Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Sourcing the Grassroots: New Methods and Unconventional Sources in PRC History
The Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute will host a workshop that seeks to familiarize researchers with local and unconventional and sources that reveal Maoist society at the margins. The impetus for the workshop follows the work of recent PRC scholars such as Jeremy Brown, Michael Schoenhals, Yang Kuisong and others, who have turned to “grassroots sources” (also known as 垃圾资料) as a complementary archive.
Where
The Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute will host a workshop that seeks to familiarize researchers with local and unconventional and sources that reveal Maoist society at the margins. The impetus for the workshop follows the work of recent PRC scholars such as Jeremy Brown, Michael Schoenhals, Yang Kuisong and others, who have turned to “grassroots sources” (also known as 垃圾资料) as a complementary archive. These sources have enabled a recent historiographical shift away from state-centered narratives in favor of new approaches to issues such as social classification, petty crime, local religion, and medical practices from the vantage point of everyday life. As you are all no doubt aware, restrictions on historical research in Chinese archives have continued to tighten over the past few years, and I would suggest that use of grassroots sources has already become a commonplace if not necessary aspect of work in our field.
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?