Entertainment and Politics in Contemporary China [Hardcover]

This book advances research about China by providing an updated narrative of its entertainment life in the beginning of Chinas twenty-first century. As the rest of the world continues to pay keen attention to developments in Chinas politics, economy, and culture, the book provides insights on fascinating new developments in contemporary Chinese popular cultureincluding its reality television, family dramas centered around younger generations life struggles, and social media. Furthermore, Entertainment and Politics in Contemporary China is the first book to apply the theoretical innovation of an aesthetic public sphere in examining closely the linkages between Chinas political life and activities in the countrys culture sphere. Since concepts of public sphere and democracy largely took root from the West, Wu argues that this case study of China promises valuable insights about entertainments role in the formation of citizenship and building of a civil society, which remains a site of great contention in Western theories and empirical efforts.

Jingsi Christina Wu is an award-winning media studies scholar who examines the crossroads of entertainment media, politics, and civic engagement. Dr. Wus research has investigated topics as diverse as video gaming, social media and politics, American television, and the Chinese media. Her work has been published in some of the fields most prestigious journals.