ChinaTalk Te-Ping Chen's Short Stories of Modern China
Mar 20, 2021
Te-Ping Chen, a Wall Street Journal reporter and author of 'Land of Big Numbers,' shares her insightful journey from journalism to fiction. She discusses her writing process and the compelling characters inspired by her experiences in China. Te-Ping highlights the emotional complexities faced by individuals living under state control and how fiction fosters empathy. The conversation also touches on the intersection of personal ambition and societal roles, and reflections on the future of journalism in an ever-changing landscape.
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Duality of Life in China
- Te-Ping Chen portrays the duality of life in China, where personal lives can feel insulated from the state, yet its presence and threat of repression are always felt.
- She achieves this by contrasting seemingly ordinary lives with subtle reminders of state control, like the casual mention of protesters being rounded up.
Government Hotline Experience
- Mara Hvistendahl recounts calling a government hotline in Shanghai to report illegal construction.
- The project was shut down swiftly, highlighting a surprising responsiveness of the Chinese government.
Writing Without Constraints
- Te-Ping Chen prioritized capturing her experiences in China without focusing on audience expectations.
- She viewed fiction as a space to create without the constraints of journalistic objectivity or explanation.
