Contemporary Asian Modernities

This book is a collection of selected essays presented at the International Symposium on «Contemporary Asian Modernities: Transnationality, Interculturality and Hybridity» hosted by the Humanities Programme of Hong Kong Baptist University in September 2006. As «modernity» has been used to describe the cultural, economic and socio-political conditions in the Western worlds, the time in which we now live and the Asian countries where capitalistic transformation is extensively carried out are already articulating their own descriptions. The essays collected here discuss the notions of «contemporary», «Asia» and «modernities» as they relate to the global trend of adopting capitalism. They probe into questions related to modernity as well as global modernity, ranging from China in particular to Asia in general. As reflected in the pluriversal meanings in the title, the book endeavours to make critical inquiries into the concept of modernity/modernities from different perspectives.

Autorentext

The Editors: Yiu-wai Chu is Professor at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature and Head of the Humanities Progamme at Hong Kong Baptist University. His research focuses on postcolonialism, globalization, Hong Kong cinema, and Cantopop lyrics.
Eva Kit-wah Man is Professor at the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University. Her academic research areas include comparative aesthetics, neo-Confucian philosophy, feminist aesthetics and philosophy, gender studies and cultural studies. She was named AMUW Woman Chair Professor of the 100 Anniversary of Marquette University in Wisconsin, U.S. in 2009.

Inhalt

Contents: Arif Dirlik: Asian Modernities in the Perspective of Global Modernity - Mark Elvin: Modernity in China in Historical Perspective - Ricardo K. S. Mak: The Idea of Modernity in World History Studies in Contemporary China - Ping-hui Liao: Civility and Self-Reflexivity: Three Texts on Women and Chinese Modernity - Man-kong Wong: Biculturality as Modernity: A Hypothesis about the Origins of Modern Hong Kong - Allen Chun: Hong Kong «Identity» after the End of History - Yiu-wai Chu: The Donaldization of Hong Kong Society - Amy Lee: Frozen Motion: Nostalgia and Wang Anyi's Shanghai - Eva K. W. Man: The Relation of «Self» and «Others» in the Confucian Traditions and Its Implications to Global Feminisms and Public Philosophies - Robbie B. H. Goh: Cyberasian: Science, Hybridity, Modernity, and the Asian Body - Wai-luk Lo: Three Paradigms in Hong Kong Drama in the 1970s: Hybridity in Styles - Matthew M. Chew: Hybridization of Karaoke and Dance Clubbing Practices in Chinese Nightlife.