Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed: Zhao Benshan’s Comedy Sketches in the Spring Festival Gala and Their Impact on the Regional Stereotypes of North-East China

Lan Ge; Zhen Troy Chen

doi:10.1007/978-981-99-4530-6_4

Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed: Zhao Benshan’s Comedy Sketches in the Spring Festival Gala and Their Impact on the Regional Stereotypes of North-East China

Lan Ge
, Zhen Troy Chen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Book Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter focuses on a household name in China, Zhao Benshan, and his North-East China-themed comedy sketches on the national stage. Using a mixed method approach, we analyse his Spring Festival Gala comedy repertoires by using semiotic and discourse analysis as well as focus group interviews. In particular, we study the detailed ways with which Zhao Benshan uses signs to construct the humour and representations of Dongbei and the power dynamics behind his comedy texts and performance. Finally, we investigate to what extent his work impacts audiences’ north-east regional stereotypes. Our findings suggest that Zhao’s comedy repertoires have a significant influence on building audience’s north-east regional stereotypes, and his down-to-earth performance orchestrates well with the official discourses of previous administrations on anti-corruption, urban–rural disparity, and building a harmonious society.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Identity, Space, and Everyday Life in Contemporary Northeast China
Publisher	Springer Singapore
Pages	69-92
Number of pages	24
ISBN (Electronic)	9789819945306
ISBN (Print)	9789819945290
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4530-6_4
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2024
Externally published	Yes

Free Keywords

Comedy
Dongbei
Media representation
Regional identity
Spring festival gala
Zhao Benshan

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Arts and Humanities
General Social Sciences

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10.1007/978-981-99-4530-6_4

Cite this

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abstract = "This chapter focuses on a household name in China, Zhao Benshan, and his North-East China-themed comedy sketches on the national stage. Using a mixed method approach, we analyse his Spring Festival Gala comedy repertoires by using semiotic and discourse analysis as well as focus group interviews. In particular, we study the detailed ways with which Zhao Benshan uses signs to construct the humour and representations of Dongbei and the power dynamics behind his comedy texts and performance. Finally, we investigate to what extent his work impacts audiences{\textquoteright} north-east regional stereotypes. Our findings suggest that Zhao{\textquoteright}s comedy repertoires have a significant influence on building audience{\textquoteright}s north-east regional stereotypes, and his down-to-earth performance orchestrates well with the official discourses of previous administrations on anti-corruption, urban–rural disparity, and building a harmonious society.",

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Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed: Zhao Benshan’s Comedy Sketches in the Spring Festival Gala and Their Impact on the Regional Stereotypes of North-East China. / Ge, Lan; Chen, Zhen Troy.
Identity, Space, and Everyday Life in Contemporary Northeast China. Springer Singapore, 2024. p. 69-92.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Book Chapter › peer-review

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Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed: Zhao Benshan’s Comedy Sketches in the Spring Festival Gala and Their Impact on the Regional Stereotypes of North-East China

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Free Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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