Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of the Global Film Trade Network

Abstract

With globalization accelerating, films, as unique cultural products, are increasingly crossing borders and forming global trade networks. This network is a significant research focus in film geography. An in-depth analysis of the global film trade network helps illuminates its spatial and temporal patterns, offering both academic insight and practical value for the expansion of the Chinese film market overseas and the implementing cultural power strategies. Based on data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database, this study uses complex network analysis methods to explore the evolution of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the global film trade network from 2004 to 2019. The findings reveal four key trends: first, the continuous expansion, seen in the growing number of nodes and trade flows indicates that the film trade relations between countries are becoming closer, creating a highly interconnected international cultural market. This reflects a growing decentralization of global cultural products, particularly with an increased in participation from Asian countries. Second, the trade network's topology has shifted from a dual-core model centered on Europe and America to a multipolar structure centered on Europe, Asia, and the United States, highlighting the increasingly important role of Asian countries, especially China, in the global film trade. Third, the distinction between the network's core and periphery has become more pronounced, revealing an increasing hierarchy in the film trade. This hierarchy may exacerbate market imbalances, giving stronger countries more influence over film production and distribution, whereas smaller cultural markets face more severe challenges. Finally, community detection analysis shows that the global film trade network exhibits significant community distribution characteristics, with these communities being relatively geographically concentrated, fostering stable exchange and cooperation of cultural products. This study examines the spatial and temporal evolution of the global film trade network from a macro perspective, focusing on the overall characteristics, topological structure, spatial evolution, and community formation. The research found that film geography emphasizes the role of films as a social practice, revealing cultural exchanges and their global dissemination among different countries and regions. Economic power continues to play a crucial role in the global film distribution. Despite the increasingly interconnected global film trade, the diversification of trade partners were not decentralized; rather, it has reinforced connections among countries within regions, reflecting a complementary relationship between regionalization and globalization. Economically developed countries dominate regional groups, highlighting the critical role of economic power in the global film trade. Despite stable trade cooperation, cultural imperialism remains a persistent issue as the dominance of American films in the global market promotes cultural homogenization. The study highlights the interplay of economic and cultural forces in shaping global film product flows, with the film network intersecting with other global networks. This calls for a critical analysis of power dynamics and sociocultural significance within these structures. As globalization advances, more nations are integrating into the global film trade, with China emerging as a key player. However, there is still a need to optimize trade structures, actively expand markets, and foster collaboration with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to strengthen China's s position in the global film trade network.

Keywords

• global film trade
• complex network analysis
• trade network
• temporal and spatial pattern