The Era of Short Dramas: Aesthetic Reconstruction, Cognitive Influence, and Reception Transformation in Art Communication

Xiaoran Zhou

Pinnacle Academic Press Proceedings Series, 2026, vol. 10, 265-273

Abstract: With the rapid development of digital technology and mobile media, short dramas characterized by brief episodes and highly condensed plots have become extremely easy to disseminate and consume. In 2023, the short drama market in China exceeded 30 billion yuan, with more than 600 million users, indicating that this format has moved beyond pure entertainment to deeply penetrate the field of art communication. This article adopts a mixed approach combining case studies, literature review, and basic data analysis to examine the impact of short dramas on art communication from three interrelated dimensions: the aesthetic communication of art, the audience's cognitive logic, and the transformation of reception patterns. The study argues that short dramas diversify and scenarize the dissemination of artistic aesthetics, and can in some cases exercise audiences' abilities in logical reasoning, narrative tracking, and information integration. At the same time, they reshape reception habits by adapting to fragmented, mobile, and personalized media environments. However, the research also reveals negative tendencies, including the superficialization and homogenization of artistic aesthetics, the weakening of deep thinking and critical discrimination, and the emergence of impatient, depth-deficient modes of reception. The article concludes that creators should balance commercial and artistic value, platforms should assume responsibility for content guidance and aesthetic cultivation, and audiences should develop more rational and reflective reception concepts. Future development of short dramas should emphasize higher quality and greater depth to promote a healthier and more sustainable art communication ecosystem.

Keywords: short drama; art communication; aesthetics; media consumption; audience cognition; digital culture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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