Description
Book SynopsisThe end of the Qing dynasty in China saw an unprecedented explosion of print journalism. By the turn of the twentieth century, not only had Chinese-owned newspapers become more influential than anyone could have anticipated, but it was the supposedly frivolous xiaobao, the little or minor papers, that captivated and empowered the public.
Merry Laughter and Angry Curses reveals how the late-Qing-era tabloid press became the voice of the people. As periodical publishing reached a fever pitch, tabloids had free rein to criticize officials, mock the elite, and scandalize readers. Tabloid writers produced a massive amount of anti-establishment literature, whose distinctive humour and satirical style were both potent and popular. This book shows the tabloid community to be both a producer of meanings and a participant in the social and cultural dialogue that would shake the foundations of imperial China and lead to the 1911 Republican Revolution.
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1 Community of Fun
2 Officialdom Unmasked
3 Imagining the Nation
4 Confronting the “New”
5 Questioning the Appropriators
6 The Market, Populism, and Aesthetics
Conclusion
Notes
Glossary of Chinese Terms and Names
Bibliography
Index
