Reproduction Of Acrobats

On the basis of field-work and oral history collection, the present dissertation aims to provide a systematic analysis on the acrobatics' pupils in Wuqiao, Hebei province. The author considers that acrobatics learning and practicing in present times is a modernity practice of local traditional culture. The tradition of acrobatics in Wuqiao emerged from under survival stress, while nowadays used by the state, the local government and individuals, acrobatics has become a special localized profession.The thesis comprises six chapters.The Introduction sets forth the research focus, objectives, and methodology. Then a review of related researches on acrobatics and folk art has been made, especially the anthropological and sociological researches on intangible cultural heritage and folk art. Finally the theories of tradition reproduction, memory theory and bounded rationality have been discussed.Chapter 2 amply reviews the history of acrobatics in Wuqiao. The author points out that in its long history acrobatics encountered many difficulties, even imperial prohibition. Despite of those restrictions, the acrobatic practices in Wuqiao have never stopped and a large influential acrobats community has been formed.Chapter 3 discusses the changes of acrobatics education model. Learning acrobatics has now become an individual decision more than a family decision. The interference of state force has led to the change of acrobatic education model from the traditional transmission to a combination of grounded model and the modern school education model.Chapter 4 analyses the reproduction of learning tradition. Through a thorough review on the resumption of acrobatics, the change of driving forces, the community structure and social attitudes, this chapter focuses on the major driving forces and the community structure transformed in the new socioeconomic context. Learning acrobatics is no longer a mere decision under survival stress. It has become a practice of seeking better jobs, better living environment and higher prestige. And the community composition has become more complex.Capter 5 probes into the vanishing of ceremony, pupils' daily life and social connections, which suggests that learning process has been reproduced too. Since 1980s, acrobatics learning has changed into an instance of rationalizing.Chaper 6 summarizes the reproduction of acrobats based on the interaction among state-force, organizations and individuals. The existence and evolution of Wuqiao acrobats community should be considered in particular space and time. State-force plays a profoundly significant role in handing down local traditional culture, by providing a comparatively open political and social space for it. As a result the local traditional culture has been reproduced.