Nostalgia as content creativity

Abstract

A conspicuous trope within contemporary Chinese society, nostalgia is a product of two recent transformations. First, drastic changes in economic and political life have led to anxiety and uncertainty, together with excitement and hope. Second, economic rationalization of the cultural industries has resulted in extensive repackaging and repurposing of existing content in order to reduce cost and secure customer acceptance. This article examines three different modes of nostalgic expression in Chinese cultural industries and argues that they are more about creating competitive imageries of present life than faithfully regenerating an idealized past.