222. Jour Fixe der Stiftung ex oriente

The ex oriente Foundation’s 222nd regular meeting invites you to

“Clichés Under Scrutiny: China and the Chinese in 50 Years of Tatort”

a lecture by Prof. Dr. ZHOU Haixia, on July 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Confucius Institute Munich or via Zoom and YouTube livestream

Tatort, which can now look back on a history spanning over 50 years, is often hailed as “the true German social novel.” As a cult crime series, it significantly shapes the perception of “the Other” as well as the discourse on migration. But what image does the series paint of China and of people of Chinese origin living in Germany? Is this image realistic, or is it rather shaped by clichés and stereotypes?

This lecture presents a thorough content analysis of Tatort episodes featuring China-related themes and characters spanning over five decades. The focus is on the following questions: What China-related themes and Chinese characters appear in the crime series? Which Chinese elements are present, and in what form? How have the China-related stories evolved over the decades? What narrative patterns do the scripts use to construct “Chineseness”?

The analysis makes it clear that specific stereotypical roles can be identified in Tatort that have had a lasting impact on the image of China and Chinese immigrants. In doing so, the series repeatedly draws on certain stereotypes and prejudices about China and Chinese people. Behind the variously played-out plots and conflict motifs lie deeply rooted narrative patterns. Three dominant patterns stand out in particular: the portrayal of economic interdependence with China as a criminal threat, the image of the Chinese community as an isolated or self-contained parallel society, and the construction of Chinese culture as the “exotic Other,” in which Chinese cuisine and Chinese restaurants play a special role. While some China-related elements, stereotypes, and narrative patterns in Tatort have remained stable over decades, others gain relevance more temporarily, depending on social conditions in Germany.

Speaker: Prof . Dr. ZHOU Haixia, Germanist at the School of German Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, with a research focus on intercultural communication.

The ex oriente Foundation’s “Jour Fixe” is a monthly lecture series organized by the Confucius Institute Munich. Renowned speakers provide insights into China’s history, culture, society, economy, and politics and invite discussion on current topics.

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