Crosstalk (comedy)

Xiangsheng, often translated Comic dialogue, is a traditional Chinese comedic genre of performing arts, mostly in the form of a dialogue between two artists - traditionally two men - or, more rarely, a solo number, or, even more rarely, sometimes even of a group of three or more performers played.

Xiangsheng is one of China's most popular and influential forms of entertainment art of Quyi. The traditional dress and classic props of Xiangsheng performers are long blue robes, they hold a folding fan in her hand.

Xiangsheng numbers are often performed for entertainment at weekly markets and tea houses. They are found in many television shows and are a standard program point of each CCTV New Years Gala, ie of the most respected Chinese media event.

A recent development of the Xiang Sheng - art is the form of the so-called Xiangsheng xiaopin.

Language

The language of the Xiang Sheng is rich in puns and allusions, and it is spoken in a quick, fun manner.

Xiangsheng are traditionally in the Tianjin dialect ( Tianjinhua ), now the nation's often listed in the Beijing dialect or Chinese high with a strong northern Chinese accent.

The wit and wordplay of this form of representation is often, however, difficult or impossible to transfer into foreign languages ​​among others due to the timeliness of the covered events. It is also an intimate knowledge of current social processes needed.

The performance of the Xiang Sheng appears natural to the untrained observer, almost casually. In reality, all pieces are well defined and carefully rehearsed:

"To the untutored observer the performance of xiang sheng Appears natural, almost casual. In fact, all pieces are set and are care fully rehearsed. An elaborate classification system accords to every kind of joke and other device a place and a special name. In modern xiang sheng, four basic skills are Recognized: speaking, imitating, joking, and singing. "

The modern Xiangsheng performer needs four skills: speaking ( shuo ), Imitation ( xue ), sharp tongue ( dou ) and vocals ( chang ).

The Canadian-born Chinese media star and Xiangsheng performer Dashan (Mark Rowswell ) says Xiangsheng correspond in English closest to the famous baseball skit Who's on First? the U.S. comedians Abbott and Costello pair.

History

The beginnings of this representational form date back to the time of the Ming Dynasty.

The lexicon Cihai According to the Chinese, it was during the Ming and Qing period from Gebixi ( Beijing also xiang sheng called ), Quantang bajiaogu全 堂 八角鼓and Minjian xiaohua民间 笑话formed.

One of the earliest known by name Xiangsheng comedian Zhang Sanlu, who was in the middle of the nineteenth century. In China, it is one of the first generation of Xiangsheng artist. Often appears as a Xiangsheng actor Canadian Dashan (Mark Rowswell ) now belongs to the ninth generation. Modern Xiangsheng performers example, Ma Ji (1934-2006), Feng Gong Niu Qun, Jiang Kun and Tang Jiezhong.

After the increased proliferation of the high Chinese after 1949 the popularity of the Xiang Sheng was increased in the People's Republic of China.

In Taiwan and Hong Kong Xiangsheng art has partly through other developments than in mainland China.

For a younger audience animators create animated versions, including from different sketches of past broadcasts.

Social criticism

The small size and popularity of the Xiang Sheng provide as word of mouth for a reflection of public affairs.

" Xiangsheng enjoys, more over, a gene rally resist scope for political and social satire than is Officially allowed to other contemporary forms. The Reasons for this are unclear but SEEM to stem partly from the assumption did jokes are Essentially unserious and did in oral form is by nature less subversive than a written one. "

The Beijing Xiangsheng master Hou Baolin - (1917-1993) and according to others are Xiangsheng

" Works of comic satire and humor nature Which use as Their principal base. Their satirical content strikes home at contemporary malpractices and therefore Often includes political satire. Use ( works humorous nature, satire and humor as its main supports. Satiric your content castigates contemporary abuses and often includes political satire. "

The role of Xiangsheng social comments visible in 1976 after the fall of the Gang of Four, as Xiangsheng performances provided the first open criticism of this group. After 1976 Xiangsheng has also brought satire of bureaucracy and corrupt officials and privileges of cadres of the Communist Party of China.

The humor in political affairs, however, is not stored, as for example at the political joke category Radio Yerevan from the countries of Eastern Europe:

"The semi-underground cabaret humor of the Eastern European countries cracks jokes at the expense of its the Communist Party. Chinese xiang sheng, at least, the above ground performances, does the opposite; it satirizes enemies of the Party Both at home and abroad. "

Intangible Cultural Heritage

On the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China ( V -47 ( 740) ) are Xiangsheng of China Broadcast Performing Arts Group ( Zhongguo Guangbo yishutuan ), the Beijing Song and Dance Theater Group LLC (Beijing shi gewujuyuan Youxian zeren Gongsi ) and from the government immediacy city of Tianjin.

Collections

A comprehensive collection of traditional Chinese Xiangsheng pieces is the four -volume work Zhongguo xiang sheng Chuantong daquan. A convenient overview of Xiangsheng pieces provides xiangsheng.org.

Famous Xiangsheng performer

See list of Xiangsheng performers.