Research On The Phenomenon Of Shanzhai Films In China

Shanzhai films, a new typified tendency showed in Chinese movies in recent years, now attract great attention of movie makers and researchers. As a new concept, Shanzhai films, which are also the derivatives of current Shanzhai subculture, are inspired by Shanzhai phones. It is obvious that Shanzhai films and Shanzhai phones have great family resemblance and conceptual similarity, which means that the two concepts share many features. In view of so little systematic research on Shanzhai films, it is of great necessity to study its origin, development and lingering influence intensively so as to imply the development of Chinese movies.This article, consisting of five parts, mainly explores the origin, development and main features of Shanzhai films, as wells as its influence on the development of Chinese movies. Introduction reveals the origin of Shanzhai films from the perspective of Shanzhai phones and Shanzhai subculture. The appearance of Shanzhai films has much relation to the inundating Shanzhai phenomenon today. That is to see, it is kinds of Shanzhai phenomena in today's life that give rise to the appearance of the concept of Shanzhai films and related works.Chapter one mainly discuses the concept of Shanzhai films, trying to reveal their social and cultural backgrounds. In movie researchers'eyes, Shanzhai films can be defined as domestic comedies below medium cost characterized parodies and collages. Shanzhai films inherit and develop the post modernism in movies, which indicates their appearance reflects the features of certain times. The prosperity of postmodernism and subculture is the cultural conditions that result in Shanzhai films. Additionally, networks and media also promote the rise of Shanzhai films into the bargain.Chapter two mainly analyses the article and commercial features of Shanzhai films from their postmodern means, their game-like attitude, their typified tendency and business strategy. The postmodern means of Shanzhai films mainly exhibited as the parody of classic movies, television entertainment programs, stars, network event and language, social reality and the collage of all kinds of film types, classic film plots, language, characters and music. The game-like attitude of Shanzhai films mainly embodied in game-like stories, characters and languages. The typified tendency mainly means popular features of its themes, plots, characterizations, styles and so on. The business strategy mainly reflects the prominent Shanzhai elements, its marriage with comedy, clear audience orientation and strong timeliness.Chapter three analyses the Shanzhai films'positive and negative influence on the development of Chinese films. Positively, unlicensed films reveals certain innovation in transforming their source text, which is helpful in promoting diverse film creation, training new film people, activating capital market of films. But large amounts of copy and imitation will result in thinking inertia and damage the creativity of films. Market orientations make the Shanzhai films consider entertaining the public as its only goal of creation, ignoring the construction of films'meanings and lacking life depth and real significance. The attitude of entertaining to death makes Shanzhai films show different degrees of vulgar tastes.In conclusion, this article argues that Shanzhai films are inevitable outcome of industrialization of Chinese films and the product of the combination of West spoof spirit and Chinese local cultural phenomena. Their game spirits from inside to outside make them find certain space to survive squeezed by Chinese huge films and imported films. At the same time, we should pay more attention to guiding them towards a more healthy direction.