The Image Of The New China In The News Film (1949-1957)

For China Newsreel Film, the "New China" is not only a great start, but also a long historical journey. At the beginning of the "New China", as the "three-dimensional files" of history and the "document notes" of reality, Newsreel Film conveyed the aspirations of the party and the people, praised the glorious achievements of national constructions, and shaped a new image of the "New China" to the world.This paper is based on the development of Newsreel Film from 1949 to 1957 to discuss the image of China presented in documentary films in-depth. The research concentrates on the following questions:First, What is the relationship between the newsreel film and national image; Second, What specific images was demonstrated in newsreels during this period; Third, What are the strategies to shape the national image in these newsreel films, and what historic significance has been caused by Newsreel films.Based on the collecting and sorting newsreel films during 1949-1957, four traits have been discovered:The political images which is righteousness and serving people consistently has been presented to the world by recording the great achievements of the Chinese government, the successful diplomacy conducted by Chinese leaders, and the spirit of revolutionary heroism of China's military; the thriving, healthy and progressive economic images has been showed to the world by recording the restoring achievements of all industries under the first five-year plan; through recording the pictures of the new life of urban people and minority people to show a solidarity, optimistic and positive social image; through recording the colorfully cultural and artistic achievements, and the great mountains and rivers of China, to show an image of rich in cultural heritage and diverse geography.At the same time, the study found that the Newsreel film in this time applied epic narrative structure in shaping the images of the country and expressing the concept of national policy, to create a splendid national spectacle. Moreover, by expressing the concept of collectivism, a group portraits of heroes were built to show flourishing ethnic unity. Additionally, the "screen and explain" model gave commentary the "omniscient" dominant perspective, and the picture with the explanation showed the traditional "storyteller" style of expression.In the book of "Metaphysics". Aristotle thinks that "in all sense, the most important is our vision." From oral culture, writing culture to the image culture, Human culture experienced great shifts, the image culture become an unique way to contemplate the world gradually. Although the development was influenced by state ideology, the Soviet model and other factors, as well as the poorly equipped film system. Newsreels Film still showed a vibrant, vigorous image of China to the world with real and vivid images in hard times, which completes the common, ambitious and important "imagination" of Chinese nation.