中美电视剧比较研究

毕业论文A Comparative Study of Chinese and American Teleplay中美电视剧比较研究学院）专业级班学生姓名学号指导教师职称完成日期Abstract: As society progresses, people require to improve the quality of material goods continuously, and require continuous distillation of spiritual level at the same time. TV, as an important aspect of viewers‟ spiritual nourishment, to analyze the value and significance of representative works is particularly important. American TV in our country are so favorable and the people on the domestic drama set in cold. From this an cushy perspective of TV to analyze the reasons for the phenomenon is a topic combines practical with interesting. This thesis focus on the theme selection, characterization, plot and other differences for a television show between China and the U.S., the use of more commonly-used method of analysis which reflects the values and ambition of their culture.Key words: teleplay; compare; cultural differences【摘要】随着社会的不断进步,人们在要求物质产品质量不断提高的同时,也要求精神层面地不断升华。

电视剧作为观众精神营养的一个重要方面,分析其代表作品的价值和意义就显得特别重要。

美剧在国内受到的热捧和民众对国产电视剧集的冷落，从电视剧这一个轻松的视角来分析产生这种现象的原因，是一个实用性与趣味性相结合的话题。

本论文即针对中美两国的电视剧在主题选择、人物塑造、情节安排等方面的差异，利用常用的比较方式，分析其中折射出了中美文化各自的价值观和价值追求。

【关键字】电视剧、比较、文化差异Contents Introduction (1)1. Macro-comparison of China and United States T elevision (1)1.1 Overview of China and U.S. T elevision (1)1.2 Comparison of China-U.S. Melodrama (3)1.2.1 U.S. TV - World of M elodrama (3)1.2.2 China's TV – S ky of Series (4)2. Narrative style of China-U.S. T elevision (5)2.1 Narrative and Cultural Trad itions (5)2.1.1 Narrative Subject: Broad and N arrow (5)2.1.2 Narrative Theme: the Middle Class Consciousness and P opulism (6)2.1.3 Narrative content: Scientificity and Spirit of E thics (9)2.2 Narrative Structure and Narrative S tyle (11)2.2.1 Openness and Encapsulation of N arrative (11)2.2.2 Traditional Narrative and Flexibility of N arrative (12)3. Inspiration of Narrative S tyle (13)3.1 Impact of Production and Broadcast Mode on N arrative (13)3.2 The Attempt of Chinese TV of E mplotment (14)C onclusion (14)Bib liography (16)Acknowledgeme nt (17)IntroductionWhen referred to American TV series, the first TV aroused the Chinese audience‟s attention should be …Garrison‟s Gorillas‟(1967). The premiere in the early 1980s has caused a grea t sensation. Since then, CBS's …My Favorite Martian‟ (1963), NBC's …Hunter‟ (1984), ABC's …The Time Tunnel‟ (1966) and a series of U.S. drama have landed in China that feed many families‟ sights. Today, through the introduction of television, DVD and Internet downloads and other communication, the American plays have more and more viewers in China. Classical plays such as …Prison Break‟ (2005-2007), …Lost‟ (2004-2007), …Desperate Housewives‟ (2004-2007) and so on has a huge number of audience. These dramas are, without exception, are …Melodrama series.‟Due to historical origins and cultural backgrounds are different, the mainstream of commercial operation in pursuit of the supreme principle of the ratings of American television and as a national advocacy organization and the party's mouthpiece, while Chinese TV educate the masses and at the same time provide entertainment. The system are obvious different, and also has a completely different programming concepts. This difference between the two countries will lead to TV shows and TV viewers all have different characteristics and aesthetic tendencies. Meanwhile, the U.S. audience's viewing preferences also directly contributed to the episode drama series dominant position in the U.S. televisi on‟s development and formation.More simply, the popularity of the melodrama series in the United States is equivalent to the television series of Chinese audiences‟ hearts. With the understanding and continued in-depth study of melodrama series, its unique features and style of narrative began to be accepted and respected. American melodrama series works in the narrative comprehensive embodies the essence of the art of narrative. The comparison on the art of narrative between American melodrama series and Chinese TV series not only a comparative study of East-West art of narration, but also a window that Chinese TV could learn the strengths of American melodrama series. Whether it is for academic study or the study of television production makes things sense.1. Macro-Comparison of China and United States Television1.1 Overview of China and U.S. TelevisionThe United States is one of the earliest countries in the development of the television industry. In 1928, New York, 31 U.S. radio stations had the world's first television broadcast test, as CRT technology was not yet fully mature, the entire trial lasted only 30 minutes, only to watch TV more than 10 units. But this declared that as an art of social public utilities, the advent of television is an epoch-making event of history. July 1, 1941, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission officially issued licenses to 18 television stations, which marks that the U.S. commercial television began its high-speed development from the date of birth. The broadcast TV system ofUnited States is unique in the world, its commercialization is so thoroughly, and even make people forget TV is also a cultural undertakings. In the 21st century, 98% of U.S. households owned a total of 99.4 million television sets, a total of 1,200 radio stations, more than 2,000 wired and wireless TV channels, nearly 70 million cable subscribers, the average city user can watch TV more than 100 TV channels. In the TV world top 100 enterprises, there are 29 in the United States, the total income of $ 85,696,100,000. The United States three traditional broadcasting companies‟ commercial television network, namely the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting Company (CBS) as well as the nineteen eighties rising FOX network TV is the United States audiences preferred.The United States has variety programs, daytime programming for housewives including soap operas, situation comedy and quiz competitions that a variety of audience participation. Evening program with news, movies, documentaries, series melodrama, a variety of music and other content, includes vaudeville variety show. Some TV programs are series of films, often playing several months or even years. The soap opera is somewhat like a series, the story can even play for 20 years. Domestic dramas are played in the evening prime hours, but the United States is pla ying in the afternoon. The main consideration is that soap operas‟ primary source are usually the bored housewives at home, in the afternoon they have nothing to do so watching soap operas are their best time. As for why it is called the soap opera because it was the sponsor of this show is a soap company, so the name has been using so far.Situation comedy, the name implies, each episode of sitcoms usually have a separate situation, and comedy dubbing will be added to canned laughter to help the audience laugh. Like "Friends" (1994-2004),"Growing pains" (1985-1992) are all masterpieces of situation comedy .There is another similar situation comedy called plot drama series. Each of these series is set a separate story, but the content is not mainly for laughs, these programs constitute the main body of the type, One of the most famous and most well-known drama are “ER” (1994-2007) and the “X-File” (1993-2004).In addition to the influential drama, there are news programs, talk show, game shows, cartoons, and so on. The representative works are “The Oprah Winfrey Show and" Larry King Live."The most representative Game show program is “Who w ants to be a millionaire.” The or iginal puzzle show from the ABC was once in the highest ratings at the prime-time. As long as the participating guests able to answer all the questions, they can immediately win one million dollars. But not every day is Sunday, with ratings down, now the show had not aired in prime time.I must mention the cartoon in "The Simpsons"(1990-2007). This is a popular U.S. cartoon series by the Fox TV. Though Simpson and his family‟s story itself seems mundane, but it is favorite by the majority of the audience. Because it is often boldly point out problems, mocking politicians, law, education, medical and entertainment industry authority figures. In addition, 'The Simpsons' will often ask a number offamous reputation guests appearances or dubbing, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Hollywood "Jade Woman" Elizabeth Taylor have been "joined." The Simpsons since its launch in 1990, has been hailed as a symbol of American culture. In contrast, the Chinese TV since its beginning with a strong political overtones. For political propaganda and cultural development, Chinese TV industry began to initial under the in the party and government organized in the Great Leap Forward in 1958.China Central Television, the predecessor of Beijing TV station began its pilot broadcast on May 1. In 2004, the annual production of television programs 2.12 million hours, grow 17.77% than 2003, the television broadcast program purchase exchange ratio has reached 42.41%.In 2005, the annual broadcast television programs 12,830,000 hours, increase 16.35 over has become for the main channel of information and entertainment, not only the most frequent contact with people, but also affect the most extensive and influential media. China's television is far from perfect in the production of industrialization system, the types of programs are under development. Earlier, our program‟s major categor ies are classified by its contents: news, knowledge & educational programs, literature & art programs. There are more representative programs of the “news network” , ”for you", etc. As the market transition, the Chinese TV function has gone through from the propaganda education leading to aesthetic entertainment transformation. In this context, program production began to meet market‟s demand. TV series, news programs, talk shows, game shows and other types of emerging and evolving such as the Chinese audience familiar with the "Press Room", "Straight Talk",”Lucky 52” and so on. In any case, China's TV industry construction began by national investment. As the important part of state machine, mainly responsible for communication policies of the party and government, propaganda task of educating the masses. China's TV programs from content to form embodies this principle.1.2 Comparison of China-U.S. Melodrama1.2.1 U.S. TV - World of MelodramaThe United States television are variety, while the highest ratings, the greatest impact, earning the highest profit is the evening prime-time TV drama. the latest ranking of America's television ratings can be seen that in the top 10,5 files are melodrama series, which once again confirms the "American screen –world of melodrama series."may also have one or several of the secondary leads. Plot with a high degree of flexibility and interaction with the audience .Anyway, the TV series can be defined as a type that basic fixed characters, narrative style and narrative mode will not change.As most U.S. television production are extremely expensive, so shooting and broadcast at the same time became a characteristics. According to current affairs, audience feedback, writers adjust the plot at any time. This is a strategy that deliberately ambiguous drama off the screen , the purpose of which is fixed the audience to the screen.In the U.S., the mainly way to transactions of plot drama series are in cash and advertising time exchange. Numerous TV production companies produce in time for Television network before the broadcast season. The network will do three major ratings survey in November, March and May ,and advertised price based on this formulation. Nielsen ratings below 2.0 are often eliminated before aired for whole season was, competition is extremely fierce.1.2.2 China's TV – Sky of SeriesIn defining the type of traditional Chinese TV studies, divide according to "series of different lengths" becoming a mainstream way. According to this conception, integrated all sorts of TV series and related papers, books, China's TV is basically divided into the following three categories: single-script TV drama, TV series (unit play), soap opera .The single-script TV drama is composed of a single complete story and played out one-off which characterized by a compact plot, characterized role, profundity content. Since 1998,around annual Spring Festival, one popular single-script drama will release. Since its launch in 1998, it had made a record of four consecutive years of the highest repeat rate and the highest ratings during the Spring Festival. the ratings was as high as 45% and audiences more than 400 million.TV series is a sub-set of multi-episode broadcasting, which the main characters will run through the play. But the story itself is not coherent, and each set is a complete story." The editorial story" is one of the earliest Chinese TV masterpieces reflecting the real-life. Of course, include the light comedy "Kang Xi Incognito Travel" (1998). February 5, 1981, China Central Television broadcast the first TV series "enemy camp eighteen years" (9 episodes). By 1989 Chinese television series has reached 1232 set. From then on, the TV series gradually become the mainstream of Chinese TV screen.Since the 1990s, TV series gradually formed the following features: Production length is generally about 20 sets, each episode 45 minutes, family watching environment and daily broadcast form is its distinctive features. Chapter-back creationstyle, distinctive character features, complex relationship, ups and downs of the circumstances conflict and a lot of clever details of the description. Filial piety of righteousness traditional values and the modem values such as hybrid personality conflicts etc., is Chinese TV series‟ impor tant element to attract audience from the content. In the time use and the structure arrangement, each episode ends with selected key point in the story, the suspense leave in the next episode, in order to attract the audience. TV series in terms of CCTV or local units not only the most important source of advertising revenue at prime time, but also the most spectacular television type.China's TV series has reached a higher level of development.2. Narrative Style of China-U.S. Television2.1 Narrative and Cultural Traditions"Plekhanov once said: 'the art of any nation is determined by its psychological ... in a certain period of works of art and literary taste reflect the social psychology. Different nationalities has its own different cultural history, lifestyle and aesthetic orientation. "2.1.1 Origin of Chinese CharactersThe United States of America preaching as a" democratic, free" commercial society, its television works must be reflected" the liberation of humanity" and" society centralization" collision, and the business community in the personal interests conflict with the public interest. And for all kinds of human thinking, for traditional virtue and the sense of justice's call is also essential. Experienced the War of Independence and the Civil War, American born with a passionate, joy and freedom of personality characteristics. American television highlights these qualities.Intensified competition in the ratings today, the winning series by the themes and narrative will generally select relatively strong dramatic content in practice, therefore, crime, health care, science fiction and other stories of this series occupy a large proportion of the U.S. television screen such as series occupied top ratings for many years of "CSI." Melodrama series has a strong practical orientation on business, that sacrifice some artistic value to meet the broadest audience. Although the U.S. television industry has a strict system of classification review, but the violence, pornography (in the scale of the relevant laws) and other sensory stimulation is essential, and that‟s the most important characteristics of the U.S. series.American TV series in terms of subject selection generally adopt a "polarization strategy”: one pole is the performance of daily small figures, maximally close to civilian life; The other pole performance heroes in non-normal environment, to create mystery and excitement in terms of " alienation" . When audience tastes the sense of close, they can find their own shadow in the play. However, when subject in relation to the major historical, political insider, cops against robbers terrorist crime, from role to the environment, from the circumstances to the conflict are far from real life, such as "24", 'West Wing', 'Crime Scene Investigation." This type of drama provides us a virtual experience. By watching them, people get a variety of psychological stimulation and satisfaction.In addition, the U.S. TV series on the subject selected "advancing with the times " is a great strategy. Such as "9.11" terrorist attacks just over a month, NBC's prime-time series “ Third Watch ”took the lead to added 9-11 events to the story. Various ways to add the newly occurred or ongoing events into the story for description, innuendo and thinking, that‟s wh at audience willing to accept.As the electronic version of Chinese folk literature, Chinese TV drama from the very beginning uphold the traditional Chinese culture typical. Chinese Confucian emphasis on ethics, respect enlightenment, and at the same time treat the relationships between human and human, human and heaven, human and social life as the ideal state. In the TV series is expressed to carry forward the Chinese traditional" Ethical Beauty"," Affinity beauty" as the main tone of the story. In the narrative subject matter, the family ethics play hold a large proportion in Chinese TV series. For example, “Chinese Style Divorce" ( 2004), seemingly dull marriage life is not dull, the relationship between husband and wife always hides the crisis everywhere. The play reveals three kind of betrayal between the couple; the betrayal of mind, body betrayal and body mind betrayal. With their stories reveal the marriage brings pain and suffering, happiness and frustration. Take the "family" that is the most central part of Chinese people as the basic narrative unit which resonate with the audience a lot.In addition, the "historical drama" is a TV theme "hot pursuit" by the Chinese audience and official institutions. Based on the history of popular stories, such as Chinese opera generals of the Yang family, Lord Bao opera, etc., with a broader world of fiction and imagination, such as the "Kangxi Emperor" (1994), "Yong Zheng Dynasty" (1998). Of course include revolutionary historical drama after the Revolution of 1911.From the late 1980s until today, the positioning of Chinese drama theme has been expanded, and becoming more diverse. But the main theme of the drama is still indispensable to China's TV screens, it plays the political role in publicity and promotion of the party and the government‟s positive and healthy image is still very important. Main melody and the traditional culture union is forever a mainstream of Chinese TV series‟ narrative.In any case, the plot of the U.S. drama series is always like that: from civilians to criminals, from science fiction to medical care, almost every aspect of American society can be displayed. Even alluding to political figures in the television series, such as, "The West Wing", shows the bloody, Erotic scenes, such as "Rome". While in China. In recent years, despite the family ethics drama, historical drama, martial arts drama, youth drama, war drama, gangster drama and other subjects flourishing situation. But because of cultural traditions and political institutional, the theme and content will never be as broad as the United States, also can‟t be divorced from the main tone of politics and the traditional ethics.2.1.2 Narrative Theme: Middle Class Consciousness and PopulismAmerican sociologist Dennis and Joseph's book "American class structure," a book of American society, made the following analysis: the capitalist class accounted for 1%, accounted for 14% of upper middle class, middle class and working class accounted for 60%, poor class and the lower class 25%.It can be seen, the middleclass has become the main body of American society, occupies a very important position in the community. According to the author of the book ' style" view, the great middle class accounted for the American Society for nearly 80% population to some extent determines the country's taste. TV, especially American melodrama series at this point is a good example of the American middle class culture grade and aesthetic interest.In the plot of the United States, the performance of the job and the real world is very different, more than half of the male characters in the play engaged in a respectable career. "Sex and the City" (1998-2004) is 100% a story of a middle-class. This is a story happened to four single women in Manhattan, columnist Carrie, attorney Miranda, public relations manager Samantha and idealists Charlotte."Sex and the City" each episode has a separate title, tells a separate story. They are in their career, pretty and stylish, though no longer young but confident, charming. They share a strong mutual friendship and facing common problems - in this city full of desire and temptation, where is the true love?"Sex and the City" each episode has a separate title, tells a separate story. Such as the third episode " Bay of Married Pigs," Carrie go to friend‟s home for holiday at weekend, when she get up early in the morning and open the door to see friend‟s husband naked. Carrie told his girlfriend that thing, but a misunderstanding caused by his girlfriend. Carrie and several friends began to realize that the single older woman in the married person's eyes, is indeed a "monster." This prompted Carrie to study between married and single persons the relationship between the Cold War and the hatred.This urban drama series won the 2001 "Emmy" Award for best drama series has gradually over the United States, set off a boom in the world. Like it or not, a view generally accepted by the audience, this is not only a TV series about sex and desire, but also a drama about love and friendship. Friendships of four single women, love of four female friends, constitute the complex flavor quartet of modern city.Everyone find his own shadow in the show. Everyone here can express their feelings and find a world, a world of near and yet so far, but a real yet virtual world. In this sense, New York is no longer New York, it is Toronto, Tokyo, it is Paris, it is each modern city deprived of the hustle and bustle. And these four women, is no longer four women struggling in New York. They are all women in the dream of seeking success and happiness in large or small cities in the world. This generation have a successful career and have their own wealth and the autonomy to decide their own love and marriage. However, their struggle once again proved: the success and economic independence of this generation cannot provide the emotional security.On this timeless classic repertoire between men and women, the woman is no longer the poor victim, although it still could not escape the victim complex. No matter how perfect the material world is, our hearts will always be the least mystery able to be solved. No matter how the material world twisted our interpretation of love, love is still a heartbeat, but crazy realm to keep the desire. In addition, "ER", "NIP / TUCK" (2003-2007) tell a successful medical career about the middle-aged men, "The West Wing" talk about life and the emotional, And "Studio 60 On the SunsetStreet" (2006) to reflect the life of the TV crews, etc. are very affected by middle-class welcome in recent years,. And frequently got awards and frame in the TV Oscar" Emmy".TV is a public art. In the U.S., the public means the majority of middle class, their taste determine the taste of American television culture, of course, determine the content of the U.S. drama series plot, formed a middle class-oriented character models and narrative norms. Obviously, the composition of Chinese society is very different from the American public.After the founding of new China, Chinese social structure in a very long period of time is a single alliance of workers and peasants. Workers, peasants are the main social groups and occupy a position of overwhelming advantage. Since the reform and opening, with the establishment of socialist market economy, social and economic wealth accumulation, China's social structure has undergone great changes. The internal staff of worker-peasant alliance change for various situations. Someone have engaged in doing business, someone had laid off, farmers working in cities, and someone run the private sector, someone become the individual owner. China's social structure become unprecedented complexity. According to "contemporary Chinese social class research report" China's social class is under a "top ten social class framework" , respectively including the management of state and society (2.1%), managerial personnel (1.5%), private entrepreneurs (0.6), technical staff levels (5.1%), the staff levels (4.8%), individual businesses and sectors (4.2%), business services sectors (12%), industry working class (22%), rural workers (44%) and transitional class (3.1%). Although China's social structure has changed dramatically, but there is no formation of the middle class on the scale as American society. The reason is that China's large population, the agricultural population in the community hold a larger proportion of the total population, and thus per capita GDP are far from the world's developed countries. At the moment, the majority of Chinese people in the community is civilian sectors. Civilian sectors are different from the aristocratic and privileged class.Their currently standard of living is not high, but basically not need to worry. Their education is generally not high, but with minimal cultural level, and thus different from what we often speak of the poor, also different from the common middle class in American society. In short, in the present social conditions, civilians constitute the main body of China's social structure and backbone, and their values, aesthetic, television viewing habits will have a profound impact of production, and even affect the aesthetic orientation of society.Since the 1990s, China's television screen on the emergence of a large number of popular, excellent production civilian drama, create a large number of complicated character, vivid images of civilian. TV series which is talking about life stories on ordinary people are not only well received by the audience, but also doing well at governmental organizations "Flying Award". "empty mirror" (2002) had won the 20th Golden Eagle Prize Award of Excellence full-length TV , the 22nd Flying Award second prize of full-length drama, is a story about a life in common but we rarely seen on the screen.。