The remaking of the Chinese character and identity in the 21st century : the Chinese face practices

Author(s)

    • Jia, Wenshan

Bibliographic Information

The remaking of the Chinese character and identity in the 21st century : the Chinese face practices

Wenshan Jia ; foreword by Vernon E. Cronen

(Civic discourse for the third millennium / Michael H. Prosser, series editor)

Ablex Pub., 2001

  • : pbk.

Available at  / 3 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-191) and indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

ISBN 9781567505542

Description

Wenshan Jia demonstrates that a true liberation of Chinese civic discourse can start with a focus on indigenous cultural practices, such as face practices--the understanding that every human face offers a distinct cultural grammar for acting, speaking, and feeling. Chinese character and identity, the author argues, are primarily functions of communication, and as such, these practices are of enormous consequence to the necessary reconstruction of Chinese identity in the changing socioeconomic context of the 21st century. In this way, Jia finds a middle ground between the advocacy of complete Westernization and radical Chinese nationalism: as a pragmatic alternative, communication is key. Never before has facework research been approached so systematically from the standpoint of its relationship to character and identity. Jia's work substantially advances the literature on Chinese communication and presents a unique perspective on its relationship to social transformation. This new paradigm of facework--including analytical methods such as Circular Questioning in addition to major case studies--challenges traditional views while pointing the way toward a new and valuable social-constructionist view.

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface Introduction Social Constructionism and Practical Theory as the Theoretical Perspective on Lian/Mian Research A Social Reconstruction of Lian/Mian Literature Review Research Methodologies Case Study I: Kneeling Down to Save Face Case Study II: "I Don't Have Face to Meet My Mother" A Social Construction Model of Lian/Mian Transformation A Theoretical Discussion Remake the Chinese Character References
Volume

: pbk. ISBN 9781567505559

Description

Wenshan Jia demonstrates that a true liberation of Chinese civic discourse can start with a focus on indigenous cultural practices, such as face practices--the understanding that every human face offers a distinct cultural grammar for acting, speaking, and feeling. Chinese character and identity, the author argues, are primarily functions of communication, and as such, these practices are of enormous consequence to the necessary reconstruction of Chinese identity in the changing socioeconomic context of the 21st century. In this way, Jia finds a middle ground between the advocacy of complete Westernization and radical Chinese nationalism: as a pragmatic alternative, communication is key. Never before has facework research been approached so systematically from the standpoint of its relationship to character and identity. Jia's work substantially advances the literature on Chinese communication and presents a unique perspective on its relationship to social transformation. This new paradigm of facework--including analytical methods such as Circular Questioning in addition to major case studies--challenges traditional views while pointing the way toward a new and valuable social-constructionist view.

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface Introduction Social Constructionism and Practical Theory as the Theoretical Perspective on Lian/Mian Research A Social Reconstruction of Lian/Mian Literature Review Research Methodologies Case Study I: Kneeling Down to Save Face Case Study II: "I Don't Have Face to Meet My Mother" A Social Construction Model of Lian/Mian Transformation A Theoretical Discussion Remake the Chinese Character References

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