Small screen China: An exploration of contemporary social issues as depicted in Chinese TV dramas

As Mainland China transitions from a planned socialist economy to one more market-focused, its economic successes have garnered attention worldwide. However, this astounding economic growth brought with it a number of negative side effects, including corruption and a resurgence of prostitution. Gender relations have also undergone major shifts from state mandated gender equality in the Mao era to a call for the refeminization of women in the Reform era. How is the Chinese population navigating this transition? In this thesis, I utilize existing melodrama theory and relevant sociological studies to explore how three Chinese TV dramas---I'm Not a Hero (2004), Close to You, Make Me Warm (2006), and Give Me a Cigarette (2006), later renamed Evening Rain---expose and explore some of these existing social problems, providing a platform for their viewers to reflect on and explore these issues on their own.