Between Red and Child: The Evolving Politics of the Child's Body in China's Red Children's Films

Abstract

In 2022, China's Ministry of Education issued a new version of the compulsory education curriculum plan and standards, further deepening curriculum reform and integrating film and television (including digital media arts) as a subject throughout the curriculum system for grades one to nine. As a product of the intersection between film and education, children's films constitute an inherent component in the development of the film and television discipline during the compulsory education stage. China's red children's films can not only foster patriotism among young audiences but also help them "fasten the first button of life." This study adopts a combination of historical periodization and textual analysis, drawing on theories from the philosophy of childhood, sociology of the body, and ideological criticism to systematically examine the narrative strategies and character construction in China's red children's films across different historical periods. The research finds that the evolution of these films reflects the transformation of China's socio-political context and cultural policies over time. The construction of child characters represents both an artistic exploration of children's subjectivity and a discursive practice through which national ideology operates within the realm of children's culture. By tracing the shifting representation of the child's body—from revolutionary hero to wounded witness, from collective symbol to psychological subject—this study reveals the persistent tension between ideological imperatives and authentic child-centered aesthetics. It argues that the genre's most successful works navigate this tension creatively, while its failures emerge when education overwhelms entertainment or form substitutes for substance. This study holds theoretical value and practical relevance for deepening the understanding of the aesthetic characteristics, educational functions, and cultural mission of China's red children's films, offering concrete strategies for contemporary filmmakers seeking to engage young audiences while preserving ideological integrity.