The Construction And Dissemination Of Image Of Intellectuals In Early Chinese Films (1905--1949)

Generally speaking,intellectuals,as an important part of the social structure,are pivotal to the development of society.In the case of early Chinese films(1905-1949),the different aspects of life in society were reflected by the portrayal of different types of characters in the films,among which the construction and dissemination of the image of intellectuals not only fully reflected the changes in China’s social situation in the first half of the twentieth century,but also provided a visual representation of peoples social consciousness,cultural psychology as well as the customs of the time.The study of the image of intellectuals in early Chinese films,through sorting out and summarizing the types of intellectual images in the films,explores the specific modes of their character construction,analyses their diverse modes of transmission,and reflects on their reality relevance,with a view to expanding the space of meaning in the study of early Chinese films.The thesis consists of six main parts.The first chapter introduces relevant information on the topic and defines the use of the concept of intellectuals in this thesis;the second chapter discusses the types of intellectuals in early Chinese films in the context of the different discourses of the times,including those who cried out in indignation and resistance against the slavery and oppression of feudal rites and dark reality,those who returned to themselves and pursued the value of life,and those who lost themselves in the tide of the times.The third chapter,on the basis of a textual analysis of the film works,explains three patterns of constructing the image of intellectuals in cinema,namely the "runaway" mode of departing from the feudal families,the "suffering" mode of being in deep troubles and the "rebirth" mode of being guided by spiritual icons.It can be said that the social-cultural trends of thought and ideological discourses profoundly influence the storytelling and construction of the image of intellectuals in cinema.Chapter 4 focuses on the ways in which the image of intellectuals is communicated,involving the communication effect of audio-visual language,the support of celebrity effects and the aid of the print media.Chapter 5 discusses the historical significance of the images of intellectuals in the early Chinese films,focusing on their significance to the cultural spirit of The Times,the audience’s expectations and the construction of film historical materials.The final section concludes with a summary of the main views of the study and an outlook on the scope of research into the image of intellectuals in early Chinese cinema.This thesis presents the spirit of the mainstream intellectuals of the time and reflects the dissemination of the mainstream discourse of the times,highlighting the function of film in recording and expressing real life,especially the in-depth exploration of the humanistic spirit,ideals,and moral beliefs deeply embedded in the image of intellectuals,which,taking this opportunity,will shine on the screen and enter the public eye,becoming a spiritual resource and cultural force for contemporary film and cultural communication.