Popular Culture and Consumption in Modern China

3 units

This writing-intensive seminar explores transformations in popular culture and everyday life in Chinese society since 1949 through an analytical focus on political economy and material culture. Drawing upon ethnographic texts, films, and material artifacts, we will investigate how the forces of state control and global capitalism converge to shape consumer desires and everyday habits in contemporary China. Case studies include eating habits, fashion standards, housing trends, entertainment, sports, and counterfeit goods. Prerequisite: previous course in China studies (anthropology, economics, history, literature, philosophy, or political science) required. Enrollment by instructor approval only.