The Chinese public have become ardent followers of poetry shows and historical dramas overnight. As the TV competition Chinese Poetry Conference drew record viewing figures recently, another show, The Reader, where contestants read aloud passages from their favorite books or poems, also gained popularity. The Qin Empire, a historical TV series, garnered unprecedented discussion, and has been seen as a resurgence of serious drama thanks to the policy of backing the promotion of traditional culture, the changing of the public’s mind on esthetics, and the growing antipathy towards the pompous shows built around “little fresh meat,” a common nickname for young good-looking men. It will take time to prove whether the resurgence of historical shows is a U-turn from the worship of consumerism, or the beginning of diversified choices, or just another passing fad.
Old Version
