Arts Studies and Criticism

Against the backdrop of the digital and intelligent era, technological empowerment has injected new momentum into the image production and dissemination mechanisms of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) documentaries, enabling them to gradually become an important medium for the protection and transmission of ICH. While adhering to the principle of authenticity, the aesthetic education function of ICH documentaries has become increasingly prominent, and their modes of expression and dissemination have exhibited diversified characteristics of media convergence and cross-community circulation. Focusing on the concrete means through which digital and intelligent technologies empower ICH documentaries, this paper systematically analyzes innovations in audiovisual language, narrative logic, and dissemination pathways. It then explores in depth the multidimensional values manifested by ICH documentaries at the level of aesthetic education, including the shaping of cultural identity, the cultivation of aesthetic competence, and the stimulation of public participation. Finally, the paper reflects on the limitations and challenges present in current research and offers an outlook on future development trends of ICH documentaries in terms of technological integration, cultural expression, and dissemination effectiveness.