This article looks into the parallelism between the entrance of cinema and Western influence in Shanghai and how it impacted the urban environment of the city.
We currently live in a global developed society. However what happened to cities as international exchange accelerated back in the 1930s? The reading explains that there was a changed understanding upon what a modern urban environment was. Theaters started to get built in the Western architectural style and high end theaters only showed Hollywood films, demonstrating a subtle transmission of Western influence into the city’s constructive scenery.
This visual change of the architectural landscape also impacted the consciousness of the citizens. For instance, there was a new concept of what a “modern lady” should act like. Magazines starred female stars, gradually permeating a mentality that the female audience must look and act like them. However, what I found interesting was that Shanghai did not entirely conform to the urbanity of the West. Chinese female stars wore long traditional gowns contrasting to Western sexual exposures. The transformed urban environment of Shanghai was a result of a hybrid of new ideas from the West and Chinese ancestral traditions.
Therefore, it can be analyzed that the cinema acted as a reflection to depict the urban complexities the city and its inhabitants faced during this time period. As we also face constant developments amongst our spacial environments, it is important to question how our mindsets are being shifted alongside our cities urban culture, especially through our current films.
— Dohyun Kim 3036192536
Good analysis of the impacts of Western film in the 30s and how its influence can be felt both in the tangible cityscape and the intangible social mindset. How do you feel about the current status of Western films and film culture? Do you think they still have the same effective power?