Shows about family 'reflect real life'

• Source: The Global Times
• [08:52 May 20 2009]
• Comments

By Wen Ya

The programs we choose to watch on TV are just expressions of our feelings, Beijing housewife Yang Juan told the Global Times yesterday.

“My husband and I like to watch the series Golden Wedding, which we download from the Internet,” the 29-year-old said.

“If people like that sort of thing, production companies will keep on making it.”

Despite comments made by Li Jingsheng, director of the TV Drama Department of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television that too many shows focus on family grief and tragedy, these dramas are “close to people’s lives and reflect reality,” Jia Jia, a part-time screenwriter from Beijing, said.

“Most TV screenwriters are young and they dare to grasp the contradictions of daily life,” he said.

“On the other hand, most of the people who watch TV dramas are women over 40, who are empathetic to them because they have often had the same experiences.”
 
In an open society, all forms of television drama should be allowed, even the tragic ones, Jia said.

“There are lots of this type of drama because they are popular with audiences,” Wang Jiawei, a director from Beijing, said.

“And despite China’s strict censorship laws, it’s easy to get them approved.”

If such dramas are limited or banned, directors will be left short of ideas, Wang said.

Lu Di, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University, said family dramas are generally rich in plot, suspense and conflict, which makes them attractive to viewers.

“Shows that get the highest viewer ratings can charge the most for advertising,” he said.

The productions are also cheap to make, he said.

“But we need more than just this type of drama,” Lu said.

“We must ensure a healthy variety of shows that cater to all tastes.”