Chinese Drama (3)

Home

Chinese Drama (3)

Chinese Drama at the Initial Stage
The innovated traditional Chinese drama was not modern drama in the true sense despite the fact that it had used for reference some elements from the west. The students' participation in performances,, though somewhat similar to modern drama, could only be regarded as a preparation for modern Chinese drama. In general, drama historians deemed the Spring Willow Society's performance of la Dame aux Camelias and Uncle Tom's Cabin in Tokyo as the beginning of modern Chinese drama.

Civilized Drama: Rootless Duckweed
As an imported art form, civilized drama required a period of breaking- in and adaptation before it could be rooted in the cultural soil of t Chinese nation. In the initial period, it had to face the xenophobia of the native culture and look for a certain under-prop as its foothold. In addition, it should also prevent itself from losing its independence by being swallowed up by the national culture.

Therefore, in the violent collision between Chinese and foreign culture, civilized drama had become something "transitional, both inclusive and exclusive of Chinese and foreign elements, old and new factors." In terms of an art form, it differed from western drama by incorporating some elements of traditional Chinese drama; in content, it was devoid of its own distinctions though it absorbed both Chinese and foreign subject matters. Meanwhile, it had not found its own Cultural position. it was true that civilized drama flourished for a time, but, like duckweed drifting on the water, it had not found a place belonging to itself.

< Prev		Next >

Learn Chinese

Learn Chinese

China Yellow Pages