Propaganda - Helen Kwan Yee Cheung on Cantonese Opera and Homeland Politics

Helen Kwan Yee Cheung, a 2013 M.A. University of Alberta graduate, pursued studying the Chinese community history in Edmonton through the lens of Cantonese Opera. She found that Cantonese Opera had elements of several social functions: cultural entertainment, philanthropy, and homeland politics. In this audio story, Helen talks about Cantonese Opera being used as a platform for the politics in China.

Interview and editing by Scott Bell. This documentary was produced as part of a Community Service Learning project at the University of Alberta. It is part of a multimedia project capturing the history of Edmonton's Chinatown, called Figure 一，二，三，六，八.

This piece features a public domain recording of "White Hibiscus at Night," performed by Cantonese Opera star Peony Su. More info: archive.org/details/Peony_Su_Wh…e_Hibiscus_At_Night

Photo: Chan Shu Liu in a costume adorned with propaganda in support of the Nationalist government in China (City of Edmonton Archives, EA-600-1559b).