Melodrama and Asian Cinema

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139172523

Cinema is a dominant force in the lives of many people living in Asia. A concept central to much of Asian film production is melodrama. This path-breaking study examines the importance of melodrama in the film traditions of Japan, India, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia. Exploring the various ways that melodrama operates with theoretical sophistication, the various essays contained in this volume shed light on the different traditions of Asian cinema, as well as on the wider cultural discourse in which they participate.

"This book should be required reading for any student or scholar in film or cultural studies." Journal of Communication

"...the book is a welcome addition to the still scarce library on Asian cinema in English and may provide a source of inspiration for those interested in either melodrama or Asian Cinema." Yang Ye, Journal of Developing Societies

"The essays in Wimal Dissanayake's volume illustrate the importance of melodrama to Chinese film studies. Informed by multiple theoretical models, they offer many interesting...readings of Chinese films." Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of contributors
pp vii-viii
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Acknowledgments
pp ix-x
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I - Introduction
pp 1-8
- By Wimal Dissanayake, Institute of Culture and Communication, East-West Center
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II - Melodrama / subjectivity / ideology: Western melodrama theories and their relevance to recent Chinese cinema
pp 9-28
- By E. Ann Kaplan, State University of New York at Stony Brook
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III - Symbolic representation and symbolic violence: Chinese family melodrama of the early 1980s
pp 29-58
- By Ma Ning
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IV - The Goddess: Reflections on melodrama East and West
pp 59-72
- By William Rothman, University of Miami.
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V - Melodrama as historical understanding: The making and unmaking of communist history
pp 73-100
- By Yuejin Wang, Harvard University.
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VI - Melodrama, postmodernism, and Japanese cinema
pp 101-126
- By Mitsuhiro Yoshimoto, University of Iowa.
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VII - Inscribing the subject: The melodramatization of gender in An Actor's Revenge
pp 127-142
- By Scott Nygren, University of Florida
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VIII - Insides and outsides: Cross-cultural criticism and Japanese film melodrama
pp 143-154
- By Catherine Russell, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
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IX - Psyches, ideologies, and melodrama: The United States and Japan
pp 155-178
- By Maureen Turim, University of Florida.
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X - Negotiating the transition to capitalism: The case of Andaz
pp 179-188
- By Paul Willemen
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XI - The concepts of evil and social order in Indian melodrama: An evolving dialectic
pp 189-204
- By Wimal Dissanayake, Institute of Culture and Communication, East-West Center
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XII - Politics of melodrama in Indonesian cinema
pp 205-217
- By Krishna Sen, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
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XIII - Power, pleasure, and desire: The female body in Filipino melodrama
pp 218-231
- By Teresita A. Herrera, University of Hawaii, Wimal Dissanayake, Institute of Culture and Communication, East-West Center
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XIV - The register of nightmare: Melodrama as it (dis)appears in Australian film
pp 232-253
- By Susan Dermody, University of Technology, Sydney
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XV - Overview: What is American about film study in America?
pp 254-278
- By William Rothman, University of Miami
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Index
pp 279-281
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Melodrama and Asian Cinema

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of contributors
pp vii-viii

Acknowledgments
pp ix-x

I - Introduction
pp 1-8

II - Melodrama / subjectivity / ideology: Western melodrama theories and their relevance to recent Chinese cinema
pp 9-28

III - Symbolic representation and symbolic violence: Chinese family melodrama of the early 1980s
pp 29-58

IV - The Goddess: Reflections on melodrama East and West
pp 59-72

V - Melodrama as historical understanding: The making and unmaking of communist history
pp 73-100

VI - Melodrama, postmodernism, and Japanese cinema
pp 101-126

VII - Inscribing the subject: The melodramatization of gender in An Actor's Revenge
pp 127-142

VIII - Insides and outsides: Cross-cultural criticism and Japanese film melodrama
pp 143-154

IX - Psyches, ideologies, and melodrama: The United States and Japan
pp 155-178

X - Negotiating the transition to capitalism: The case of Andaz
pp 179-188

XI - The concepts of evil and social order in Indian melodrama: An evolving dialectic
pp 189-204

XII - Politics of melodrama in Indonesian cinema
pp 205-217

XIII - Power, pleasure, and desire: The female body in Filipino melodrama
pp 218-231

XIV - The register of nightmare: Melodrama as it (dis)appears in Australian film
pp 232-253

XV - Overview: What is American about film study in America?
pp 254-278

Index
pp 279-281

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Melodrama and Asian Cinema

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