Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021)

An Analysis of the Dilemma of Shaping the Characters of Female in TV Dramas in the 21st Century in China

Taking Nothing But Thirty and Ode To Joy as Examples

Authors
Haolan Feng1, , *, Yuxin Wen2, , Jialin Xing3,
1School of Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
2School of Xi‘An University of Architecture & Technology, Xi‘An, Shaanxi, China
3School of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Those authors contributed equally.

*Corresponding author. Email: 1190109013@cnu.edu.cn
Corresponding Author
Haolan Feng
Available Online 24 December 2021.
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.211220.163How to use a DOI?
Keywords
TV series; female characters; stereotypes; male perception; female valuation
Abstract

At the beginning of the 20th century, China’s female consciousness gradually awakened and “her” culture became prosperous, which led to a great increase in the production of TV dramas created with women as the center and aroused widespread attention and discussion. However, there are obvious dilemmas in the portrayal of women in these dramas. This paper aims to bring dynamics and breakthroughs to the portrayal of women in dramas by analyzing the dilemmas.

Using a case study approach, this paper selects two Chinese TV dramas - Ode to Joy and Nothing But Thirty - as case studies to explore the dilemma of portraying women in Chinese 21st century TV dramas. The limitations of image portrayal prevent TV dramas from spreading an advanced and forward-looking female consciousness for the society and fail to bring new dynamics and vitality to popular culture. This not only causes aesthetic fatigue and resistance among audiences but also is not conducive to the development of China’s TV drama industry. It is even more negative to the further reflection of society on gender consciousness. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze and discuss the dilemma of portraying women in TV dramas. Taking Ode to Joy and Nothing But Thirty as examples, this paper summarizes the problems in the portrayal of women in Chinese TV dramas in the 21st century into three dilemmas, which are the dilemma of stereotyping images, the dilemma of lack of true expression, and the dilemma of lack of social guidance. The specific expression is the stereotyping of aesthetic temperament and self-worth realization process; set-up of characters and their experiences are not realistic; female characters cannot inspire the audience. The article analyzes the reasons for the dilemma, including the fact that social aesthetics and value judgments are male-dominated; the creation is detached from reality to satisfy the audience’s perception and to gain more popularity; the lack of thinking on the reality of women and the inability to break through the stereotypes of thinking. The last part of the paper proposes measures to break out of the dilemma from the perspective of the subjects involved in culture, including creators, viewers, the TV drama industry, the media, and the government.

Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Download article (PDF)

Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
24 December 2021
ISBN
978-94-6239-495-7
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.211220.163How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Haolan Feng
AU  - Yuxin Wen
AU  - Jialin Xing
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/12/24
TI  - An Analysis of the Dilemma of Shaping the Characters of Female in TV Dramas in the 21st Century in China
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 950
EP  - 957
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211220.163
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.211220.163
ID  - Feng2021
ER  -