A Study On The Changes Of The Existence Patterns Of The Performers In The Folk

Sichuan Opera is among the most representative Chinese traditional operas, In the past 100 years, its unique artistic characters derive from the local customs and ethos in Sichuan and Chongqing, experienced and dramatized by generations of artists. It’s a very beloved art of performance to folks in southwest China, and even in the whole country. Troupes perform to make a living. In suburb and rural areas, Sichuan Opera performances are closely related to local religions and other folkways, while on the other hand, there were theaters that provide people with entertainment in big cities. Since Sichuan Opera troupes apparently are commercial social organizations, it was very common for artists to roam about to make a living.The state power always hope to educate the masses, however the masses just want to enjoy the performance and have fun most of the time. After the founding of People’s Republic of China, some of the civilian troupes have become state-owned. Political powers had been gradually involved in the operations of these grass-roots troupes, expecting political propaganda through their performances. The government became the advocator of dramas concerning modern matters, thus made a large number of troupes relying on financial aid from the government, at the cost of economic independence of the troupes. During The Culture Revolution, traditional Chinese Opera was totally banned, after which the society meets a transition from planned economy to market economy. Although a lot of county-level troupes were disbanded, civilian troupes went booming again in the structural reforms and gained supports from the audience with its low-priced tickets and an abundant list of operas. Entering 21st century, the living space for grass-roots troupes is downsized by urban renewal and aging of the audience. Meanwhile, the traditional social values that suits the mainstream ones nowadays have been rediscovered by the government to help the state with further social reforms. The government has begun to offer civilian Sichuan Opera troupes financial aids, which may cause the reduction of their economic independence. As the carriers of traditional culture, the survival modes of professional civilian troupes have been reconstructed under the power of outer society.This research is based on the historical development of civilian troupes of Sichuan Opera and the field studies of the existing "Torch Troupes", trying to nail the mechanism of the operation of the professional civilian troupe via the view of State and Society theories, and to explain the logical relationships between survival mode changes and transitions of the government’s role. According to the author, the development of professional civilian troupe, actually reveals the conflicts and constructions between the state and the society, as well as the antagonism between traditional social values and the authorized ideology.