Universität zu Köln

Zhang, Jinfeng (2016). A Study of Cao Baoping’s Film: Chinese Auteur Paradigm. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

This dissertation positions Chinese director Cao Baoping as an auteur who has developed a distinctive Chinese auteur paradigm through his synthesis of formal innovation and culturally grounded narrative practice. By conducting close textual analyses of his films—from “The Troublemakers” (2006) to “Cock and Bull” (2016)—the study demonstrates how Cao constructs a productive dialogue between globally circulating narrative strategies and the specific socio-cultural conditions of contemporary China. At the core of this research is the articulation of Cao’s unique “auteur-alchemist” approach, through which he transforms established genre conventions into incisive cultural critique. Films such as “The Equation of Love and Death” (2008) exemplify his inventive deployment of fragmented narrative structures and psychologically charged soundscapes to probe the anxieties of postsocialist urban life. Meanwhile, works like “Cock and Bull” (2016) mobilize nonlinear storytelling to generate narrative tension that intersects with, and at times destabilizes, Confucian ethical logics. This dynamic interplay between cinematic form and indigenous value systems yields that are both emotionally resonant and commercially meaningful within the Chinese film landscape. Drawing on methodologies from film studies, cultural theory, and ethical philosophy, this dissertation argues that Cao’s cinema operates as a critical lens through which to observe China’s ongoing social transformations. Ultimately, the study situates Cao Baoping as a significant auteur within Chinese cinema, offering new insights into how culturally specific storytelling practices can articulate broader human concerns while remaining rooted in the complexities of contemporary China.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Zhang, Jinfeng jinfengzhangp@gmail.com UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-811801
Date:	2016
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 4: Außereuropäische Sprachen, Kulturen und Gesellschaften > Ostasiatisches Seminar
Subjects:	Philosophy
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Cao Baoping English Chinese cinema English Chinese auteurism English
Date of oral exam:	13 May 2026
Referee:	Name Academic Title Kramer, Stefan Prof. Dr. Braester, Yomi Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/81180