The Main-melody Animation in Contemporary China: National Heroes and Evolution in Media Culture

บทคัดย่อ

          With the advancement of the Reform and Opening-up policy in 1978, China experienced rapid social, economic, and cultural development. The diversification of cultural trends and values profoundly impacted traditional culture. Against this backdrop, the methods of transmitting and receiving ideology faced unprecedented challenges. Main-melody animation, as a crucial tool for disseminating national ideology, shoulders the mission of inheriting and promoting the core socialist values. This study, as part of a doctoral dissertation, employs qualitative analysis methods, using 76 Main-melody animations produced between 1949 and 2023 as the research sample group. Research objectives: 1)To explore the origins, definitions, and development of Main-melody animation in the context of social and political changes;  2) To analyze the portrayal of various hero archetypes in Main-melody animation and explore their socio-cultural value. The study employs historical document analysis and film content analysis as research tools. Data analysis is conducted through thematic analysis to identify hero archetypes and themes, and to examine their relationship with core socialist values.
          Research results :1)The origins and development of Main-melody animation are closely linked to China's socio-political history, reflecting the evolution of national ideology and the dissemination of core socialist values. 2) The diverse portrayals of leaders, soldiers, and youth heroes in Main-melody animation highlight the socio-cultural value of different hero types and national ideology. The conclusion suggests that Main-melody animation holds a central position in modern Chinese media culture. Through the diverse representation of hero archetypes, it conveys core socialist values, educates and inspires the younger generation, and fosters national identity and cohesion.