China Everbright (59 images)

The title of the essay, "China Everbright," comes from a bank ubiquitous in China's eastern provinces. This rough direct translation, seen on the sides of buildings and on advertisements throughout most of modern urban China, symbolizes the optimism and hope of contemporary Chinese society while making reference to traditional Chinese literary language. It's an idea about prosperity and development in concert with the traditions of the past. The images in the essay, similarly,...
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The title of the essay, "China Everbright," comes from a bank ubiquitous in China's eastern provinces. This rough direct translation, seen on the sides of buildings and on advertisements throughout most of modern urban China, symbolizes the optimism and hope of contemporary Chinese society while making reference to traditional Chinese literary language. It's an idea about prosperity and development in concert with the traditions of the past. The images in the essay, similarly, depict a changing social landscape, one in which development, modernization, and profits dominate daily life, but in which centuries-long history and culture can still be seen.

The work is also a reaction against orientalism, or, as the English-language state-run television channel calls it, "The Mystery of China." Tour packages still advertise culture and wilderness untouched by development or modern influences. This is far from the truth; the modern Chinese cultural landscape is a mixture of foreign cultural influence, fast-moving economic and social change, and a desire (by both the populace and the government) for China to be a country of worldwide influence.

Massive migration, unchecked pollution and environmental destruction, radically changing social roles, and economic upheaval have been the hallmarks of China's great push for development. Far-reaching government propaganda campaigns promoting "civility" or "harmonious society" capture the spirit of the slogan "China Everbright" perfectly. These programs promote traditional Chinese values (family, a respect for history, a healthy respect for commerce, a small but important place for religion) always with an eye toward the future and how these ideas can be integrated into the wild-eyed capitalism that dominates life in China today. This is what the pictures in "China Everbright" show: a culture with hundreds of years of rich history struggling to find a balance in the push for modernity.
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