CITI University doctoral candidate and lecturer at Guangzhou’s School of Applied Science and Technology in China, Teng Zhenzhen (Teng Zhenzhen), on 15 May 2024 defended the dissertation entitled ‘Design Research on Developing the He Xiangu Legend as Cultural IP in Guangzhou, Southern China’ for a doctoral degree in Art Studies.
The findings supported the candidate’s hypothesis that changes in everyday life since the twentieth century—particularly urbanisation from the mid-century onwards, the rapid development of the internet and new media, and IP design approaches—created opportunities to develop the He Xiangu legend as a new model of cultural innovation for global markets. The study divided its historical development into three stages: new oral history, textual transmission and performing arts. Its periodisation of the legend’s values as they moved from oral culture into printed texts and subsequently screen arts constitutes an original scholarly contribution.
The dissertation identified three principal areas associated with the legend: Yongzhou in Hunan, Wuping in Fujian and Zengcheng in Guangdong. To develop a new IP character, it compared the content and visual characteristics of He Xiangu narratives in these areas. Developments in VR, AI and metaverse technologies open possibilities for digitising oral heritage and for the future design of He Xiangu IP in Guangzhou. The study also has practical and economic relevance for cultural and creative industries. Research supervisors: Professor J. Dolgorsuren, PhD, and J. Saikhan, PhD.