Messages of Fatherhood in the Complex Identities of Fathers of Sons versus Fathers of Daughters in China’s New Era Sci-Fi Cinema

This paper examines the roles and identities of fathers in China’s New Era science fiction films, focusing on five father-son and five father-daughter narratives. This examination is motivated by the genre's recent popularity and increased government support for producing films that promote contemporary Chinese values and “tell people in a covert but influential way what should be praised” (Xi Jinping cited in China Daily, 2014). Fatherhood has become a prominent topic in the media, exemplified by numerous news articles and government initiatives addressing the ‘masculinity crisis’ and the rise of fatherhood-themed films and TV shows since the 2010s. However, there are few studies on fatherhood, particularly in science fiction.

The project utilizes narrative and thematic analysis, presenting findings through spatial mapping of fatherly attributes, roles, and identities in relation to the gender of their children. Father identities are structured around two ancient responsibilities: Jiao (教), the educating father, and Yang (养), the protecting and providing father, along with several related sub-categories. Children’s identities are plotted along a continuum of activity and passivity and xiao (孝), the respect, obedience, and care owed to parents, and fen nu de hai zi (愤怒的孩子), the angry, resentful child. The findings, discussed through the theoretical frameworks of ideology and propaganda, reveal significant differences in identities, values, and dynamics between fathers of sons and fathers of daughters, reinforcing hegemonic notions of gender rooted in patriarchy. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how contemporary Chinese media shapes and reflects fatherhood and gender roles.