Close The Iron Door:the Market Of Peking Opera In Shanghai Around 1930

The market of Peking opera in shanghai is a typical production system of modern Peking opera, which is called "the system of market" from Raymond Williams. It was a turning point of the market in 1930, on which we will focus in research. From the external point of view, as a result of the environment of East and West in shanghai, the market was complicated and unique, which contained advantages and disadvantages. From the internal point of view, the labor-capital relationship whose core is the employment system determined the production of modern Peking opera to be commercial deal which only care about the profit. In accordance with the commercial behavior, there appeared new institutions, system and art forms such as Shanghai Theater Union, Star System and Serial Theaters, etc. All new institution and formation promoted the production of modern Peking opera in shanghai meanwhile forced the production of modern Peking opera onto a different way. "Close the iron door" is pieces of jargon in the market of Peking opera in shanghai, which hints the paradox of the system of market precisely.The article is composed of 8 parts by introduction,5 chapters, conclusion and appendix.Introduction aims to solve 3 problems. First is the reason why study the market of Peking opera. The mainstream of Peking opera research focuses on the actors instead of the production system which should be paid more attention. Second is the reason why study shanghai’s market in 1930. The market of Peking opera in shanghai underwent a sharp transformation in 1930, which provide a good sample to analysis the system of market. Third is the methods to study shanghai’s market. It appeared many professional newspapers and magazines at that time, which become the basic materials for study.The first chapter summarizes the basic business model of the Peking opera market in shanghai.3 main elements to run a whole new theater company were theater stage, capital and human resource.3 usual forms of theater performances were stars performance, new production performance and basic performance. The usher system guaranteed the sales of tickets, while increased the differentiation among the consumers. The price of tickets depended on change of seasons and date. Generally speaking, there was little change on the price. Understanding all above can leads us deep into shanghai market of Peking opera.The second chapter analyzes the internal contradictions and the external environments of the market in shanghai Peking opera. Around labor conflicts, there were always conflicts among actors and inside capital, which was the crucial factor of entire production system of Peking opera. Shanghai Theater Union became the spokesman of capital. Different market environment were due to the space structure of shanghai. Laws and regulations to theater market appeared earlier in concession, and for the sake of development, those in Chinese community were beneficial to capital in market. However, instability of entire nation destroyed the stability of the market. British and American concession gathered the main stages of Peking opera in shanghai.The third chapter analyzes the competitive strategy and consequences of that among each stage in shanghai. Star System had a sensational effect and brought shareholders great benefits, which cost too much and raised fares so that common consumers were stopped outside the theater. Serial Theaters could be shown for a long time, however, once welcomed, they will lead competitors to imitate. Small shareholders will benefit by imitating Serial Theaters created by big ones. Therefore, theaters who created new works of Serial Theaters forced Shanghai Theater Union to formulate a regulation for patent right. Actually the patent right was a way to balance the profit inside capital. In accord with the competition, distribution appeared among consumers and actors.Chapter 4 and 5 concerns the monopolization of shanghai Peking opera market. Chapter 4 focuses on the Green Gang forces in shanghai which played an important role in the monopolization and the ways to monopolize the whole market by strong capital and illegal means. These ways contained performances for public, star shows and variety of services. A Green Gang force of monopoly behavior is the inevitable trend of capital aiming profit in market. Chapter 5 analyzes the stages that were defeated in competition in Chinese community.Conclusion summarizes a general rule based on all above by the concept of culture sociology from Raymond Williams.The appendix is very necessary to the research. The first one is a chronology of 10 stages in shanghai market, which can be considered to be the basic steps of entire study. The second one is a compilation of policies and regulations of the stages and its revised approaches. The third one is a compilation of market jargon and argot appeared in Peking opera market in shanghai.