Reconfiguring Chinese shadow puppetry in digital media

Abstract

Chinese shadow puppetry is a visual performing art that has a distinct visual language and storey traditions. UNESCO has recognised it as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Shadow puppetry has found its way into the digital media world in recent years. It has been used in animation and video games. This paper is devoted to the digitalization of Chinese shadow puppetry, and the topic of authenticity evocation in animation and games. The research uses a qualitative comparative approach, the researcher chose five representative cases, including kung fu panda 2, Shan Hai Jing Qi, Honour of kings, Gujian III and Justice. The research findings reveal the distinctions among the media. Animation focuses on visual language, emotional dramatisation and authenticity via stylised modelling and way of telling storeys. The video games are focused on interactive mechanisms. The game incorporates the shadow puppets into the gameplay mechanism. Participants actively engage in making culture. Participatory authenticity is shaped by the process of participation. Authenticity is offered as moving culture process, it between classical performance and online media. Traditional art forms are re-shaped on digital platforms, and cultural values lie at the centre of transformation.