Engineering nationalism: Popular TV, ideological work, and the cultural politics of state propaganda in China

This study examines China’s revitalized state propaganda through the lens of new mainstream TV genres in the streaming era. Streaming platforms enable the TV industry to recalibrate commercial and ideological priorities, influencing the content, style, and aesthetics of revolutionary narrative dramas through digital marketing and audience engagement. Analyzing the production and reception of The Awakening Age , I argue that its widespread acclaim demonstrates the success of streaming propaganda. These productions modernize portrayals of party history and national identity while leveraging marketing strategies tailored to youth culture, consumption habits, and viewing patterns.