MUSIC, MEDIA, AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE: EXPLORING THE CREATIVE MOTIVES BEHIND THE ADAPTATION OF DONG GRAND CHOIRS

Abstract

Dong Grand Choirs, recognized as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage, embody both the communal wisdom and cultural memory of the Dong people. In recent years, media technologies have created new opportunities and challenges for its communication and transformation. This study explores the adaptation motives, strategies, and governance implications of creative subjects across three fields—film, documentary, and concert—by employing a qualitative case study approach. Findings show that motives diverge: filmmakers either emphasize authenticity to preserve cultural subjectivity or adopt symbolic borrowing to enhance cinematic aesthetics; documentary and concert creators prioritize cross-cultural dialogue and globalization–localization experiments. Despite these differences, a shared recognition of the artistic value of Dong Grand Choirs emerges, with adaptation strategies ranging from authenticity-first approaches to creative transformations. The research highlights a governance logic of dynamic balance—between cultural core and form expression, subject stance and audience needs, and traditional heritage genes and modern technologies. Li Add Contributor mitations include the absence of analysis of emerging media forms and systematic audience data, which future research should address. Overall, the case of Dong Grand Choirs demonstrates how intangible cultural heritage can evolve from static preservation to a dynamic governance pathway that links cultural protection, media innovation, and local development.