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The Chinese Elements and the Overseas Communication Barrier of <The Wandering Earth>

  • The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China
  • Abbr : JSLCKC
  • 2021, (59), pp.349-373
  • DOI : 10.16874/jslckc.2021..59.013
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Study on Chinese Languge and Culture
  • Research Area : Humanities > Chinese Language and Literature
  • Received : January 10, 2021
  • Accepted : February 20, 2021
  • Published : February 28, 2021

Zhang Fangyuan 1 Lee Seok Hyoung 1

1중앙대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The Chinese domestic science-fiction blockbuster <Wandering Earth> hit the jackpot among many family movies as a black horse in the Chinese New Year film in 2019. According to the statistics of the China box office website, the total box office during the release period exceeded 4.6 billion. In this way, with its high popularity and word of mouth, it became the box office champion of the Chinese New Year film list. The hot discussion and topic of <Wandering Earth> have aroused Chinese people's cheers and expectations for the arrival of "the first year of Chinese science-fiction movie". Major mainstream media have reported and reprinted "Open a new path for creating Chinese SF movies (XINHUANET)", "The beginning of Chinese science fiction movie (SOHU)", "Highest-grossing movie in the box office reflects the Cultural Identity (CNR News)", and industry evaluations have affirmed the artistic value of the film. The impact of <Wandering Earth> on the Chinese film industry may have gone surpassed the film itself. It has become a phenomenon-level cultural event, has triggered relevant discussions on science and technology, human nature, ethics, national ideology, and Chinese cultural characteristics. As the foundation of China's ‘hard science-fiction’ movie, the novel adaptation of the film <Wandering Earth> will present a grand scene with Chinese elements and Chinese spirit on the big screen with realistic special effects. Even CCTV's <FOCUS REPORT> program also arranged a special report of about 14 minutes to introduce the behind-the-scenes of the film and the attitude of the audience, which affirmed the Chinese spiritual imagination carried by the film. However, such a movie genre of Chinese-style ideological theme that has reached a considerable artistic level seems to have a "Cultural Cognition" barrier in the eyes of overseas audiences, so the response is mediocre. In particular, the Chinese-style rescue plan in which the ending of the film is treated as collectivism has also aroused extensive discussion at home and abroad. This article takes <Wandering Earth> as an example to explore how shows Chinese elements, what cultural barriers and understanding obstacles encountered when Chinese films are promoted in overseas markets, and how to better communicate in cross-cultural communication in the future tell Chinese stories and spread Chinese cultural awareness.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.