The Development And Vicissitudes Of The "Author’ Identity" In Chinese Independent Documentaries

Since the birth of the first documentary “Nanook of the North”, Flaherty’s name hasbeen eternally carved onto the milestone in the history of cinematic art. Thereafter, the text ofdocumentary has been entangled with its author. However,“reality” and “objectivity” beingthe principle advocates of documentary film, the authors always hided behind the camera, soas not to interfere the objectivity with their subjective consciousness. Accompanied by thedevelopment of electronic technology, under the influences of postmodern thoughts, the trendof “New Documentary Film” started to present itself in western world in the ending years of20th century. The new trend sublated the absolute reality pursuit and the absolute neutralperspective, which made the truth no longer simply equal the reproduction of the reality. Aseries of works has emerged, in which the authors reveals themselves so as to lead theaudiences to the ultimate truth.In China, the emergence of “author” became the turning point of Chinese documentary.Since the production of “Bumming in Beijing” in1990, the curtain of Chinese independentdocumentary history has been lifted. The directors started to appear in the identity of “author”,and documentary authors drifting on the edge of the system found the expressions of theiropinions and focuses in an unprecedented scale. Though some authors tried to evade his egoto the maximum extent, the revealing of the “author’s identity” in their works is inevitable.Up to the moment, there has been a history of20years as regard to the development ofChinese independent documentary. Under the ever shifting social contexts, the “author’sidentity” in Chinese independent documentary experienced the process of changing from thehidden consciousness of the author to flickering display of author’s identity, and to theauthor’s private image. The inward development demonstrates that enhancing process ofChinese citizens’ reflection on their subjectivity accompanying the advancement of Chinesedemocracy.