Symbiosis and Feedback Mechanism Between Fantasy IPs and National Cultural Symbols
Abstract
Against the backdrop of globalization and the rapid development of new media technologies, the inheritance, promotion, and development of national cultural symbols face both challenges and new opportunities. As a widely accepted and beloved cultural form, fantasy IPs can be integrated with the dissemination of national cultural symbols, enabling more effective cultural transmission and value extension. This paper takes three major fantasy IPs—The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, the Marvel Series, and Harry Potter—as research objects to analyze the symbiotic logic between these IPs and national cultural symbols. Employing case study and literature analysis methods, this paper explores how fantasy IPs act as disseminators of national cultural symbols by examining the role of IP content in carrying cultural symbols, their dissemination methods, and the value impact of derivative creation. It also illustrates how national cultural symbols inject unique charm into the corresponding IPs, ultimately forming a symbiotic closed loop of "content creation—cultural dissemination—industrial feedback." For example, the Marvel film series has achieved the global narrative of American individual heroism, while the creation of related derivatives has further realized the commercial value of Marvel films. The research conclusion points out that the symbiotic relationship between fantasy IPs and national cultural symbols can achieve the mutual reinforcement of cultural and commercial values, which provides insights for tapping the expressive potential of localized symbols and promoting the dissemination of cultural symbols.
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