Understanding China’s environmental challenges: lessons from documentaries

John Chung-En Liu (), Huijing Huang and Jingyi Ma
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John Chung-En Liu: Occidental College
Huijing Huang: Occidental College
Jingyi Ma: Occidental College

Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 2019, vol. 9, issue 2, No 1, 158 pages

Abstract: Abstract Films can be powerful tools in teaching environmental studies. In this paper, we examined 36 environmental documentaries on China for their content, theme, production, and reception with a view towards using them as teaching tools. In our analysis, the films roughly fall into five categories: (1) globalization and global environmental justice, (2) urbanization and displacement, (3) human-nature relationships, (4) the fossil fuel economy, and finally, (5) civil society and the environmental movement. We also discuss the politics of documentary-making in China. Many of the independent filmmakers identify as activists and present alternative perspectives to mainstream narratives. They strive to document the realities among the marginalized populations. Close to half of the documentaries we analyzed are censored in China due to either foreign production, collective action potential, or excessive popularity. Despite political constraints, high-profile environmental documentaries have enabled a number of significant policy changes in China in recent years. In sum, this paper can serve as a “viewing guide” for students and instructors to learn about China’s environmental challenges through films.

Keywords: China; Ecocinema; Environmental film; Environmentalism; Environmental movement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s13412-018-0526-1

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