EAAS GR8992

Knowledge about Chinese media cultures, and more generally, about media theory.

Inspection of the dissemination of social knowledge and construction of culture, people, and ideas through a consideration of medias and their roles in building a modern China.

Taking Professor Qian's Chinese Media Cultures class felt like receiving a year's worth of education in a single semester, in a class that met just once a week. Her course introduced me to the theory of media (which I previously had never encountered); the sophisticated ways in which media was and is deployed, consumed and experienced by diverse Chinese constituencies over an equally complicated century (and a half or so) of history; a rich selection of primary sources, including essays, photographs (news photos, photo collages), films, etc.; and the field's best, most useful and most timely scholarship. Professor Qian's course was in every way intellectually invigorating. Class discussions, readings and media, her feedback to our discussion responses, office hours conversations, etc. all served to sharpen my existing skills (the few that I had) and gave me the tools, and impetus, with which to hone new ones, especially in terms of critical thinking, synthesis, formulating an argument, and banishing presuppositions and looking at the evidence. Moreover, Professor Qian's class consistently brought to the fore of our discussion of media studies the perspectives of diverse and marginalized communities. Her class never narrowed the scope of our understanding of Chinese media cultures; it only ever widened it.

I gained a much more expansive view of media and mediation, both in the context of modern China's history and the academic field of media studies.

theories of film, photography, digital media in modern China socio-techno-historical perspective

I learned about many scholars who conduct media studies about China. I have greatly benefitted from their works. As a historian, I am very pleased that Professor Qian chose these meaning pieces for me to broaden my intellectual horizon.

Broad overview of various medias forms (posters, photos, sound, film, digital etc.) from late Qing to contemporary China. Gained new theoretical toolsets to thinking about mediation.

I have get to know different forms of media (both old and new) and how they shape the perception in Chinese society, how are they connected with social issues and what are the discourses revolving around theses forms of media. I was also introduced to many amazing primary sources, scholars, theories and research method. At the same time, it was also interesting and excited to learn my classmates and Professor Qian's perspectives on different topics.

This course has offered me valuable methodologies and theories into examining the role of media in shaping politics and cultures.

I read about media in China, and saw a historical and political trace through studying media, and was able to connect dots between "old" and "new" media, and to think about the distinctions that media could create and also transgress.