Dramatizing Ideology: Socialist Realism and Nostalgic Sentiment in Post-1949 Chinese Dramas

Abstract

Modern Chinese drama includes huaju and adapted xiqu, shaped by twentieth-century sociopolitical developments and influences. Among all literary genres, drama is most closely connected to everyday life, and Chinese political drama emerged directly within the urban context shaped by modernity. Lao She’s Teahouse stands out as a landmark achievement in Chinese theatrical art since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, often hailed as a pinnacle of modern drama. With its vivid portrayal of Beijing life across several historical periods and its unique artistic style, the play has secured a lasting place in the history of Chinese theater. This paper uses the Teahouse as a case study to explore the artistic features that define it within the framework of modern drama theory. The Dragon Beard Ditch is an optimistic socialist realism through space, time, and ideological tension. It enriches the use of the historical context to explore the dramatic ideology of post-49 Chinese dramas. Through a close analysis of its structure, characters, and thematic elements, the paper aims to uncover the artistic value of the work and its contribution to the development of modern Chinese drama. By doing so, it seeks to offer insights and potential reference points for future artistic exploration and peak construction in the field of contemporary Chinese theater.