The Cultural Analysis Of "Cinderella" Image In Korean Trendy Drama

This project thesis studies "Cinderella" image in Korean trendy dramas by borrowing ideas from cultural study, from the standpoint of Feminism, Cultural Economy and Cultural Politics. It tries to explain the reason for the success of "Cinderella" image and reveal the feminine values and plenty of social and economic connotations, with the purpose of being meaningful to the development of Chinese trendy dramas and culture industry.Cinderella stories spread widely in the world and the most famous edition is from the Brothers Grimm. Cinderella is always endowed with millions of meaning, morality, advises and caution which fit the social ethical norm. Its typicality and universality make this image the prototype in literary output outside the lines of time, place and nation. Accessing the new century, Cinderella performs in films and dramas. In Korean trendy drama, Cinderella becomes a model and is the main force of Korean Wave. The most obvious subjects in Cinderella story is the girls' name-dropping and virtues with compensation. The image who gets to name-drop can be called "Cinderella".The first chapter introduces several types of "Cinderella" image in Korean trendy dramas and analyses its trend and era elements. Taking Byeoleun nae gaseume, Lovers in Paris, My Name is Kim Sum-sun as examples, women "Cinderella" represents change their destiny of being saved by princes, stand on their own and are being full of individuality, along with the fast development of Korean economy, social democratization and the awakening of feminine consciousness.The Chapter Two reveals Korean feminine values in "Cinderella" image. Back into the traditional Confucius Culture, women's role mainly stays in family, lack of sociality. This is the point joining alien "Cinderella" with Korean traditional culture. After the culture shock from the modern western civilization, a great deal of Korean women get success in their careers, but finally in the male power society, they base their happiness on love and family life with Cinderella Complex.The Chapter Three discusses the economic meaning of "Cinderella" image under the background of the development of culture industry. Culture industry gets substantial support from the Korean government as the strategic and pillar type one in the 21th century, as a consequence the drama business also develops rapidly. Korean government regards the whole East Culture as background resource, which makes the dramas gain recognitions from east countries. "Cinderella" image is the successful one, which not only satisfies the need of women as main audience, but also taps the potentiality of the market.In the Chapter Four, "Cinderella" shows the image of Korean nation:virtuous, patient, doughty, laborious, fashionable and so on, which also shows strong appeals of being powerful cultural country. In the history, Korea was weak and followed Chinese culture. But modern Korean is economically advanced country and gets high level of modernization, it's naturally to hope to become powerful cultural country. "Cinderella" image accomplishes it step by step, which makes Korea known preferably by the world and build better image. In China Korean Wave proves the dream.As the Conclusion, China should study the experience about the development of Korean culture industry dialectically and develop trendy drama with Chinese characteristics to realize the uniting of Confucius Culture, Mass culture and culture industry.