Merry Laughter and Angry Curses

Download or read book Merry Laughter and Angry Curses written by Juan Wang and published by UBC Press. This book was released on 2012-10-19 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Merry Laughter and Angry Curses reveals how the late-Qing-era tabloid press became the voice of the people. As periodical publishing reached a fever pitch, tabloids had free rein to criticize officials, mock the elite, and scandalize readers. Tabloid writers produced a massive amount of anti-establishment literature, whose distinctive humour and satirical style were both potent and popular. This book shows the tabloid community to be both a producer of meanings and a participant in the social and cultural dialogue that would shake the foundations of imperial China and lead to the 1911 Republican Revolution.