How to read a text: (PDF): list of questions to help you generate information to think through a text (book, article, but also painting, and any carrier of information) as a starting point for a paper
If you want to read more background information: list of in-depth studies (updated throughout semester)
Audiovisual materials:
John Thompson photographs at the Wellcome Collection: “John Thomson (1837-1921) was one of the first photographers to document his travels to East Asia. His photographs of life in Indo-China, China and Cyprus in the late 19th century are held in the Library’s collections.”
Brush and Shutter: Early Photography in China, at the Getty Research Institute
Avon (Academic Video Online): includes a large collection of China-related material (requires Muhlenberg login)
chineseposters.net: A huge collection of political posters from the People’s Republic, with some analysis and historical background.
Blogs and websites of critical voices in the study of modern and present-day China:
Axios China weekly newsletter: A free weekly round-up of the most important trends and developments, run by Bill Bishop of Sinocism (a daily, paid-for newsletter, but essential to China-watchers and well worth the money: it also includes Chinese language materials and brief comments).
Nüvoices: “women writers’ and artists’ collective”
Chinoiserie: “No expertise comes without constant doubt and a willingness to challenge established truths. Chinoiserie represents our attempt to question some of today’s understandings and certainties about China. It blends the image of a ‘chinoiserie’—a foreign interpretation and imitation of Chinese artistic traditions, a term that over time has come to assume the meaning of a clichè, a stereotypical view of China—with the concept of ‘heresy’—an unorthodox view aimed at challenging a given truth.”
The Little Red Podcast: China journalist Graeme Smith and Louisa Lim talk to experts. Great for in-depth interviews on contemporary China issues.
China Media Project: “The China Media Project is an independent research, fellowship and exchange program in partnership with the Journalism & Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong. The CMP fosters dialogue on key issues in Chinese media and communications, and monitors breaking developments in the field.” There is also a theme on Chinese political cartoons.
Sixth Tone: The site provides translations from Chinese to English for online materials that are in the news. If you want to know what’s up in China but don’t read Chinese, this will help you keep abreast of the major topics and themes. “We are a team of writers, editors, and researchers from within China and abroad. We belong to Shanghai United Media Group, and share our offices with our sister publication, The Paper.”
