Collision and Fusion of Chinese and Western Cultures: An Analysis of Space-Time Treatment in the Peking Opera Version of Les Misérables

  • Tao Chen National Academy of Chinese Arts
Article ID: 2145
96 Views, 18 PDF Downloads
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18282/l-e.v10i1.2145
Keywords: Les Misérables, Imagism, Space-time, Collision, Fusion

Abstract

The Peking opera version of Les Misérables is based on the novel of the same name by French Romantic writer Victor Hugo. The difficulty in adapting such an epic masterpiece into a Peking opera for stage is conceivable, but through abundant use of creative thinking and through bold creation on the aesthetic principle of opera imagism (xieyi), the creators have come up with a great adaptation that captures the quintessence of the original novel. Through an analysis of space-time treatment in the Peking opera version of Les Misérables, this paper examines imagistic space-time treatment in traditional Chinese opera to explore the possibilities of adapting and transplanting Western classics into traditional Chinese opera.

References

[1] Zhu Wenxiang. Introduction to Traditional Chinese Opera [M]. Beijing: Culture and Art Publishing House, 2004.

[2] Excerpted from the prologue of the script of the Peking Opera version of Les Misérables.

[3] Tong Daoming. Encyclopedia of China: Theater Volume [M]. Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, 2004.

[4] Excerpted from the first scene of the script of the Peking Opera version of Les Misérables, Jean Valjean’s libretto.

[5] (FR) Victor Hugo (Li Dan & Fang Yu, Trans.) Les Misérables [M]. Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House, 1992.

[6] (FR) Victor Hugo (Li Dan & Fang Yu, Trans.) Les Misérables [M]. Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House, 1992.

[7] (FR) Victor Hugo (Li Dan & Fang Yu, Trans.) Les Misérables [M]. Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House, 1992.

[8] Zhang Geng. Encyclopedia of China: Opera Volume [M]. Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, 2014.

[9] Yu Qiuyu. A Historical Survey of Chinese Theatrical Culture [M]. Hunan: Hunan People’s Publishing House, 1985.

[10] Stan Lai. Stan Lai’s Creatology [M]. Guangxi: Guangxi Normal University Press, 2015.

[11] Zhang Geng. Encyclopedia of China: Opera Volume [M]. Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, 2014.

Published
2021-07-19
How to Cite
Chen, T. (2021). Collision and Fusion of Chinese and Western Cultures: An Analysis of Space-Time Treatment in the Peking Opera Version of Les Misérables. Learning & Education, 10(1), 78-82. https://doi.org/10.18282/l-e.v10i1.2145
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021)

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