Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Humanities, Psychology and Social Sciences
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
Representation of “A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” in The Wandering Earth Series
Wu Xinrui
ABSTRACT:
The Wandering Earth series has garnered significant acclaim and recognition within both the market and film festival circuits over the past four years. The study aims to delve into the series, encompassing The Wandering Earth, and The Wandering Earth II, by examining the representation of “a community with a shared future for mankind”. The Wandering Earth series, based on the works of acclaimed author Liu Cixin, provides a unique lens through which to examine the possibilities of global cooperation. The study employs qualitative content analysis. Through close readings of the films’ narratives, characters, and visual symbolism, this thesis uncovers the ways in which “a community with a shared future for mankind” is represented on screen. This study analyses those filmic elements which depict a unified global community, transcending conventional Western-centric narratives. Drawing from theories of Global Governance and Postcolonialism, this study accentuates the series’ challenge to Western hegemony by attributing pivotal roles to China and other non-Western nations in the quest to save humanity, aligning with the overarching notion of a global community. As China develops, China’s influence in the cultural industry has increased. This research not only enriches the discourse on Chinese cinema’s role in shaping cultural values and fostering international cooperation but also underscores the genre’s potential in reimagining global dynamics through a non-Western lens. The study’s implications extend to enhancing the global understanding of China’s cultural narratives and contribute to the broader dialogue on the evolution and influence of Chinese science fiction in a global context.
keywords: The Wandering Earth; The Wandering Earth II; Content analysis; Global Governance; Postcolonialism