Negotiation between modernity and local culture in moviegoing practice: A case study of a traditional movie theater in Guangzhou Metropolis

As a medium for delivering modernity, movie theaters have faithfully recorded the dialogue between modernity and local daily lives. In contrast to modern movie theaters, traditional cinemas are distinguished by their long history, through which they reflect the changing connotations and social const...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of cultural studies 2021-09, Vol.24 (5), p.707-730
Main Authors: Lin, Geng, Wu, Hao, Xie, Xiaoru, Fan Yang, Fiona, Lv, Zuyi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Grass roots movement
Local culture
Metropolitan areas
Modernity
Motion pictures
Social construction
Theater
Theaters & cinemas
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Summary:As a medium for delivering modernity, movie theaters have faithfully recorded the dialogue between modernity and local daily lives. In contrast to modern movie theaters, traditional cinemas are distinguished by their long history, through which they reflect the changing connotations and social construction of modernity over time. Based on detailed analysis of the historical and social characteristics of Nanguan cinema, a 100-year-old movie theater in Guangzhou, China, we reach the following two conclusions: first, shaped by local traditional culture, the practice of moviegoing localizes modernity with a distinctive grassroots feature that enlivens everyday lives; second, moviegoing at traditional theaters in modern metropolitan areas has further enriched the connotations of modernity by providing a nostalgic experience for audiences.
ISSN:1367-8779
1460-356X
DOI:10.1177/1367877921993819