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'Calming My Heartbeat to Enjoy the Show': The Social-Indexical Meanings of In-Yer-Face Theater Recontextualized in China

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Title: 'Calming My Heartbeat to Enjoy the Show': The Social-Indexical Meanings of In-Yer-Face Theater Recontextualized in China
Language: English
Authors: Xiaoyan Liang (ORCID 0000-0003-0616-8624), Lydia Catedral (ORCID 0000-0002-6708-294X)
Source: Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication. 2025 44(2):263-287.
Availability: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Theater Arts, Drama, Translation, Interpretive Skills, Interdisciplinary Approach, Sociolinguistics, Audience Response, Gender Issues, Moral Issues, Political Issues, Experiential Learning, Affective Behavior, Antisocial Behavior, Classification, Context Effect
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1515/multi-2024-0081
ISSN: 0167-8507
1613-3684
Abstract: This article investigates the "performability" of in-yer-face theater that is "recontextualized" from the British to the Chinese context. We propose an interdisciplinary approach that uses sociolinguistic tools to empirically examine relevant issues for theater translation studies. By analyzing audience reactions from both online and offline platforms, we find that different audiences in China link this form of theater to context-specific "indexical meanings." Our study reveals that Chinese audiences associate in-yer-face theater with the social persona of the "wenyi qingnian" -- a stereotype of a pretentious youth with niche interests in the arts -- and with socially transgressive 'tastes' referred to as "zhong kouwei" "heavy taste" and "da chidu" "overboard". Because of the mixed attitudes among various stakeholders, the findings underscore the controversial nature of in-yer-face theater in China, as it is neither fully accepted nor fully rejected. By focusing on audience perception and interpretation, our study enriches the broader understanding of theater translation. We hope this study could provide a foundation for navigating the complex field of indexicality and performability for in-yer-face theater in China.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1461987
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'Calming My Heartbeat to Enjoy the Show': The Social-Indexical Meanings of In-Yer-Face Theater Recontextualized in China
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiaoyan+Liang%22">Xiaoyan Liang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0616-8624">0000-0003-0616-8624</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lydia+Catedral%22">Lydia Catedral</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6708-294X">0000-0002-6708-294X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Multilingua%3A+Journal+of+Cross-Cultural+and+Interlanguage+Communication%22"><i>Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication</i></searchLink>. 2025 44(2):263-287.
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  Data: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
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  Data: 25
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theater+Arts%22">Theater Arts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drama%22">Drama</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Translation%22">Translation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpretive+Skills%22">Interpretive Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+Approach%22">Interdisciplinary Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociolinguistics%22">Sociolinguistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Audience+Response%22">Audience Response</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Issues%22">Gender Issues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+Issues%22">Moral Issues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Issues%22">Political Issues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Affective+Behavior%22">Affective Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antisocial+Behavior%22">Antisocial Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Classification%22">Classification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Context+Effect%22">Context Effect</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1515/multi-2024-0081
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  Data: 0167-8507<br />1613-3684
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  Data: This article investigates the "performability" of in-yer-face theater that is "recontextualized" from the British to the Chinese context. We propose an interdisciplinary approach that uses sociolinguistic tools to empirically examine relevant issues for theater translation studies. By analyzing audience reactions from both online and offline platforms, we find that different audiences in China link this form of theater to context-specific "indexical meanings." Our study reveals that Chinese audiences associate in-yer-face theater with the social persona of the "wenyi qingnian" -- a stereotype of a pretentious youth with niche interests in the arts -- and with socially transgressive 'tastes' referred to as "zhong kouwei" "heavy taste" and "da chidu" "overboard". Because of the mixed attitudes among various stakeholders, the findings underscore the controversial nature of in-yer-face theater in China, as it is neither fully accepted nor fully rejected. By focusing on audience perception and interpretation, our study enriches the broader understanding of theater translation. We hope this study could provide a foundation for navigating the complex field of indexicality and performability for in-yer-face theater in China.
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  Data: EJ1461987
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      – SubjectFull: China
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