The People's Dynasty: Culture and Society in Modern China

The state-directed opening of the Chinese economy in 1979 led to a number of radical transformations within Chinese society, but Western understanding of these changes is often limited by erroneous assumptions. Offering a clear picture of the vast economic and social forces of modern-day China, Professor Robert J. Shepherd addresses U.S. investment in China, China's startling economic growth, state vs. society issues in the vast republic, and the effect of social and cultural change on the Chinese people.

Course Syllabus
Lecture 1 China Today
Lecture 2 New Forms of Mobility
Lecture 3 The New Class Society
Lecture 4 A Home of One's Own
Lecture 5 Changing Family Life
Lecture 6 Religion and Society
Lecture 7 The Search for Meaning
Lecture 8 Ethnic Identity and Minority Rights
Lecture 9 Environmental Issues
Lecture 10 Culture, Heritage, and the Growth of Tourism
Lecture 11 Music, Film, and "Soft" Rebellion
Lecture 12 Censorship in a Digital Society
Lecture 13 Culture and Identity: Is Chinese Life Becoming Westernized?
Lecture 14 China, Inc.?