critical discourse analysis. T. van Dijk (Ed.). Discourse studies: A multidisciplinary introduction volume 2. (pp.258-284). Sage. google scholar
  7. General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. (2022). Cultural development plan for the “14th five-year plan”. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202208/16/content_5705612.htm google scholar
  8. GenZ (2023). Episodes 1-40. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDuzvnRIfxZrxlCXTD0xu5 PBunhzT7_ai google scholar

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

8 Ocak 2025

Gönderilme Tarihi

20 Temmuz 2024

Kabul Tarihi

31 Aralık 2024

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2024 Sayı: 67

Kaynak Göster

APA
Ünal, S., & Binark, M. (2025). How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, 67, 177-208. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379
AMA
1.Ünal S, Binark M. How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2025;(67):177-208. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379
Chicago
Ünal, Sevda, ve Mutlu Binark. 2025. “How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, sy 67: 177-208. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379.
EndNote
Ünal S, Binark M (01 Ocak 2025) How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences 67 177–208.
IEEE
[1]S. Ünal ve M. Binark, “How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ”, Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, sy 67, ss. 177–208, Oca. 2025, doi: 10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379.
ISNAD
Ünal, Sevda - Binark, Mutlu. “How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 67 (01 Ocak 2025): 177-208. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379.
JAMA
1.Ünal S, Binark M. How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2025;:177–208.
MLA
Ünal, Sevda, ve Mutlu Binark. “How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, sy 67, Ocak 2025, ss. 177-08, doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379.
Vancouver
1.Sevda Ünal, Mutlu Binark. How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 01 Ocak 2025;(67):177-208. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1519379