Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book constitutes an excellent contribution to contemporary Chinese folklore studies and would make a wonderful addition to undergraduate courses on East Asian folklore and cross-cultural explorations of contemporary cultural politics."--
Journal of American Folklore"I have read nothing like it in the field of Chinese studies. Original, insightful, and thoughtful, this book will be a must-read for a wide audience."--Lisa Rofel, author of Desiring China: Experiments in Neoliberalism, Sexuality, and Public Culture
"A lively, engaging ethnography."--China Quarterly
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Reinventing Chinese Tradition is a fine example of how the anthropological analysis of tradition and suggests how anthropologists can articulate the relationship between modernity and tradition(s) in all societies."--
Anthropology Review Database"This book uses solid ethnographic data and rich research findings in the field to provide convincing support for the newer trends in the theory of tradition. The profound analyses make a strong case for the argument that tradition is changeable."--
Journal of Folklore Research"Wu's theoretical approach and frequent engagement with a broader ethnographic literature makes this a must-read for specialists. It is recommended for anyone looking for insights into the complexities of contemporary rural China's cultural scene."--
China Journal"A wonderful balance of ethnography and theoretical argument. Written in an engaging and accessible style and each chapter has much to offer in terms of theoretical insight and argument. It fairly sparkles intellectually."--Ann Anagnost, coeditor of
Global Futures in East Asia: Youth, Nation, and the New Economy in Uncertain Times"Drawing on years of deep and prolonged immersion in the lives of village residents of the North China plain, Ka-ming Wu not only brilliantly elucidates scholarly dialogues about domestic and global debates, but through lively ethnography allows readers to appreciate the dynamic interchange between several generations of village performers, artists, and their audiences."--Deborah S. Davis, coeditor of
Creating Wealth and Poverty in Postsocialist China
