From Stage to Online: Reinvention of Cantonese Opera

Abstract

Cantonese Opera has a history of more than 500 years. In recent decades, Cantonese Opera is seldom performed on the stage, but more appearing on TV, in movies, and on the Internet. Owing to the development of information technology, Cantonese Opera was reborn on the Internet, enriching its content and enlarging its influence. Using the Netnography method, the process from the decline of Cantonese Opera on the stage to the revival on the Internet was investigated. A series of data and cases were collected from Blibli and Youtube, and other main Internet platforms in China and the US. The findings showed that the forms of Cantonese Opera have become richer, and its content is not limited to the performance but extended to opera actors through vlogs and online apps and by sharing Cantonese singing skills. The characteristics of Cantonese Opera on the Internet were summarized and compared to those on the stages. The result showed that Cantonese Opera on the Internet has more room to extend its influence and attract young people to enjoy the traditional culture. With the 5G technology, artificial intelligence technology, and 3D technology, Cantonese Opera become to have a bigger opportunity to transmit to new platforms.