实力派

[zhwj]

Is there a standard English translation of 实力派 when applied to writers or film-makers? I keep thinking that there's some analogue in English, but I haven't been able to come up with anything.

[gato]

Judging from this article, it's like it's the contrast between commercial writers and literary writers. For films, it would be commercial vs. art films. However, the analogy is not perfect because the Chinese terms here really refer to flash/star power vs. substance. But I don't know of any terms that are exact parallels of these. These Chinese terms seem to be recent inventions, too.

http://www.news365.com.cn/wxzt/wx_wenhua/byhhbkjf/bypgd/200603/t20060324_876398.htm

白烨：偶像派与实力派之争伴

[zhwj]

I keep coming across this term, but I still haven't found a good English analogue.

Gato's explanation is correct, and you'd think that the same division between flashy writers and serious writers (or actors, or artists) would exist in English literature or in Hollywood.

For some reason I feel there's a name for the crop of 1970s actors like Nicholson and De Niro that would work here - anyone?

[roddy]

I must spend too much time in fast food resaurants, I keep on thinking of pies when i see this topic.

What about heavy-weight? I think that would be close for director and writer at least?

[chenpv]

And how about 重量级(人物/选手)?

[Koneko]

True talents = 实力派

Pop idols = 偶像派

[Gulao]

I think commercial vs. substantive/art/literary/what have you is a fairly good analogue. Both, as far as I can tell, refer to whether or not the person involved tries to appeal broadly in an effort to be "popular."

[zhwj]

Thanks for the suggestions. (Heavyweight is the word I've not been able to think of for months, but now that you've reminded me of it, roddy, it doesn't seem like the right fit.)

I keep encountering stuff like “＊＊＊，１９６９年生，当代中国文坛不可忽视的实力派作家之一”, and I'd been hoping that it's actually something substantive, but it looks like it's just market-speak. "Literary novelist" (or "serious actor") is what it'll have to be. Oh, well.