Folk Opera And Ecology Of Urban Folklore

This thesis, built on the theoretical basis of literary folklore and from an urban folklore perspective, explores the correlation between Shanghai folk opera and the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore through examination of the emergence, development and blooming of Shanghai folk opera within the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore during a specific time, and further analyzes and illustrates the reasons why Shanghai folk opera reached its peak during the 30s of the 20th century, and how it can be used as a reference for the development of folk opera in today's environment.Firstly by defining the concept of "folk opera", this thesis includes both Chinese opera and Chinese folk art forms, the two main categories, into the study, and emphasizes through this definition the special connection and natural connotation of folklore within them. The birth of this concept thus paves the way for the studies of folk opera and the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore.This thesis contains six chapters. Chapter one and chapter two sets out the basis of the entire paper. The introduction of chapter one first discusses the reasons for taking folk opera as the object of the study and why restoring and establishing the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore are practical solutions. It points out that, from the professional perspective of literary folklore, the study of the interaction between folklore and culture, and the exploration of literature development under the influence of folklore is a necessity. Furthermore, the study of literature from the perspective of folklore not only expands the scope but also widens the angle of the study. On the other hand, the difficulties faced by opera is precisely the predicament faced by the traditional literature and art in a way. If we can fully understand the importance of unique cultural and ecological environment for the survival of folk opera and arts, through the ecological restoration and construction of certain traditional folk in the context of current urban folklore, we can then preserve room for the survival and development of folk opera as well as literature and arts. As a result, we will have found a practical solution, which is the purpose of this paper.Chapter two presents the theoretical basis of the entire paper, illustrating the unique perspective and application of litarary folklore and urban folklore on the study of Shanghai folk opera. At the same time, it puts forward two particular concepts, namely "the influence of the ecology of urban folklore on literary styles" and "folk differences by regions", the former is the intrinsic link between the ecology of urban folklore and the study of folk opera, which is one of the characteristics of the ecology of urban folklore; and the later helps us better understand the multi-folk structure within the whole ecological space.On this basis, chapter three to chapter five elaborate the processes of and reasons for the emergence, development and blooming of Shanghai folk opera within the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore, and summarize the above three stages as the evolution of folk opera therein the ecology of urban folklore conceives the true formation of folk opera, constraints its development, and contributes under certain conditions to the flourishing of Shanghai folk opera. Chapter three, starting from commonality, analyzes the concrete manifestation of Shanghai folk opera integrating and affirming to the ecology of urban folklore, proving its inevitability to change in the background of new urban lifestyle. Chapter four conducts detailed analysis of various drama and opera entering Shanghai, including their respective patterns of development through "creating", "evolving" and "transforming" in order to adapt to the new urban space and take some form of association with urban folk life, as so to illustrate the significant impact of the ecology of Shanghai urban folklore on the survival of folk opera. Chapter five explains the reasons for the blooming of folk opera during the 30s of the 20th century, highlighting the importance of ecological harmony.Chapter six of the thesis concerns itself on the practical implication of the study, focusing on today's ecological environment of Shanghai urban folklore and the future development of folk opera. Based on the insight distilled from chapter three to chapter five, it proposes a programmatic approach, while maintaining tradition at the same time not departing from the reality of folklore ecology, to re-shaping folk opera in pace with changing time and culture.