Speaking the China Dream: self-realization and nationalism in China’s public-speaking shows

Abstract

ABSTRACTOne of the key impacts of the ‘China Dream‘ campaign, along with the promulgation of patriotic values, has been the proliferation of the discourse of ’dreams’ across Chinese society. While the language of dreams alludes to individualistic values, in accord with recent socioeconomic transformations in China, state-promoted practices meticulously foster associations between the self-realization of individuals and their nationalistic sentiments. In this article, I look at a new genre of reality TV shows in China that has played an intriguing role in this process – public-speaking shows. Young contestants in these shows bring forth personal stories in a highly pedagogic fashion, becoming both role models for individualistic pursuits and messengers of state propaganda. Through speech performances, these shows both enhance and mitigate tensions between self-realization and nationalism that have extended through the China Dream campaign. These shows exemplify a discursive apparatus that reconfigures self-centred values through a vision of social stability and citizens’ affiliation to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).