Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2013

Perception of the Nature of Dramas and the Canonization of Modern Chinese Dramas

(Abstract)

Zhu Shoutong

Relative to other literary styles of the same period, modern Chinese dramas have seen less classical works. This can be ascribed to a general misunderstanding of modern playwrights on the nature of dramas. The quintessential characteristic of dramas consists in the rational exaggeration of plotting, character description, performance, etc. Through a reflection and critique of traditional Chinese plays, modern Chinese dramas formed a basic perception of replacing histrionics with literariness, which had affected to some extent the canonization course of modern Chinese dramas. Later on, under the influence of art laws, modern Chinese dramas gradually took to the road toward canonization through a rational exaggeration of plot and character relations. However, starting with Cao Yu’s reflection on the “overly play-like” Thunderstorm, the scientific perception of the nature of modern Chinese dramas suffered a new setback, such that the rational exaggeration of plot and character relations faced the destiny of being setting aside theoretically. The “real life-like” idea has impacted the “play-like” idea insomuch that the canonization of modern Chinese dramas was significantly affected.