Original academic drama on social science popularization a hit

Kuige Age, an academic drama created by Yunnan University (YNU), was selected to be part of the first batch of social science popularization and innovation demonstration projects in Yunnan Province (2020).

Implemented by the School of Ethnology and Sociology of YNU, the drama shows the difficult and arduous process of a group of outstanding scholars developing social science disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, and ethnology, at Yunnan University during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

This is the first time in academia that drama has been used as a comprehensive art form to teach the history of scholastic disciplines and ideas. A total of 63 students from the School of Ethnology and Sociology, as well as seven students from other schools participated in the rehearsal and performance.

The preparation, rehearsal, and performance of Kuige Age show the combination of cultural education, practical education, scientific research, innovation, and collaborative education.

The Kuige Age refers to the birth of a modern Chinese social science community. Those scholars' academic persistence, perseverance, and their sense of responsibility to the country have greatly inspired students' patriotism and enthusiasm for learning.

Moreover, due to the large amount of reading and physical practice when rehearsing the play, the student actors have gotten a deeper understanding of the academic achievements and social responsibility of the Kuige Age.

The drama was selected as an excellent original cultural project of the university in July 2020 and related commentary articles have been reposted more than 100 times by media outlets like Gmw.cn and People.cn, attracting more than one million views.

A scene from the original academic drama Kuige Age. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]