Cultural Identity Reconstruction Through Taiwanese Period TV Dramas

In recent years, Taiwanese period TV dramas have gained prominence from not only its entertainment value but also the transmission of history and cultural narratives. These dramas integrate rich narratives, visual authenticity, and historical contexts, providing young Taiwanese people an opportunity to engage with and reinterpret the complicated cultural identity. However, although prior studies have examined how media affect cultural understanding, there were limited focus on how these media actively assist the reconstruction of cultural identity, especially for digital-native audiences. This research addresses this gap by answering the question: How do young Taiwanese people reconstruct cultural identity from the perspective of interpreting period dramas? Grounded in cultural memory theory and audience reception theory, this study conducted qualitative research and in-depth semi-structure interviews with 12 young Taiwanese who have watched at least two Taiwanese period TV dramas. Thematic analysis was applied in this research to interpret how period dramas influenced participants' understandings of Taiwanese history, values, and cultural identity. The finding shows that Taiwanese period TV dramas can be a device of cultural memory to fill generation gap and be supplement of history education. Participants demonstrated that these dramas allow them to immerse in historical atmosphere, understand social transformation, emotionally connect to past eras. Key themes emerging from the data include the impact of narrative techniques and audio-visual immersion, emotional engagement through nostalgia and empathy, intergenerational reflection, and the active formation of collective memory and Taiwanese identity. Additionally, participants expressed critical consciousness to political and cultural biases in the dramas. This study concludes that Taiwanese period TV dramas are not just entertainment but also an influential tool to reinforce young audiences' reinterpretation and reconstruction of cultural identity. Through the engagement of dramatized history, audiences are able to understand the evolution of Taiwan's culture and politics and negotiate their own identity in contemporary societal and historical framework. This research contributes to the broader academic discussions of media, cultural identity, and memory, offering lens of Taiwan to explore how media mediate the formation of identity in digitally connected society.