"Enigma of the Fog: Chinese Film Culture 1978-1998 (Second Edition)

Author: Dai Jinhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: The scenery in the fog seems to be an appropriate metaphor for Chinese cinema over the past two decades—sometimes overcast and rainy, occasionally bright and sunny; inspired by immense hope yet constrained by realistic difficulties; lost and then risen again in prolonged anticipation and restlessness; encountering the reality of the pre-industrial society within the discourse of "postmodernism." This collection of essays not only holds significant importance for the study of cinema during the New Period but also serves as a crucial reference for understanding the evolution of its socio-cultural landscape.
This book is a monograph on film culture research, compiling seventeen essays by the author on film culture studies since 1987. It adopts a cultural studies perspective, employing innovative theoretical resources to conduct a thorough analysis of New Period cinema. While conducting close readings of film texts that emerged during the New Period, the author also examines the generation of film auteurs that arose during the same era. This approach accurately grasps the developmental state of New Period cinema and reveals the intricate interplay between it and the profound socio-cultural changes that have occurred since the New Period.