Between the City and Images: An Analysis of Mainstream Media's Paths of Constructing the Cultural Memory of a City: Taking Chengdu Radio and Television's “Hi Chengdu” as an Example

Abstract

Mainstream media play a crucial role in constructing the cultural memory of a city. This study used 319 short videos released by “Hi Chengdu,” a new media product of Chengdu Radio and Television, as samples. Based on the grounded theory, a research framework encompassing “content, technology, and discourse” was established to explore the paths through which mainstream media construct the cultural memory. Regarding content, this paper emphasized temporal and spatial contexts and urban spaces, delving deep into the themes of the cultural memory and vehicles for it. In terms of technology, this paper discussed the practice of leveraging audio/visual-mode discourse to stitch together the impressions of a city and evoke emotional resonance to create a “flow” of memory. As for discourse, this paper looked at the performance of a communication ritual to frame concepts and shape urban identity. It is essential to break free from conventional thinking and leverage local culture as the primary driving force to further boost a city’s productivity, in order to excel in cultural communication.