Young People Redefining Their Culture

The CCG Expo in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 14th China International Cartoon and Game Expo ended on July 9 in Shanghai. Another famous game expo, China Joy, will open on Aug 3 in the same city, a metropolis breeding culture for young people with an inclusive and open attitude.

According to a research report, Shanghai is the main force for comic and animation exhibition, and the city ranks top in China for a number of exhibitions. Young people of the post-90s or post-00s generations are defining new Chinese culture with cosplay, live commenting and gufeng music, namely pop music with Chinese elements.

Cosplayers could be seen everywhere at the expo. Cosplay is a way to express love for characters in animation and games, and cosplayers pay tribute by making or buying their costumes, as well as using behavior, language and other expressions of the characters.

Though it was once stigmatized, cosplay is being accepted by more people. "Many years ago, if you dressed up as a cosplayer, you would receive strange or hostile stares," said one cosplayer at the expo. "But now, everyone has a high degree of tolerance and will not talk behind our backs. They all treat and understand young people's culture with kind attitudes."

An interesting phenomenon is that when asked about the most impressive animation, Yang Bolun, an animation fan from the post-00s generation, listed several Chinese animation works, like Aotu World and Assassin Wu Liuqi. The norm of Japanese and American animation dominating the domestic market is gradually changing.

"Chinese animation is not as childish as it used to be, and its plot is also more reasonable and more localized," Yang said. Yang and his classmates planned to buy products and souvenirs from Chinese animation at the China Joy exhibition, and hoped to see producers of the shows there.

Animation that is enjoyed by young men may find new means of expression for traditional culture. The rich traditional cultural resources in China are bound to provide endless inspiration for animation. Young audiences have great confidence in the future development of Chinese animation.

A young mother cosplays with her two babies at the CCG Expo. [Photo/Xinhua]

If cosplay or animation emphasizes the "new" side of young people's culture, the creation of gufeng music, and wearing of hanfu or traditional Chinese clothing shows the "old" side.

"The lyrics of gufeng music are often connected to ancient Chinese and traditional ideas, expressing emotions with gentle, ambiguous and thought-provoking words. The artistic conceptions of gufeng music can make people feel like they are in a pastoral area or the battlefield," explained Diuzi, a composer of gufeng music.

The number of gufeng music lovers is expanding. In 2016 the Guofeng Music Festival, which was held at Beijing National Stadium or the "bird's nest", attracted nearly 50,000 gufeng music lovers. With their enthusiasm, a brand new style of music has gradually become known to the world.

A lot of gufeng music lovers are also hanfu lovers. They think it's just an ordinary way of life.

Now, young people have more choices. Choosing which culture or style to like is up to them.

Cosplayers can be seen everywhere at the CCG Expo. [Photo/Xinhua]

Source: China Daily