About the Book

“ All of the editors and authors whose work has gone into this volume were formerly the doctoral students of an extraordinary pair of advisors: Joseph W. Esherick and Paul G. Pickowicz. ”
-from the Dedication

Visualizing Modern China: Image, History, and Memory, 1750–Present offers a sophisticated yet accessible interpretation of modern Chinese history through visual imagery. With rich illustrations and a companion website, it is an ideal textbook for college-level courses on modern Chinese history and on modern visual culture. The introduction provides a methodological framework and historical overview, while the chronologically arranged chapters use engaging case studies to explore important themes. Topics include: Qing court ritual, rebellion and war, urban/rural relations, art and architecture, sports, the Chinese diaspora, state politics, film propaganda and censorship, youth in the Cultural Revolution, environmentalism, and Internet culture.

Ordering

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978-0-7391-9043-2 • Hardback
September 2014 • $95.00 • (£59.95)

978-0-7391-9044-9 • eBook
September 2014 • $94.99 • (£59.95)

Pages: 306

Size: 6 x 9

Edited by: James A. Cook, Joshua Goldstein, Matthew D. Johnson and Sigrid Schmalzer

Contributions by: Jeremy Brown, Michael G. Chang, James A. Cook, Madeleine Yue Dong, Susan Fernsebner, Christian Hess, Matthew D. Johnson, Lu Liu, Cecily McCaffrey, Andrew D. Morris, Charles D. Musgrove, Sigrid Schmalzer, E. Elena Songster, Zhiwei Xiao and Xiaowei Zheng

Advance review:

"This exceptional book provides a fresh history of modern China, showing how it was shaped by visual experiences. Leading scholars trace the strong connection between image-making and state power from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries. The essays examine not only artifacts, from folk art to propagandistic cinema, but also how the gaze has been manipulated to create new perceptions of the nation. The book should be read by all who are interested in the relation between vision and power."
— Yomi Braester, University of Washington

Dedication:

All of the editors and authors whose work has gone into this volume were formerly the doctoral students of an extraordinary pair of advisors: Joseph W. Esherick and Paul G. Pickowicz. The program in modern Chinese history that they built at the University of California, San Diego was a unique experience for all who participated. The countless talks, research trips, conferences, and wonderful gatherings they put together infused the program with a spirit of human warmth and intellectual dialogue that extended well beyond the classroom. But the most important element of Joe and Paul’s approach to graduate teaching was their commitment to collaborative mentorship. Their cooperative ethic made them truly equal professional partners—they served as co-advisors for every student—and served as a model of teamwork and selflessness to their many grateful advisees. We offer this volume, designed primarily for use in the classroom, as a tribute to our experiences in Joe and Paul’s program, and to their amazing capacity for investing boundless energy in each and every student.