Daughter, Warrior, Woman: The Evolution of Hua Mulan
In the first part of my Mulan article, I discussed what the Disney animation meant for the Chinese in China, as well as for global audiences; looked at the initial trailer of the new live action film and talked about what I hope to see in it. To understand Mulan’s significance as a cultural icon fully, we need to go to her origins and see how she evolved. I will focusing on two relatively recent film adaptations that have made the greatest impact around the world (China included), so we could see where Mulan is culturally, particularly in terms of her representation in cinema, just before a new major work comes out.
Posted in Blog and tagged ballet, books, china, Chinese, cinema, cross-dressing, culture, feminism, film, gender, gender politics, Hua Mulan, literature, Mulan, musical, opera, theatre, TV
China’s LGBTQ+: Landmark Cases
A few years ago I started a series on LGBTQ+ in China. Despite the cancellations and shut-downs, it was a hopeful time, the internet had brought the public closer to the concept of queerness, established groups organisations were supporting communities whilst improving public awareness. Campaigners were continuing to sue for change in educational materials and the few festival were braving the storms. A few years later, the clamp-down has tightened, especially in the media and on public events. All in all, the enthusiastic bubbling of activities seemed to have quieted down. This doesn’t mean that communities no longer exist, or groups are no longer at work. In fact, many legal battles have been fought in the last few years, some more successful than others, but they have all generated a lot of public debate and amply demonstrated the gaps in China’s legislature with regards LGBTQ+ rights.
Posted in Blog and tagged china, Chinese, culture, diversity, gender, law, legislation, LGBTQ, sexuality, society
The Untamed and the Philosophy of Chinese Music Part 2: Music as A Form of Healing and Kungfu
In part one of my article on Chinese philosophies of music as explored in The Untamed, I looked at the role of music in cultivation and zhiyin culture. In the second part, I’ll be discussing concepts surrounding music as a way of healing, and in extending this further, as a form of kungfu.
Posted in Blog and tagged china, Chinese, cosmology, culture, Five Elements, healing, music, philosophy, TCM, The Untamed
Baitanzi: China’s Street Vending Culture
Recently, Chinese street vending has made it into the news again. These hawkers that dot the streets of China have had a long, and ambivalent relationship with its development and its government. After frequent regional directives to purge them from the streets since the country opened its doors, they are being encouraged by the government, as a means of post-COVID_19 micro-economic recovery. China’s tradition of baitanzi, or setting up stall on the street, goes back a long way.
Posted in Blog and tagged china, Chinese, COVID19, culture, economy, society, street vending
Ye Yonglie: An Obituary
On the 15thof May 2020, one of the forefathers of Chinese science fiction, Ye Yonglie, passed away.
Born in 1940 in Wenzhou (Zhejiang), Ye was a literary prodigy who published his first work at the age of 11, and his first book at the age of 19. After graduating in chemistry from Peking University, he continued his love of writing, and went on to create a wide range of short stories, journals and longer fictional works.
Posted in Blog and tagged children's fiction, china, Chinese, culture, fiction, novel, orbituary, science fiction, SFF, Ye Yonglie
A Quick Guide to Wangluo Xiaoshuo
This week was World Book and Copyright Day. I wanted to write a little about Chinese internet novels. A phenomenon that came into being in the early 2000s, as the world entered the Age of Internet, the wangluo xiaoshuo had a particularly deep impact on Chinese literary creativity, due the relatively scarcity of commercial fiction published in China before this time. As its arts become more and more available to the world, it’s also become apparent that doesn’t necessarily mean more accessible For many genres have developed in China that don’t exist in the West, or are different from our understandings of them. Here’s a quick guide to the main genres of wangluo xiaoshuo.
Posted in Blog and tagged china, Chinese, culture, fiction, genres, guide, Internet, net novel
LGBTQ+ and Chinese Society
In the third article of my LGBTQ+ series, I put the subject into the context of traditional and modern Chinese society, and look at the challenges faced by China’s queer population, governmental approach as well as factors that are changing public perception.
Posted in Blog and tagged china, Chinese, commentary, culture, diversity, LGBTQ, queer, society