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History China

Merry Laughter and Angry Curses

The Shanghai Tabloid Press, 1897-1911

by (author) Juan Wang

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Oct 2012
Category
China, Journalism, Media Studies
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774823388
    Publish Date
    Oct 2012
    List Price
    $95.00
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774823395
    Publish Date
    Jul 2013
    List Price
    $32.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774823401
    Publish Date
    Oct 2012
    List Price
    $32.95

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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.

About the author

Juan Wang is an independent scholar of Chinese history.

Juan Wang's profile page

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