Merry Laughter and Angry Curses |
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| Author:
| Wang, Juan |
| Series title: | Contemporary Chinese Studies |
| ISBN: | 978-1-283-60430-7 |
| Publication Date: | Jan 2012 |
| Publisher: | University of British Columbia Press
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| Imprint: | UBC Press |
| Book Format: | Ebook |
| List Price: | USD $99.00 |
Book Description:
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The 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...
More Description
The 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.