The Folkloric Themes and Cultural Conflicts in Miao Films

Abstract

This study use qualitative research method to conduct an in-depth analysis of Miao films produced between 1950 and 1999 from the perspectives of folklore and cultural interaction theory. The research findings indicate that films, as an important medium for inheriting and showcasing Miao culture, delicately present a rich array of folkloric elements such as traditional festivals, weddings and funerals, religious beliefs, and social customs of the Miao people. They enhance the visibility and sense of identity of Miao culture, promoting its dissemination and exchange. At the same time, the films profoundly reveal the conflicts and integrations between Miao traditional culture and external cultures, reflecting the open mindset and adaptive capacity of the Miao people in maintaining their ethnic characteristics while actively absorbing external cultures. Furthermore, the films also depict the adaptation and transformation of Miao society under national policies and social changes, recording the footsteps of the Miao people throughout historical transitions and their positive responses to national policies. These Miao films are not only inheritors of Miao culture but also witnesses of cultural conflicts and responders to national policies, providing strong support for the preservation and inheritance of Miao culture.