A comparative analysis of translated plays in the Chinese theatre of the post-cultural revolution period

Zhang, Nannan (2025) A comparative analysis of translated plays in the Chinese theatre of the post-cultural revolution period. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This dissertation examined the influence of socio-political and cultural factors on the translation of Chinese theatre, with a focus on avant-garde works from late 1970 to 2000. This study is organized into three time periods: late 1970 to 1988, 1989 to 1992, and 1993 to 2000, analysing three representative translated Chinese avant-garde theatrical works within each period through the lens of theatre translation, considering the socio-political and cultural contexts of the time and the requirements of text users.

The dissertation comprises six chapters. Chapter 1 provides historical background, outlining the development of Chinese theatre and the emergence of avant-garde theatre from the late 1970s, establishing the research context. Chapters 2 a theoretical framework, methodologies used in analysing three translated playscripts. The theoretical framework mainly introduces the cultural turn in terms of Andre Lefevere's poetics and ideology theories, translation concepts of Hans J. Vermeer’s Skopos theory together with Lawrence Venuti’s domestication and foreignisation, emphasising the impact of cultural, social, and text-user factors on theatre translation. Chapter 3, Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 are textual analyses of three selected Chinese avantgarde works which are Death of a Salesman (1983), Hamlet 1990 (1990) and Three Sisters Waiting for Godot (1998) which are translated and adapted from foreign theatrical works. These three chapters investigate translation decisions and their associated influential factors concerning language, theme, and play structure, drawing on theatre translation theories. Finally, the concluding chapter summarises the general trends in Chinese avant-garde theatre translations from 1980 to 2000. Using the three case studies, this study highlights how translations are influenced by varying sociocultural- political factors to meet the requirements of the target culture and text users.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures; P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Modern Languages and Cultures > Comparative Literature
• Supervisor's Name: De Francisci, Dr. Enza
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85149
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 05 Jun 2025 07:01
• Last Modified: 05 Jun 2025 07:03
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85149
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85149