Disease as a Medium: Exploring the Metaphorical Turn and Discourse Changes in Chinese AIDS Films (1988–2023).

Interpreting the visual and narrative discourse of AIDS in popular culture is pivotal in communication and cultural studies. However, there is a notable research gap concerning the narrative evolution in Chinese AIDS films. This study investigates the shifts in narrative perspectives and visual repr...

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Publicado en:Critical Arts: A South-North Journal of Cultural & Media Studies Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 146 - 164
Autor principal: Zhang, Zaozao
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Disease as a Medium: Exploring the Metaphorical Turn and Discourse Changes in Chinese AIDS Films (1988–2023).
      aug:
        au: Zhang, Zaozao
        affil: Institute of Journalism, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
      su:
        AIDS in motion pictures
        Chinese films
        Popular culture
        Metaphor
        Content analysis
        Social structure
        Critical discourse analysis
        China
      sug:
        subj:
          China
          AIDS in motion pictures
          Chinese films
          Popular culture
          Metaphor
          Content analysis
          Social structure
          Critical discourse analysis
      keyword:
        Chinese AIDS films
        conceptual metaphors
        critical discourse analysis
        disease representation
        modernisation
      ab: Interpreting the visual and narrative discourse of AIDS in popular culture is pivotal in communication and cultural studies. However, there is a notable research gap concerning the narrative evolution in Chinese AIDS films. This study investigates the shifts in narrative perspectives and visual representations of people living with HIV in Chinese cinema, using conceptual metaphor theory and textual analysis. It identifies a metaphorical transition in societal perceptions of people living with HIV—evolving from "abjection politics" representing them as "criminals" through "compassionate politics" depicting them as "vulnerable" to "touching politics" celebrating them as "heroes". This transition is intertwined with China's modernisation, mirroring changes in social structures and power relations. The research highlights the relationship between historical context and narrative truth in disease representation by using critical discourse analysis and drawing on Foucauldian power-knowledge concepts. The study reveals how AIDS narratives in film reflect broader socio-political shifts within China's modernising landscape, emphasising the intricate connection between power, knowledge, and disease portrayal. By tracing the discursive evolution in Chinese AIDS films, the research illuminates the dynamics of China's socio-political environment and underscores the multifaceted complexities inherent in disease narratives amidst societal modernisation.
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    language: English
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      custom: Copyright of Critical Arts: A South-North Journal of Cultural & Media Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
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