政治與戲曲：1950年代“戲曲改革”對中國地方戲曲劇種體質的訂製及影響
Journal
民俗曲藝
Journal Issue
165
Pages
47-88
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
Abstract
For over a century, the East has been engaging in the pursuit of material cultural in the name of ”modernization.” China is no exception. The fact that traditional theater in China still retains a considerable number of genres is probably a positive result of the ”Theater Reform” in the 1950s. It is also the one and only area where the Baihua qifang (Let a thousand flowers bloom) policy was carried out to the fullest extent. However, ever since the beginning of the Communist Revolution, the principle to employ theater as a tool of propaganda has never been changed. Theater Reform became a stage for the politically-maneuvered cultural reform and led to a series of problems and complicated issues. Studies on the Theater Reform, up to now, have chosen to focus on its historical process, the repertoire and performance arts. The present article, with a perspective on genre studies, concentrates on exploring the conceptual background of Theater Reform, the positive effects reached by the preservation of traditional theatrical genres, the drastic measures it took, and the impact and problems thus created. From the Theater Reform of the 1950s to the 10-year Cultural Revolution, the traditional theatre had undergone a series of changes. During this long process, the reform never stopped. In retrospect, the period that laid the foundation for Theater Reform hinged on the 1950s. In recent time when all strive to revive the theatrical arts, it is crucial that we approach the core of the issue to understand in the historical context of Theater Reform. The answer may lie in the reform movements of the 1950s when the genres underwent significant transformations.
Type
journal article