Navigating Representations of Ethnic Minorities in Contemporary Chinese Cinema

This lecture explores the changing portrayal of non-Han ethnic minorities (shaoshu minzu) in Chinese cinema, from the socialist period to the present. Socialist-era films celebrate a glorified revolutionary past, depicting non-Han groups as vital to the creation of the Han majority while often portraying them as underdeveloped yet loyal. These films remain influential, continuing to be re-edited and showcased as 'red classics' in cinema and television during national anniversaries.

In contemporary cinema, non-Han groups are reimagined as spiritual archetypes representing a pristine realm, offering a counterpoint to the effects of modernization and alienation. This new perspective revives certain stereotypes, associating ethnic minorities with timeless traditions and a deep connection to nature. Such portrayals emphasize an unspoiled and harmonious existence, contrasting with the environmental and societal impacts of modernization.

Despite these shifts, contemporary films often continue to underscore the Han perspective, framing non-Han groups through narratives of cultural preservation and environmental conservation. This lecture invites a critical exploration of how recent films intersect with socialist legacies, market influences, and environmental themes, reflecting on how China’s national identity is both challenged and shaped in the global context.

Katja Pessl has been a lecturer in Chinese-language cinema at the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Göttingen since 2014 and coordinates research initiatives at the Centre for Modern East Asian Studies. She holds degrees in China studies, media, and film studies from Vienna University and Beijing Film Academy, bringing over a decade of expertise in China-related research and teaching.

Her research and teaching cover a broad range of topics in Chinese-language cinema, including women’s representation, martial arts, rural and border narratives, colonialism, and the Cultural Revolution. She is engaged in exploring how films reflect and shape societal, cultural, and historical contexts, such as political developments, the impacts of modernization, and the dynamics of identity formation. For example, her courses address how martial arts films engage with colonial legacies, how rural narratives reflect socio-economic changes, and how cinematic portrayals of the Cultural Revolution shape historical understanding. Recently, Katja has also focused on Manchu studies, analyzing Qing documents from Banner schools and contributing scholarly work in this area.