In the People's Republic, which is gradually becoming silent, there is still a group of intellectuals who are unwilling to remain silent. They are unofficial, unorganized, and among the people - proud to be "civilian".
★The Chinese version exclusively includes "Dialogue with Wei Jian" and "Dialogue with Jia Zhangke"★
★The Chinese version exclusively includes "Dialogue with Wei Jian" and "Dialogue with Jia Zhangke"★
After the democratic movement was frustrated in 1989 and economic reforms were restarted in 1992, a new type of grassroots intellectuals emerged. Unlike the literati who retreated to traditional fields, they actively cooperated with the weak and marginalized groups; unlike the public intellectuals who loudly called for democracy and modernity in the 1980s, they strongly opposed the rhetoric of the elite. They declared the independence of thought and action and were proud of being "civilian" - unofficial, unorganized, and among the people.
This book portrays a group of grassroots thinkers and activists who have profoundly changed China's public culture, including amateur historians who question official statements, independent directors who let the people speak, and human rights lawyers and NGO workers who share practical knowledge. They have opened up new public spheres outside of academia and government agencies, and focused on specific and serious real-life issues: political victims of the Mao Zedong era, children of migrant workers who cannot receive education, and visitors without residence permits.
Wei Jian delves into the undercurrents of change beneath the surface of contemporary Chinese society, analyzing the public discourse, intervention actions, and knowledge production of private intellectuals, bringing grassroots intellectual groups that have long been on the margins of power - especially female intellectuals - into the map of Chinese intellectual history.
Under the shadow of an authoritarian state, the power of knowledge is profoundly changing Chinese society!
Amateur historian Yang Jisheng began collecting unofficial archives about the Great Famine and the Cultural Revolution after retirement, and published his book Tombstone in Hong Kong in 2008. "A large number of letters from readers across the country gave me firm and enthusiastic support. This shows that the truth has a strong penetrating power and can break through the copper wall and iron wall constructed by administrative power!"
Independent Director - Jia Zhangke is a first-generation director who shoots films outside the system, focusing on themes that are ignored by the mainstream. "I have always been disgusted by the inexplicable sense of professional superiority, while the amateur spirit contains equality and justice, as well as concern for fate and sympathy for ordinary people."
Human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong played an important role in the Sun Zhigang case, the founding of the Civil Rights Alliance, and the issue of visiting citizens. He was later arrested and imprisoned because of the New Citizens Movement. "I have the ability to live a superior life in this system, but any privileges will make me feel ashamed. I choose to stand on the side of the powerless, feel the coldness of the streets and underground passages in Beijing in winter, and endure the brutal violence of the black prison together."
Blogger Han Han dropped out of high school and became a best-selling novelist and racing driver. He often comments on political issues. "I hate politics, but I love literature and art. I just don't like the literature and art I love to be hindered by the politics I hate."