New Books in East Asian Studies John Alekna, "Seeking News, Making China: Information, Technology, and the Emergence of Mass Society" (Stanford UP, 2024)
Apr 9, 2025
John Alekna, Assistant Professor of the History of Science at Peking University, delves into the impact of communication technologies on modern Chinese society. He discusses the historical role of radio, highlighting its influence during critical movements like the May Fourth and the Cultural Revolution. Alekna uncovers how news shaped political geography and social dynamics, emphasizing the importance of diverse voices and experiences. Through a fresh perspective on propaganda and media practices, he illustrates the complex evolution of information flow in China.
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Radio's Complex Introduction to China
- Radio was introduced to China by the controversial Ernest George Hayward Osborne with Chinese funding.
- The station was British-run but Chinese-owned, complicating simple national categorizations of technology.
Blurring Nation and International Lines
- The idea of a purely domestic or international sphere in 20th century China is problematic given continuous cross-border cultural and political flows.
- Nations are indefinable and intertwined historically without clear endpoints.
Early Reception of Radio in China
- Early radio was expensive and elite-driven, but public demonstrations attracted tens of thousands, including nationalists like Sun Yat-sen.
- Enthusiasm for radio reflected hopes for uniting and modernizing China via new tech.
