RESHAPING SHANGHAI'S MICRO-DRAMA ECOSYSTEM: INNOVATION AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Authors

  • Yiming Wang Communication Arts, College of Communication Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
  • Prakaikavin Srijinda College of Communication Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.n4.4685

Keywords:

Shanghai, Micro-drama, Media Ecology, Cultural Identity, Strategic Innovation, Algorithmic Adaptation, Cross-boundary Integration

Abstract

This study explores the transformation of Shanghai’s micro-drama industry within the broader context of media ecology and cultural identity. Micro-dramas, short-form video content that blends narrative structures with algorithmic consumption patterns, have rapidly emerged as a dominant form of digital media in China. This research examines the ecological factors influencing the industry's performance, such as policy support, technological advancements, and market competition, while also analyzing the role of symbolic narratives in constructing cultural identity. Through a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys (n=428) and qualitative interviews (n=23), the study reveals that Shanghai’s micro-drama industry faces the challenge of balancing high production costs with the demands of algorithmic distribution systems. The findings propose a strategic framework for innovation in the industry, emphasizing quality content, algorithmic adaptability, and cross-boundary integration. This research contributes to the academic understanding of media ecosystems and provides practical insights for industry practitioners and policymakers.

References

Barthes, R. (1972). Mythologies. Hill and Wang.

Baudrillard, J. (1981). Simulacra and Simulation. University of Michigan Press.

Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The Location of Culture. Routledge.

Chen, Y. (2022). From platform-based to hybrid narrative strategies: Micro-dramas in Shanghai. Journal of Digital Communication, 27(1), 123-139.

Fidler, R. (1997). Mediamorphosis: Understanding New Media. Pine Forge Press.

Goldhaber, M. H. (1997). The attention economy and the Net. First Monday, 2(4). https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/519/440

Hall, S. (1980). Encoding/decoding. In S. Hall (Ed.), Culture, Media, Language: Working Papers in Cultural Studies, 1972–79 (pp. 128–138). Hutchinson.

Hall, S. (1990). Cultural Identity and Diaspora. In J. Rutherford (Ed.), Identity: Community, Culture, Difference (pp. 222–237). Lawrence & Wishart.

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press.

Lee, S., & Chen, L. (2019). Algorithmic culture and new media production: A study of Douyin (TikTok) micro-dramas. Media Studies Review, 16(4), 210-228.

Li, H., & Xu, S. (2022). The new media ecosystem and cultural identity construction: A study of Shanghai micro-dramas. Journal of International Media Studies, 8(2), 105-121.

Li, W., & Zhou, Y. (2021). The role of artificial intelligence in China’s entertainment industry: A case study of micro-drama production. Journal of Digital Media & Policy, 12(1), 65-79.

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McGraw-Hill.

Qian, L., Dandan, T., & Honghui, L. (2025). Current Situation and Promotion of TPACK Strategies Among Primary School English Teachers in The Era of Artificial Intelligence. Journal of Advances in Humanities Research, 4(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.56868/jadhur.v4i1.286.

Rosa, H. (2013). Social Acceleration: A New Theory of Modernity. Columbia University Press.

Sun, X. (2020). The economic implications of government subsidies for digital media. Journal of Cultural Economics, 42(3), 357-373.

Wang, H. (2021). Cultural identity in the era of micro-dramas: Haipai culture’s adaptation to digital platforms. Asian Cultural Studies, 23(2), 95-112.

Wei, Z., & Li, J. (2021). Cross-boundary integration in China’s media industry: A case study of micro-drama and tourism synergy. China Media Report, 12(1), 79-91.

Xu, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). The rise of micro-dramas in China: Digital transformation and cultural content. Journal of Media Culture, 38(3), 45-59.

Zhang, L. (2022). Government policy and creative industries in China: The case of Shanghai’s cultural sector. Creative Industries Journal, 15(2), 122-137.

Zhang, Y., & Sun, Y. (2020). Policy and market: The dual factors driving the micro-drama industry in Shanghai. International Journal of Media Economics, 18(2), 83-99.

Zhao, Q. (2020). The fusion of cultural symbols and digital media: Semiotic analysis of Chinese micro-dramas. Cultural Studies Journal, 17(1), 34-50.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-09

How to Cite

Wang, Y., & Srijinda, P. (2026). RESHAPING SHANGHAI’S MICRO-DRAMA ECOSYSTEM: INNOVATION AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. Veredas Do Direito, 23(4), e234685. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.n4.4685

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 4 (2026): Veredas do Direito, v. 23, n. 4 2026

Section

Articles

License

I (we) submit this article which is original and unpublished, of my (our) own authorship, to the evaluation of the Veredas do Direito Journal, and agree that the related copyrights will become exclusive property of the Journal, being prohibited any partial or total copy in any other part or other printed or online communication vehicle dissociated from the Veredas do Direito Journal, without the necessary and prior authorization that should be requested in writing to Editor in Chief. I (we) also declare that there is no conflict of interest between the articles theme, the author (s) and enterprises, institutions or individuals.

I (we) recognize that the Veredas do Direito Journal is licensed under a CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE.

 

Licença Creative Commons Attribution 3.0