In this lecture, Sandy Ng from Hong Kong Polytechnic University talks about design and the feminine self in early 20th century China. Women has important role in art deco through consumption and representation. By looking at female images, particularly those featured in calendar posters and photo portraits, and the culture of commodity at the time, she tried to answer three questions:
- How was modernization transformed the ways people live and use designs and products?
- How has the change of lifestyle altered the culture?
- What about ordinary women who experienced social and cultural changes, especially in the Republic period (1912-1949)?
This is a lecture more about asking questions than giving answers. If you are interested in Chinese photography during this period, the following lectures from Wu Hung are a good resource: