Establishment of "Drama" Orientation: Transition of the Research Paradigm of Chinese Dramas in the 1920s and 1930s (China Perspectives)

The “national drama” in China is a historical concept. Grown on longstanding Chinese culture and art, the traditional drama, mainly in the form of “opera”, has been integrated with “drama” of an international background. From the perspective of modern “drama and opera”, this book mainly studies the conditions and research of Chinese traditional drama in the 1920s and 1930s. Instead of analyzing from the viewpoint of literature appreciation or music theory, the author regards the drama as a comprehensive stage art. He attaches special importance to restoring historical scenes and therefore mainly introduces the drama journals and monographs published in that historical period, in order to help readers understand the original state of drama at that time through the records of the witnesses. In particular, this book delivers an insightful view about the evolution of the meaning of “national drama” and “drama”. The book will help scholars and readers understand the meaning and the whole story of the “national drama” concept, and will certainly facilitate the construction of the discipline of Drama and Opera. The “national drama” in China is a historical concept. Grown on long-standing Chinese culture and art, the traditional drama, mainly in the form of “opera”, has been integrated with “drama” of an international background. From the perspective of modern “drama and opera”, this book mainly studies the conditions and research of Chinese traditional drama in the 1920s and 1930s. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Foreword 1 7 Foreword 2 10 Foreword 3 14 Preface 20 1. Introduction 22 Origin and significance of the topic 22 Main object of study 25 An overview of previous research 26 Basic proposition and methods 29 2. The whole story of the National Drama Movement 31 Emergence of the National Drama Movement 31 Analysis of the historical status of the National Drama Movement by academia 38 What exactly is the “national drama”? 46 3. The evolution of ideas and exploration of vision 55 From literature orientation to opera orientation 55 Historical feats of newspapers and periodicals: the proposition and construction of the concept of “drama study” 69 Appendix: textual research and argumentation 88 4. Drama-oriented drama art criticism 106 Historical review 106 Historical transcendence 114 5. Theoretical understanding of the “whole drama” 130 Study and discussion of performance art 130 Summary and development of the art of dramatic writing 143 The rise of the theories of directing and stage art 153 Recording and arrangement of operatic literature materials 163 6. Different research perspectives on “drama” 168 Proficiency in Chinese and western academic thought and in master of business and academic research 168 Self-observation and theoretical self-consciousness of artists 185 6.3 Emphasis on the close connection between dramatic arts and social reform 196 7. Epilogue 208 Research on “Chinese opera” in the 1920s to 1930s: influence on Chinese drama history 208 Interaction between Chinese drama and graphic media in the 20th century 213 Bibliography 217 Afterword 222 Index 224 "This book mainly studies the conditions and researches of Chinese traditional drama in the 1920s and 1930s. Considering drama as a comprehensive stage art, it attaches special importance to restoring historical scenes and therefore mainly introduces the drama journals and monographs published in that historical period. In particular, the author delivers an insightful view about the evolution of the connotation of the "national drama" and "drama". Scholars and readers who are interested in the connotation and the whole story of the "national drama" concept will find this book informative and beneficial"-- Provided by publisher This book explores the conditions and academic studies of Chinese traditional drama in the 1920s and 1930s. In particular, the author delivers an insightful view about the evolution of the connotation of the "national drama" and "drama".