films can be a lens for us to understand the urban and interior spaces in the past, not only can I see modernity in the industrial spatial setting of industrializing cities, but also in the film narrative itself.
I can see the manifestation of the modernity spirit through the films. The city was undergoing construction, the film captured lots of grid-patterned modern buildings and modern buildings like hospital, highway etc. I think factories is symbolic place that can fully capture the rationality spirit of modernity. Fordism approaches that emphasises efficiency in production can tell what is modernity.
We can also see modernity in the role of women. The films have scenes of women workers in the factory, it reflects women start joining the labour force and start to have the opportunity rise their economic status. In terms of the narrative, women also play a more significant role ,female protagonist became really common and they are no long just sexual objects, but brave , strong and smart. The value of gender equality also emerges in modernity.( however some may argue that the status of women didn’t improve as they are still chasing after masculinity and it is unfair that only masculine person is considered to be successful.)
In recent years, some postmodern films were released. Different from the film above , the set of the films are no longer related to modern architecture but some atypical place. ChungKing Express is a good example, ChungKing Mansion is a place where ethical minorities gather and the chaotic spatial conditions make it being “ different “. Considering the narrative, the fragmentation of storyline which is different from a typical liner one , leave more space for the audience to interpret themselves and find various meanings in it .
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