英语论文 中美电影之间文化的差异性和相关性

Concerning the Culture Differences and Relevance

between American and Chinese Films

Fan Fangjiang

1. The Origin of American and Chinese Films

In 1893, T.A. Edison invented electric film lens and created "the paddy wagon" studio ,it

was seen as the beginning of American cinema .In 1896, the detrusion of Vitascope made more

and more American owning the chance to see films.

In 19th century and the early 20th century ,the American’s urban industry and the low level

residents developed quickly, films became a mass entertainment that it could adjust to the city

civilian need. It was firstly showed in the song and dance hall and then in the theater, showed

after the opera performance.

The income of films was high and the competition was fierce. In 1897,Edison engaged in a

lawsuit to strive for the patent of making films, and in 1908 Edison established the Film Patent

Company which owned 16 patents to control film-making. To 1910,the Film Patent Company

monopolized the making, distribution and showing of American films. In order to get rid of the

monopoly ,the independent film-makers went to Chicago and Hollywood those were far away

from New York to shoot. The condition there was richly endowed by nature and near the border

of Mexico, the film-makers could escape easily once in a lawsuit. At now, Hollywood has

become the synonym of American movie..

In the mid 20th, luxurious theater had largely replaced the nickel theaters. Hollywood films

made a revolution on audio so that it could defeat the competitors like commercial radio

broadcast. Finally sound films were produced.

So the truly meaningful movie was invented in modern Europe rather than Chinese. Since

China has nothing to do with the invention of films, let’s talk about the motion pictures

projection.

In 1896, Loumills hired twenty deputies to go to five continents to show movies. In this

way, movie, the cultural product, which owns both art and commodity value had introduced into China, under the western businessmen’s strategy of expanding market. Then, the European

businessmen found there was much profit in Chinese film

industry, so many of them came to

China to invest. They ran motion pictures projection, built and developed

franchising

cinemas ,even built movie enterprise in China.

From 1896 to 1920s,although foreign investors monopolized Chinese film market, they

could not prevent the beginning of our movie activities. In 1903 Zhu Sanlin ,the German

overseas student carried films and projector back into China, rented a tea garden to show movies.

In 1905, Fengtai photography studio in Beijing shot some pieces of scene of Ding Jun Shan that

starred by the old Peking opera actor Tan Xinpei to celebrate his birthday. “Ding Jun Shan”

became the first film of China

2. The Culture Differences between American and Chinese Films

China and U.S.A are almost opposing in ideology, both of the countries can represent two

very different culture in

oriental and western area. Under the background of globalization, the

two countries have lots of exchange in economic and culture fields. KFC, McDonald's in China

is already the pronoun of American fast food culture, and Tang suit has become the best status

symbol of Chinese culture.

Famous movie director George Lucas thought that culture is the meaning of movie. We can

say a movie made by a country or a region represents the national and regional culture.

Hollywood movies represent the typical American value and Chinese movies embody

the

Chinese culture connotation. Thus, the analysis of any movie are inseparable from the cultural

background reading. Now, globalization has swept the world, all kinds of culture integrate

together. The development of movie needs different culture background, different conception

and different idea injected. As a reflection of art, films become the branding of era inevitably. No

matter Hollywood or Chinese films, film makers will use their own culture background to

understand and perform the works.

Films ,as the seventh art, bear the culture spirit of the times. Nowadays, Hollywood has the

will and need to make some self development through corporation with the other countries.

Reversion or adapting the movies and stories from the other countries and regions is the most

direct way. And the movies can show most directly the differences between two countries. The Hollywood movies we are exposed to are all

Genre Movie without exception, the culture value of Genre Movie lies in that it contains an

entertainment ethic and it displays the materials properties of movie culture. caters to the public.

Especially, it reflects the specific culture concepts and coordinates the conflict of various culture