Archive by Author

Mo Yan, Passionately Individual, Likely to Remain Friendless

[The following is an op-ed, and does not necessarily express the opinions of the editors.] The controversy surrounding Mo Yan’s Nobel Prize in Literature quieted somewhat in the last couple of months as more pressing news of China’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition took precedence. However, as soon as the new laureate landed in Stockholm earlier last [...]

Continue Reading

How China’s Collective Amnesia Hinders Its Development

Whatever Mo Yan is up to right now, he is likely doing with knowing chuckle. The toast of China just a couple of weeks ago in the wake of his historic Nobel Prize in Literature, he has been all but forgotten in the frenzied run-up to the 18th National Party Congress, which will begin on Thursday [...]

Continue Reading

Is Chinese Social Media Becoming an Unruly Fight Club?

To pick out three similar but unrelated incidents on Weibo and call them a trend is to risk forfeiting one’s right to say anything about the social media site ever again, except some things so defy responsible behavior that they deserve to be on the receiving end themselves.  Roughly two weeks ago, Zhou Yan, a [...]

Continue Reading