Representing China on the Historical London Stage
From Orientalism to Intercultural Performance
- 200 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Representing China on the Historical London Stage
From Orientalism to Intercultural Performance
About this book
This book provides a critical study of how China was represented on the historical London stage in selected examples from the late seventeenth century to the early twentieth century—which corresponds with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China's last monarchy. The examples show that during this historical period, the stage representations of the country were influenced in turn by Jesuit writings on China, Britain's expanding material interest in China, the presence of British imperial power in Asia, and the establishment of diasporic Chinese communities abroad. While finding that many of these works may be read as gendered and feminized, Chang emphasizes that the Jesuits' depiction of China as a country of high culture and in perennial conflict with the Tartars gradually lost prominence in dramatic imaginations to depictions of China's material and visual attractions. Central to the book's argument is that the stage representations of China were inherently intercultural and open to new influences, manifested by the evolving combinations of Chinese and English (British) traits. Through the dramatization of the Chinese Other, the representations questioned, satirized, and put in sharp relief the ontological and epistemological bases of the English (British) Self.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: From Orientalism to Intercultural Performance
- 1 “History and Truth”: The Conquest of China by the Tartars (1675)
- 2 “China-Mania”: The Chinese Festival (1755) and The Orphan of China (1759)
- 3 Open Views of China: The Literary Works of John Francis Davis and the Spectacular Chinese Sorcerer (1823)
- 4 Chinaface Attractions: A Chinese Honeymoon (1901–1904), The Yellow Jacket (1913), and Mr. Wu (1913–1914)
- Epilogue: Aladdin Pantomimes, Chinesely British
- Index