Cross-Media Translation of Chinese Opera Cultural Genes in Popular Music
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33736/ijaca.11701.2026Keywords:
Chinese opera cultural genes, Cross-media translation, Structural integration, Popular music, Platform circulationAbstract
In an era shaped by digital transformation and renewed engagement with traditional culture, the question of how Chinese opera continues to function within contemporary media environments has gained increasing relevance. This study examines the cross-media translation of Chinese opera cultural elements in popular music, focusing on how these elements are adapted and restructured within modern musical forms. Drawing on a combination of literature review, audience survey, and multi-platform case observation, the research analyzes the evolving role of Chinese opera in popular music contexts. The findings indicate that the integration of elements follows a gradual trajectory: from symbolic citation to structural incorporation, and ultimately to technologically mediated recombination. At the same time, this process is shaped by platform-specific conditions. Certain operatic genres are more frequently represented, audience expectations of integration vary across cultural backgrounds, and complex operatic structures are often simplified within short-form, high-frequency media formats. Rather than framing these changes as a process of loss or preservation, this study interprets them as adaptive transformations driven by the interaction of artistic form, media technology, and cultural context. In doing so, it provides a clearer account of how Chinese opera continues to evolve and maintain relevance within contemporary media ecosystems.
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