Abstract
The dissertation examines the contributions of women screenwriters in early Chinese cinema, focusing on their practice between 1925 and 1949. By charting and analyzing press coverages, self-accounts, reviews, and advertisements published in periodicals, the research attempts to construct an alternative film history following the trajectory of female content creators. By contextualizing screenwriting as both textual expression and practical intervention, this dissertation traces women’s authorial voices and their impact on the formative years of the Chinese film industry.The life and work of the women screenwriters are discussed in three periods. From 1925 to 1929, silent cinema developed quickly in Shanghai, the center of Chinese film production, where the most prominent women screenwriter in this decade was Pu Shunqing. The rise and fall of actress-writers Ai Xia, Hu Ping, and Huang Hou eloquently speak about women’s working conditions behind the screen its relation to the social discourse of the 1930s. Highly educated literary writers Sheng Qinxian and Eileen Chang wrote for the silver screen in the mid and late 1940s. All these women employed unique strategies to make their voices heard and visions seen while working with the norms of the male-dominated film industry and the patriarchal society at large, demonstrating their resilience and adaptability amidst various challenges.
Inspired by existing studies of female authors and women’s cinema, the study scrutinize women’s creative process and life encounters to recognize their significant contributions to the early film industry and society in the dual roles of writers and career women. By highlighting the intricate ways these women navigated and influenced the film industry, the study provides a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of early Chinese cinema. It celebrates the diverse voices that shaped its development, thereby enriching our understanding of its history.
| Date of Award | 28 Nov 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Shiyu Louisa WEI (Supervisor) |