Dr. Xiao Yang, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, has published her academic monograph entitled The Evolution of Chinese Popular Cinema: Baokuan Film Phenomena Under Nationalism, Globalization, and Active Audiences with Routledge, a renowned international academic publisher. The book systematically examines the transformations in China’s film market since the 2010s, with a particular focus on the rise of “baokuan” (blockbuster) films and their cultural and industrial significance within the Chinese film ecosystem.
Dr. Yang’s work highlights how mainland China’s film market from the mid‑2010s onwards differs significantly from the previous “director‑driven” era (represented by figures such as Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang). Over the past decade, the Chinese film market has witnessed the emergence of the “baokuan” film era — a wave of record‑breaking box office hits such as Wolf Warrior 2, The Wandering Earth, Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child, and Hi, Mom. These films have formed a distinctive genre landscape within Chinese cinema. The book reveals how such commercially successful films interact with industrial and economic factors, shedding light on the cultural and industrial transformation of Chinese cinema from the 2010s through the post‑pandemic era, as well as the creative shifts driven by China’s globalization strategies.
Dr. Yang received her PhD in Film Studies and China Studies from Monash University in Australia in 2023. Her research interests primarily focus on Asian screen culture, film and media studies, and the cultural industries of China. Prior to joining the University of Macau, she taught at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and Deakin University. Her research articles have been published in renowned international journals, including Asian Studies Review, Television & New Media, Asian Cinema, and The China Quarterly.
