MCLC: Changpian no. 17

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Changpian no. 17
长篇 // Changpian // Longform
Welcome to the 17th edition of Changpian, a selection of feature and opinion writing in Chinese. With other resources devoted to the many interesting sound bites from Chinese social media, this newsletter focuses instead on some of the wealth of longer writing that is produced in Chinese, both in traditional news media and on platforms like WeChat.
Changpian includes any nonfiction writing, from stories and investigations to interviews and blog posts, that I found worth my time – and that you might like as well. It aims to be relevant to an understanding of Chinese society today, covering topics in and outside the news cycle.
The selection is put together by me, Tabitha Speelman, a Dutch journalist and researcher currently based in Leiden, The Netherlands. As always, feedback is very welcome (tabitha.speelman at gmail.com or @tabithaspeelman). Back issues can be found here.
Also, happy year of the dog and thanks for reading. Changpian first came out during last year's Spring Festival holiday, so it's just celebrating its first anniversary. It has been fun to do, also because of your support. This Spring, issues will be more sporadic, but I plan to keep it going, if at a much less ambitious frequency than when Changpian started last year as a 'weekly' newsletter.
干货// Ganhuo // Dry Goods
In this section, I highlight any (loose) themes that stood out in my recent reading.
Celebrating Together
Given the relative lack of society-wide discussion on racism so far, it feels especially unfortunate that most articles on last week's controversial 春晚 《同喜同乐》skit, which aims to celebrate China-Africa ties in the Belt and Road era, have been blocked on WeChat. Low official tolerance for 春晚 criticism in recent years might be more to blame for this than the topic of racism, but it's hard to tell. (See for instance here for a description of the skit's plot and the controversy.)
One article that survived compares the skit with a classic 相声 sketch on China-Africa cooperation from 1973. Both performances are framed around a Chinese-built railway, but the 1973 sketch, titled《友谊颂》, strikes a more equal tone. While idealizing past internationalist cooperation, the article written by 重庆大学 researchers criticizes the economic superiority on display in《同喜同乐》, a condescension similar to that towards poorer regions within China (a 春晚 staple). Underlying this attitude is the assumption that “非洲和中国一样, 都需要实现工业化、现代化” without the awareness that “中国的道路并不是唯一正确的道路”. On FT中文, 刘裘蒂 makes a similar argument for less China-centrism. She also notes the knowledge gap between a 'Chinese savior' image as on display in the skit and the lack of understanding of China's current reach and image revealed by putting out something so “刺眼” without considering international viewers. An update of a 土豆公社 article analysing the 2016 racist laundry ad was also popular. 
Apart from this incident, I've been struck by the continuous stream of online China-Africa personal story-telling coming out. While I often disagree with parts of these accounts, they tend to offer balanced views based on lots of real-life interactions. See for instance this story by 葛鹤, who is building Angola's national archive; an 一席 talk by Yang Tao on his Kenya-based e-commerce platform; 体制内-sounding Jason on many “第一次” during three years on the African continent; a letter by 阿印 to his African-based compatriots (“如果你还没适应这里的生活，请去试着适应当地的生活”), and a podcast interview with social scientist Zhang Mingyuan who spent 14 months on Madagascar.
See also these recent more traditional news stories: a 生动 profile of two Fujianese men who both returned from abroad, one of them from South Africa, an in-depth essay on South African society by agriculture reporter Jiang Yifan, and an interview with The China Project's 黄泓翔, who gives a relatable description of the challenges facing his ivory activism: “我们遇到过西方人觉得我们在帮中国政府做宣传，也遇到过中国人觉得我们在帮西方人抹黑中国，我觉得这都是很正常的事情.”
In Holland I grew up receiving yearly presents from Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, a problematic tradition I never questioned before living abroad, and that has only become the subject of nation-wide debate in the past five or so years. Looking at Chinese actor 娄乃鸣's blackface in《同喜同乐》, I'm curious if and how a debate on these issues will (be allowed to) develop in China in the coming years, as it's pushing for more globalization while simultaneously fighting 'foreign influence' at home.
More Lists
Two calendars to finish also means multiple rounds of 'best of' lists and an extended period for Chinese media to publish 'end of the year'-type reflection. I liked a series of posts by literary magazine 单读 introducing nominees in its various annual award categories including best book, best travel literature, best critic, best translator(s), and best literary editor (see here for the winners). Interesting to see what new translations get picked up too. Also, this best of 2017 academic interviews by 东方历史评论 and a lengthy overview of recommended feature stories from the last three years by non-fiction platform地平线.
China Eastern Normal University's Liu Qing put out his always well-informed annual analysis of global affairs (in two parts: 政治/思想 and 文化/科技), Tsinghua's Xu Zhangrun gave a critical speech at the 天则 economic institute on the need for political reform (“既集大权，请办大事”), author Fan Yusu reflects on 11 journalists that interviewed her (or she them) in 2017, and FT中文 had a good piece on the shrinking of China's public space. Written on the occasion of the involuntary closing of Shanghai independent bookstore 季风 at the end of its rental year, it invokes a slogan that has only gained relevance since its first use: “地铁站里不能只有哈根达斯，而没有哈贝马斯”.
其他好故事 // Gushi // More stories
Some other interesting stories.
1. 两名80后新加坡华族青年的六封信：两个世界 一个华人社会之崛起的中国 – 狮说新语 – First episode of a thoughtful letter exchange between two Singaporean journalists on their views of China.
印象中当时报章网络也在写，上海世博如何上演各种中国人不文明的戏码，像疯狂盖章就成了世博一大景。那次一个人旅行，我也看到许多人手中握着世博护照，一入馆就略过各种精彩展区，一窝蜂冲向盖章处的奇特景观；只不过让人感受更深刻的是，那时候这一个被笼统概括为“中国人”的群体，其实说着各种方言，操着不同口音，他们来自各地，也和我一样到上海，看一看这浓缩了世界精华的博览会，并且了解他们不太了解的当代中国。
2. 被食物吃掉的人 – 剥洋葱people – Story on Chinese eating disorder patients, a topic that seems to be seeing a small discussion peak. See also a recent episode of 故事FM featuring three Chinese women discussing their “ED”. Doesn't make for pleasant listening but good that people are starting to speak out on these hard to cure disorders that are becoming more common in China too.
上海市精神卫生中心进食障碍诊治中心负责人陈珏告诉记者，这几年，进食障碍患者越来越多。陈珏记得，1998年，她刚刚从事精神科工作时，整个上海市精神卫生中心，一年只能见到一两例进食障碍患者，如今一整天的门诊可以见到二十多人。她所在的机构统计数据显示，在2001-2005，2006-2010、2011-2015三个时间段中，门诊初诊进食障碍的新增病例数和住院进食障碍患者人数分别比2001-2005时段增加了3-5倍。
3. 后窗性与药，爱与谎言：公园相亲角老年爱情故事 – 后窗 – Well-written story on the 广场舞 elderly. Familiar topic but journalist Sheng Menglu goes a bit deeper than usual in discussing the relationships coming out of the daily encounters.
一秒四拍的迪斯科从大音响里震动而出，71岁的李明德最喜欢在这个时候，搂上一个女人，在北京菖蒲河公园的舞池里，与她身体紧贴，随鼓点震动。这能让他暂时忘记年龄，忘记对亡妻的愧疚，还有家中等他宰杀烹饪、独自享用的野鲫鱼。
4. 四则难忘的采访故事 -- 正午 – Former 《财经》legal reporter 罗洁琪 shares interviewing stories from cases she covered. (And for also interesting 采访故事 from beginning reporters: 飞越象牙塔：校媒记者的成长札记.)
来正午之前，我在《财经》杂志和财新传媒做了八年的“法治”记者，报道重大案件和社会冲突，做对抗性采访，奔跑在新闻现场。后来，报道尺度收紧，这种机会越来越少了。... 现在，我想谈的是一个男人的眼睛，当他回眸的时候，充满冷静、温存、绝望和眷恋，同时，那目光还让我感到一股寒意。他是一个被指控贪污罪的高官，犯罪金额约500万，买了北京西山附近的一套公寓。
5. 特稿 | 那个国内首开同性恋课程的教授要退休了 – 财新网 – Article by five Fudan students on the retirement of professor of public health Gao Yanning, who was the first to teach courses on sexual minority health at a Chinese university.
2001年起，高燕宁着手筹备讲授相关健康课程。2002年到2008年，每年高燕宁半年进村，半年在复旦开课。他请来国内众多知名学者来讲课：李银河、潘绥铭、张北川、白先勇等，课堂常常爆满。他也带学生去同志酒吧、公园、舞厅等场所进行实地考察，借助开课，过去从自己老师那里的所得被“重新赋值和投射”到自己的学生，希望学生能够消除歧视和偏见，“从人的角度来理解人”... 退休后，高燕宁主持的《性健康社会科学》和《边弱群体健康促进》两门课将不再继续。
6. 十年之变：农民工地位不升反降? – 文化纵横 – Academic piece on the socio-economic position of migrant workers.
据国家统计局数据显示，农民工规模增长面临拐点，教育结构有较大改善，绝对收入也还在持续增长。但农民工在现实生活中仍然属于城市中的边缘群体。本文使用2006-2015年中国社会科学院五轮社会综合调查数据，结合年龄—时期—队列分析方法，发现结构改善没有真正提高他们的社会经济地位，农民工的相对收入水平和社会地位自评反而在下降，呈现“逆成长”态势。因此，本文认为即便是在劳动力供给下降的情况下，依靠市场因素自发调节和纠正农民工受歧视的地位仍难以实现，应该对社会政策的影响加以深刻反思。
7. 资中筠：谈谈爱国 – 一席 – Popular talk by US studies expert 资中筠 (87) on patriotism. I like the part on globalization at the end. See also here for some recent discussion on this topic after Kazakh-Chinese actress Rayza was accused of being unpatriotic for not celebrating CNY.
因为在全球化的今天，对于国家的观念也有一些变化，其中有一个变化是很多利害不是在一国之内了。不一定说你占便宜了人家就吃亏，或者你吃亏了人家就一定占便宜，互利的东西特别多。这个就不用讲国际贸易了，比如像环保或者是缉毒。比如说公益慈善这个问题。我们常常有一个观念，比如说外国基金会到中国来做一些公益事业，说它是来和平演变的。什么叫作和平演变？意思是说你要是拿了它的钱，你就相信西方价值观了还是怎么样呢？或者是你就会怎么样了呢？我就怎么也想不出来。
8. 荐｜隔着窗框—纪念外外 -- 邻诗 – A poem by 韩东 .
9. 在麦当劳过除夕的都是些什么人？-- 新世相 – Profles of seven people who spent the first hours of the new year in a Beijing McDonald's. In a (very) similar and equally sympathetic vein: 在不打烊书店过除夕的都是些什么人?
蔡阿姨笑起来很和蔼，穿着很讲究，典型广东女人气质。她在广州有房、有家庭，还有一个在读高二，准备去英国留学的儿子。“这个时间应该呆在家里的。这样确实不太正常。”
旧文// Jiuwen // Classic：
A piece of nonfiction writing that Chinese academics, writers, journalists -- or just me – think worth a read months, years or decades after its initial publication.
朱自清 | 欧游杂记 -- This fragment from writer Zhu Ziqing 1930s travelogue contains some nice detail on his European visits. Not online I believe but also worthwhile in a similar genre are anthropologist Fei Xiaotong's essays on late 1940s Britain, which focus on his run-ins with and sympathies for socialism there at the time. For travels beyond Europe, some more 相声.
街上“咖啡”东一处西一处的，沿街安着座儿，有点儿像北平中山公园里的茶座儿。客人慢慢地喝着咖啡或别的，慢慢地抽烟，看来往的人。“咖啡”本是法国的玩意儿；巴黎差不多每道街都有，怕是比那儿都多。巴黎人喝咖啡几乎成了癖，就像我国南方人爱上茶馆。“咖啡”里往往备有纸笔，许多人都在那儿写信；还有人让“咖啡”收信，简直当做自己的家。
Changpian by tabithaspeelman
 
by denton.2 at osu.edu on February 21, 2018
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