China through American eyes: Depictions of the Chinese people and culture in the US print media of the late 19th century

China through American eyes: Depictions of the Chinese people and culture in the US print media of the late 19th century

Cultural understanding between the United States and China has been a long and complex process. The period from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century is not only a critical era in modern Chinese history, but also the peak time of illustrated news reporting in the United States. Besides images from newspapers and journals, this study will present pictures about China and the Chinese published in books, brochures, commercial advertisements, campaign posters, postcards, etc. Together, they have documented colorful portrayals of the Chinese and their culture by the U.S. print media and their evolution from ethnic curiosity, stereotyping, and racial prejudice to social awareness, reluctant understanding, and eventual acceptance. This collection of images has essentially formed a rich visual resource that is both diverse and intriguing; and as primary source documents, they carry significant historical and cultural values that could stimulate further academic research. Presented at the 2016 Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Southeast Chapter Meeting, Rollins College, Orlando, FL. September 23, 2016.

Zhang, Wenxian

Chinese American Librarians Association

2016-09-23

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

English

Text; Presentation

China

2016-09-23

CALA Southeast Chapter 2016 Fall Program: "Visiting a Library, a Museum or a Cultural Institution in Your City" and "Discovering Chinese Images, Representations and Heritage." September 23, 2016. Olin Library, Rollins College, Orlando, FL.

China

19th century