Chinese soap opera dramas
- 2. The significance of Chinese television ¡ñ China produces the most television shows of any country of the world ¡ñ China has made approximately 15,000 dramas since 2018 ¡ñ One of the most profitable industries in China ¡ð Ad revenue from commercial breaks ¡ð Social media reactions ¡ð Product placement ¡ñ Chinese dramas are regularly broadcast all throughout Asia
- 3. Hengdian world studios ¡ñ Largest film studio in the world ¡ñ Giant reconstructions of several palaces
- 4. Wuxia dramas ¡ñ Typically set in a fantasy world ¡ñ Usually involves a protagonist who must undergo many trials in order to become strong ¡ð Japanese equivalent=shonen anime ¡ñ Includes a large cast of characters ¡ñ Most characters rely on martial art skills ¡ñ Usually based on very popular chinese novels ¡ñ Known for their well-choreographed fight scenes
- 5. Legend of Condor heroes ¡ñ Has been adapted into 6 films and 17 tv series ¡ñ Novel was written in 1957 ¡ñ 2008 and 2017 versions are the most faithful to original storyline ¡ñ 50 and 52 episodes respectively ¡ñ First half revolves on the strong bond between two men, Yang Tiexin & Guo Xiaotian who become heroes fighting off invaders ¡ð Their friendship is so strong that they pledge for their unborn children to become sworn siblings ¡ñ Second part focuses on their sons¡¯ respective journeys after Guo Xiaotian¡¯s death and Yang Tiexin¡¯s disappearance
- 7. Ever night ¡ñ Based on the novel ½«Ò¹ ¡ñ Released in 2018-19 ¡ñ 60 episodes ¡ñ Ning Que, the main protagonist, is the sole survivor of General Lin Guang Yuan¡¯s regime ¡ð Travels to the capital w/Sang Sang his maid ¡ð Trains at a martial arts academy ¡ñ Focuses on his personal growth as a martial artist and his drive for revenge ¡ñ Popular for its cinematography and its interesting story
- 9. Historical ¡ñ Most popular genre ¡ñ Delve deeply into imperial Chinese history and customs, a great way to learn about each of the dynasties from Tang to Qing ¡ð Ways of life within the palace ¡ð Costumes ¡ð Art ¡ð Architecture ¡ñ Usually feature ensemble cast of distinguished Chinese actors and actresses
- 10. Empresses in the palace ¡ñ One of the most awarded dramas of 2011 in China ¡ñ Was nominated for an international Emmy award for ¡°Best Actress¡± ¡ñ 63 episodes ¡ð 6 episode special on Netflix ¡ñ Tells the tale of how the character Zhen Huan rises through the ranks of the imperial harem-from lowly concubine to Empress Dowager ¡ñ Known for its beautiful costumes and suburb acting ¡ñ Filled with power struggles
- 12. Nirvana in fire ¡ñ By far my favorite Chinese drama of all time ¡ñ Was a cultural phenomenon not only in China but overseas ¡ñ Hailed as the Chinese equivalent of ¡°Game of Thrones¡± ¡ñ 52 episodes ¡ñ Lin Shu(the main character), his father, and their army are framed by a political rival leading to the death of his family and over 10,000 soldiers. ¡ð Escapes with his life with a completely changed appearance ¡ð Under a new alias he returns to the capital in order to clear his family¡¯s name and instill a righteous ruler ¡ñ Popular for its great acting, gripping story, and cinematography
- 14. Modern ¡ñ Focus on how the Chinese people live on a day to day basis ¡ñ Usually centered around family importance, pursuing a career, and marital issues ¡ñ Often spir important discussions on social media about the current problems in Chinese society/schools/families ¡ñ Popular for their relatability
- 15. All is Well ¡ñ Produced in 2019 ¡ñ Explosively popular in China. Spurred several reactions throughout social media ¡ñ 52 episodes long ¡ñ Tells the story of a white-collar worker and the struggles that her family face after her mother¡¯s death ¡ñ Important themes: ¡ð The prominence of sexism not only in chinese families but also in society as a whole ¡ð The economic imbalance of people ¡ð How to treat your elders
- 17. Why should you watch? ¡ñ Good way to learn the language ¡ñ Familiarize yourself with pronunciation ¡ñ Learn new vocabulary words ¡ñ Representation of Chinese culture ¡ð landmarks ¡ð values ¡ð Food ¡ð Clothing ¡ð architecture