Merry Laughter and Angry Curses

The Shanghai Tabloid Press, 1897-1911

By: Juan Wang

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 July 2013

At a Glance

Paperback
248 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.23 x 15.24 x 1.52

Paperback

$77.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $19.44 with

or

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

The end of the Qing dynasty in China saw an unprecedented explosion
of print journalism. Chinese-owned newspapers, first encouraged by
Emperor Guangxu to inform and educate an increasingly literate public,
had by the turn of the century become more powerful than the state had
ever anticipated or desired. Yet it was not the dabao, or
"important" papers, that proved most influential. Rather it
was the xiaobao, the "little" or
"minor" papers - with their reputation for
frivolity - 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, giving the
public knowledge about previously unspeakable and unprintable ideas. In
the name of the people, 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.Juan Wang is an independent scholar of Chinese
history.

Industry Reviews

"Illuminating and endlessly entertaining. Juan Wang does a marvelous job of showing how the tabloids that burst on the scene in Shanghai at the turn of the last century influenced the main political and historical developments of the late Qing. With a stylistic repertoire that included irony, mockery, gossip, sarcasm, and biting humor, these trendy publications, she argues convincingly, did much to prepare the way, intellectually and psychologically, for the demise of the dynasty."
- Paul A. Cohen, author of Speaking to History: The Story of King Goujian in Twentieth-Century China

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.