A Comparative Case Study Of Long March Documentaries

This research is set against the history of Long March(1934-1936)of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.It examines two documentaries featuring the same historical topic:In the Course of Long March(1957),and The Long March(2016),produced almost 60 years later.Through a comparative analysis of both the form and the content,this thesis tries to identify the similarities and differences between Long March documentaries produced in different times and observe the transformation of Long March spirit conveyed through the documentaries.Regarding the form,this research examines narrative perspective,time structure,narrative style,and the use of such elements as image,sound and colour.Regarding the content,the research provides an account of the transforming images of protagonists and towns along the route of Long March.The research goes on further to compare the representations of Long March spirit and sheds light upon the fundamental reasons.The first documentary In the Course of Long March traces the route of Long March through the perspective of photo journalists,while using internal focus narrative,narration interspersed with flashbacks,voiceover,and plain visual techniques.It depicts heroic images of Red Army soldiers and conveys the ethos of the 1950s which dedicates one-sided enthusiasm to agricultural and industrial development.It highlights perseverance and collectivism as the essence of Long March spirit.The second documentary uses a similar macro narrative,however,with less clear focus.It combines prolepse,flashback,sound bites,visual simulation,etc.to portray demystified individual images of Red Army soldiers.The documentary projects a relatively well-rounded social milieu of the 21st century,highlights the links between the Communist Party and the masses,and re-interpret the contemporary significances of Long March and its associated spirit.Having observed the above changes,the research further identifies the profound differences between the times when these documentaries were created.These differences include political environment,economic development,public mentality,and so forth.Meanwhile,technological advances,abundance of historical evidences,and progress in production philosophy together add new motivations to the creation of Long March documentaries.