How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ

Sevda Ünal; Mutlu Binark

Makale detayları

How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ

Yazarlar:

Sevda Ünal | Mutlu Binark

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences Issue 67, pp.177-208

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340693

pISSN:

2636-8943

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This article aims to identify the discursive practices of the Chinese Communist Partys CCP cultural governance through the GenZ series 2023 and examine how transnational audiences perceive the series. In this context, two different research analysis techniques are used in a coordinated manner. Thematic discourse analysis is employed to reveal the series discourse themes, and the netnographic research technique is applied to discuss the compatibility of audience reviews with the series discourse. The research questions are as follows: How do the series themes reproduce the Chinese governments cultural governance? How do audiences on global streaming platforms interpret the discourses of the Chinese Dream1 and rejuvenation subtly embedded in GenZ, and do transnational audiences develop an interest and curiosity towards China? Can these two reactions be understood as the potential of Chinese television dramas CDramas to create a China Wave? This study finds that the seriess discursive themes align with President Xi Jinpings two ideological discourses and the CCPs cultural governance goals. As can be seen, the series contribution to Chinas cultural governance policy is evident. However, its role as a soft power tool is limited because while transnational audiences are interested in Chinese dramas, their focus differs from that of Chinese audiences, which in this series are more interested in traditional Chinese medicine as a cultural heritage. Artistic quality and idol culture are not enough for CDramas to create a Chinese Wave among transnational audiences, the nature of the governments cultural governance policy needs to change first.

 This article aims to identify the discursive practices of the Chinese Communist Partys CCP cultural governance through the GenZ series 2023 and examine how transnational audiences perceive the series. In this context, two different research analysis techniques are used in a coordinated manner. Thematic discourse analysis is employed to reveal the series discourse themes, and the netnographic research technique is applied to discuss the compatibility of audience reviews with the series discourse. The research questions are as follows: How do the series themes reproduce the Chinese governments cultural governance? How do audiences on global streaming platforms interpret the discourses of the Chinese Dream1 and rejuvenation subtly embedded in GenZ, and do transnational audiences develop an interest and curiosity towards China? Can these two reactions be understood as the potential of Chinese television dramas CDramas to create a China Wave? This study finds that the seriess discursive themes align with President Xi Jinpings two ideological discourses and the CCPs cultural governance goals. As can be seen, the series contribution to Chinas cultural governance policy is evident. However, its role as a soft power tool is limited because while transnational audiences are interested in Chinese dramas, their focus differs from that of Chinese audiences, which in this series are more interested in traditional Chinese medicine as a cultural heritage. Artistic quality and idol culture are not enough for CDramas to create a Chinese Wave among transnational audiences, the nature of the governments cultural governance policy needs to change first.

 This article aims to identify the discursive practices of the Chinese Communist Partys CCP cultural governance through the GenZ series 2023 and examine how transnational audiences perceive the series. In this context, two different research analysis techniques are used in a coordinated manner. Thematic discourse analysis is employed to reveal the series discourse themes, and the netnographic research technique is applied to discuss the compatibility of audience reviews with the series discourse. The research questions are as follows: How do the series themes reproduce the Chinese governments cultural governance? How do audiences on global streaming platforms interpret the discourses of the Chinese Dream1 and rejuvenation subtly embedded in GenZ, and do transnational audiences develop an interest and curiosity towards China? Can these two reactions be understood as the potential of Chinese television dramas CDramas to create a China Wave? This study finds that the seriess discursive themes align with President Xi Jinpings two ideological discourses and the CCPs cultural governance goals. As can be seen, the series contribution to Chinas cultural governance policy is evident. However, its role as a soft power tool is limited because while transnational audiences are interested in Chinese dramas, their focus differs from that of Chinese audiences, which in this series are more interested in traditional Chinese medicine as a cultural heritage. Artistic quality and idol culture are not enough for CDramas to create a Chinese Wave among transnational audiences, the nature of the governments cultural governance policy needs to change first.

 Bu makale, GenZ 2023 dizisi aracılığıyla Çin Komünist Partisinin ÇKP kültürel yönetişiminin söylemsel uygulamalarını tespit etmeyi ve ulusötesi izleyicilerin diziyi nasıl alımladığını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, iki araştırma tekniği eşgüdümlü bir şekilde kullanılmıştır. GenZ dizisindeki söylem temalarını ortaya çıkarmak için tematik söylem analizi, izleyici değerlendirmelerinin dizinin söylemiyle uyumluluğunu tartışmak için ise netnografik araştırma tekniği kullanılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında belirlenen araştırma soruları şöyledir: Dizinin temaları Çin hükümetinin kültürel yönetişimi ne şekilde üretmektedir? Küresel yayın platformlarındaki izleyiciler GenZye incelikle yerleştirilen Çin Rüyası ve canlandırma söylemlerini nasıl yorumluyor ve ulusötesi izleyiciler Çine yönelik ilgi ve merak geliştiriyor mu? Bu ilgi ve merak, Çin dizileri bir Çin Dalgası yaratma potansiyeli olarak anlaşılabilir mi? Çalışmanın bulguları, dizinin söylemsel temalarının Xi Jinpingin Çin rüyası ve canlandırma ideolojisi ve ÇKPnin kültürel yönetişim hedefleriyle uyumlu olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Görüleceği üzere, dizinin Çinin kültürel yönetişim politikasına katkısı aşikardır. Ancak, Çin hükümeti için bir yumuşak güç aracı olarak rolü sınırlıdır. Çin dizilerinin ulus ötesi izleyiciler arasında bir Çin Dalgası yaratması için yalnızca sanatsal kalitesi ve idol kültür yeterli değildir. Öncelikle Çin hükümetinin kültürel yönetişim politikasının mahiyetinin değişmesi gereklidir.

Makale detayları

How past-present-future interconnect in China: CDramas as a tool of cultural governance and the possibility of a ‘Chinese wave’ in the case of GenZ

Yazarlar:

Sevda Ünal | Mutlu Binark

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences Issue 67, pp.177-208

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340693

pISSN:

2636-8943

Xi Jinping

Chinese wave

cultural governance

GenZ

CDramas

traditional Chinese medicineXi Jinping

Çin dalgası

kültürel yönetişim

GenZ

Çin dizileri

geleneksel Çin tıbbı

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Sevda Ünal | Mutlu Binark

Yayıncı: Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar: İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi: Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences Issue 67, pp.177-208

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001340693

pISSN: 2636-8943

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Sevda Ünal | Mutlu Binark

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences Issue 67, pp.177-208

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340693

pISSN:

2636-8943