图示社会:中国大陆纸质媒介的新功能 : 以《新周刊》为例 [Mapping Society: The New Function of Print Media in Mainland China—the Case of New Weekly]

Main Article Content

Xiaolu Wang

Abstract

Based on New Weekly, one of the most influential illustrated Chinese magazines focusing on social issues and phenomena, this paper deals with the new characteristics and functions of the Chinese print media today. By describing its development and cover story themes, I argue that the Chinese print media represented by New Weekly doesn’t simply demonstrate how such media attempts to attract readers by taking advantage of its own changing appearance and format, including its design, printing quality, level of advertisements, classification of themes, and so on. Rather, this media is manifesting a changing concpetualization of intellectuals in China today. The Chinese print media, then, has new characteristics. It no longer serves simply as an ideological ‘microphone’ or ‘mouthpiece,’ but rather observes and comments on social issues and phenomena in mainland China. In this way it reflects the changing conception and perception of intellectuals in its own approaches and perspectives. By tracing this historical development, I attempt to indicate that new media like New Weekly actively promotes consciousness of social issues, while reflecting how such consciousness has an impact on everyday life. Such new cultural functions indicate that the print media is able to play a major role in influencing, if not determining, Chinese public opinion.

Article Details

Section
New Perspectives Reports
Author Biography

Xiaolu Wang

WANG, Xiaolu, Ph.D., is Professor of Literature at the College of Literature & Journalism and College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Sichuan University, PR China. His recent scholarly books include A Study of Key Concepts in Cultural Criticism (Beijing: Peking University Press, 2007.) and Cultural Studies, A Selected Reader (Co-eds. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2007). Mailing Address: WANG Xiaolu College of Literature & Journalism Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 PR China Phone: 13981882937 Email: xlwangscu@yahoo.com.cn 作者简介: 王晓路,文学博士,中国四川大学文学与新闻学院、外国语学院教授。近期成果有《文化批评关键词研究》(北京大学出版社,2007年)、《文化研究选读》(合编,外语教学与研究出版社,2007年)等。 通讯地址:610064 中国四川省成都市望江路 四川大学文学与新闻学院 电话: 13981882937 邮箱:xlwangscu@yahoo.com.cn