Reflection of Social Issues and Contemporary Chinese Family Dynamics through Xiaopin in CCTV Spring Festival Gala ภาพสะท้อนปัญหาสังคมและพลวัตของครอบครัวจีนร่วมสมัยผ่านบทละครสั้น (小品) ในรายการพิเศษวันตรุษจีน (春晚) ทางช่อง CCTV

Abstract

This research aims to examine the reflection of social issues, contemporary Chinese family dynamics, and the political role of humor in “Xiaopin” (skits) featured in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The study employs qualitative research methods, specifically textual analysis, on a sample of skits broadcast between 2020 and 2026. The findings reveal that Xiaopin serves as a cultural negotiation space reflecting reality in two primary dimensions: (1) Socio-political dimension: Humor is utilized to satire bureaucracy, ranging from “Formalism” to the “Lying Flat” culture among officials, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy of anti-corruption policies and building social immunity against modern threats like cybercrime. (2) Family dynamics dimension: The study identifies a clash between traditional Confucian values and modern digital values, resulting in intergenerational gaps and “double standard” discourses within households. The research concludes that state media utilizes Xiaopin as a political “safety valve” to alleviate social tension. Furthermore, it employs “interpellation” to align viewers with the dominant ideology through resolutions that emphasize compromise and “Harmony.” This process operates under the discourse that “Home and Country are One,” aiming to maintain stability and construct national identity within the context of Chinesenization.