The German Image Of Chinese Investors.A Film Analysis Of "Global Player" And "Parchim International" In Context Of The Construction Of The Other And Foreign Undestanding

The present paper analyzes the cinematic treatment of the young phenomenon of Chinese direct investment in Germany in the context of therein shown images of the cultural other and the related potential of movies to initiate foreign understanding.For this purpose,two recent theatrical productions,"Global Player-Wo wir sind isch vorne"(2013)and "Parchim International"(2015)will be studied from a xenological and imagological perspective.The background for the analysis of the construction of images of the cultural other is found in the observation of a tendency towards a negative portrayal of Chinese investment and investors in German reporting and politics that is accompanied by a projection of fears which can be understood as a defensive reaction against identity threats,resulting from a global shift of power.Besides discussing this observation,the theoretical part of this paper will show that images of the cultural other are(mainly)constructed by the media and media products and always related to self-images and global constellations of power,which turns them into mirror images of ones self-understanding and own interests and in many cases,into projection images of ones own problems,fears and inner conflicts in reaction to global shifts of power.Subsequently,the paper will focus on the construction and staging of images of the other through movies while also presenting a theoretical draft on how movies can initiate foreign understanding and to what extend their images of the other can support or hinder this process.The practical part follows with a qualitative film analysis in which both movies are studied in regards to the above mentioned aspects.Therein it will be asked,which images of Chinese investors these movies construct and if they use and reproduce or refute and replace the elements,conceptions,and fears identified in the former observation.This is followed by the assessment of each movie's potential to initiate foreign understanding.The results show that the movie "Global Player" uses,reproduces,and potentially even strengthens the majority of the elements,conceptions,and fears identified in the observation mentioned above.It constructs an image of Chinese investors,charged with negative notions and emotions while also counteracting processes of identification,empathy,and a shift of perspective in regards to the audience,therefore minimizing its potential to initiate foreign understanding.The documentary-film "Parchim International" distances itself from the identified tendencies and counters them with an placatory image of a Chinese investor,charged with positive notions and emotions.Through the encouragement of identification and empathy with said investor,the movie possesses a considerable potential to initiate foreign understanding in its audience.These opposite modes of the staging,display,and construction of the image of Chinese investors point towards the recognition that the German cinema does not necessarily take on the role of an accomplice of the reporting media and politics in its treatment of the topic of Chinese direct investment.Instead of merely using and reproducing already established negative modes of portrayal,it also makes use of the possibilities of its medium to refute these tendencies and to counter them with its own and new images which do not serve as means for defense but for understanding.