The author argues that cinema in the 1930s Shanghai was a fusion of Western and Chinese storytelling, reflecting the city’s modernity and traditional values.
The 1950s films like “Space is Gold,” “A Hymn to Mother,” and “Mid-setting the Love Trap” showcased genres of social realism, family melodrama, and romantic comedy, respectively, highlighting societal issues, familial bonds, and lighter, romantic narratives.
In the 1960s, “Teddy Girls” and “A Purple Stormy Night” communicated themes of youth rebellion and the complexities of love, showcasing a shift towards more personal and societal challenges.
“The Secret” by Ann Hui in the 1970s delved into themes of personal identity, societal constraints, and the quest for freedom, reflecting the era’s social and political turbulence.
Films like “The Wicked City” and “Rouge” from the 1980s-1990s period mirrored concerns about the Sino-British Declaration, exploring the anxiety, identity crisis, and nostalgia amidst Hong Kong’s impending transition, through narratives set against a backdrop of a changing urban landscape.
1 thought on “L2 reading A”
Sereypagna says:
You identify that films on 1930s Shanghai highlight the city as “a fusion of Western and Chinese storytelling” and then list eight films from the 1950s to the 1990s with summary sentences for each film. Do they also demonstrate this “fusion”? If so, how does each film do that, and to what extent does each one, with its differing genres, demonstrate this? This will then tie your points on the various films into a more holistic reflection of the text you’ve read.
You identify that films on 1930s Shanghai highlight the city as “a fusion of Western and Chinese storytelling” and then list eight films from the 1950s to the 1990s with summary sentences for each film. Do they also demonstrate this “fusion”? If so, how does each film do that, and to what extent does each one, with its differing genres, demonstrate this? This will then tie your points on the various films into a more holistic reflection of the text you’ve read.