Atmosphere as Temporal Medium: The


	Cinematic Construction of ‘Stasis’ and


	‘Duration’ in Chinese Film

Abstract:

Current studies of cinematic time predominantly

focus on narratological or technical approaches, which to

some extent overlook its ontological dimension as aesthetic

experience. This article places ‘film atmosphere’ at the

center of analysis, examining how cinema transforms abstract

temporality into a sensible and embodied mode of experience,

thereby constructing the viewer’s dual perception of time as

both ‘stasis’ and ‘duration.’ To articulate this dynamic, the

discussion integrates the Chinese philosophical concept of qi––

which views time as isomorphic with the rhythms of life––

with Western phenomenological and aesthetic theories of

atmosphere that foreground situated perception. This synthesis

forms an analytical framework focused on the temporal

dimension of atmosphere, opening a path from ‘narrative time’

to ‘lived time’ in understanding cinema, thus offering a new

perspective for contemporary film-time studies.

Key words:

film atmosphere, temporal medium, time

perception, stasis, duration

Knowledge