An Examination on Chinese Alternative Discourses

The idea of alternative modernities arise from the
context that modernization means processes of
westernization. Although Chinese modernization was
believed to be based on learning from the West
from its outset, contemporary Chinese intellectuals
contend that the Chinese experience of modernity is
not merely a variation of Western modernity.
Drawing from different theoretical inspirations,
Chinese intellectuals claimed that China has
its model of modernization, buttressed by a
restoration of Chinese culture. This study
calls to question such an alternative discourse for
its assertion of Chinese essence becomes another
form of Orientalism. This work aims to
address how contemporary Chinese intellectuals
anxiety to valorize Chinese difference in the idea
of Chinese alternative bespeaks a dichotomous way
of thinking. It argues that Chinese alternative
modernity emphasizes the essence of traditional
culture. Such an alternative discourse replicates
Orientalist mode of Self/Other confrontation which
Chinese intellectuals accuse the West of employing
as a way of understanding non-Western cultures.

Autorentext

Pi-Chun Chang got her Ph.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo. She now is an assistant professor in Department of East Asian Culture and Development at National Taiwan Normal University. Her research and teaching interests are East Asian cultural studies and cultural policies.

Klappentext

The idea of alternative modernities arise from the context that modernization means processes of westernization. Although Chinese modernization was believed to be based on "learning from the West" from its outset, contemporary Chinese intellectuals contend that the Chinese experience of modernity is not merely a "variation" of Western modernity. Drawing from different theoretical inspirations, Chinese intellectuals claimed that China has its model of modernization, buttressed by a restoration of Chinese culture. This study calls to question such an alternative discourse for its assertion of Chinese essence becomes another form of Orientalism. This work aims to address how contemporary Chinese intellectuals' anxiety to valorize Chinese difference in the idea of "Chinese alternative" bespeaks a dichotomous way of thinking. It argues that Chinese alternative modernity emphasizes the essence of traditional culture. Such an alternative discourse replicates Orientalist mode of Self/Other confrontation which Chinese intellectuals accuse the West of employing as a way of understanding non-Western cultures.