 1900 – Ending of the Qing Dynasty, Western contact inspires Chinese nationalists  1910’s – Emperor steps down and declares China a Constitutional Republic, May 4 th Movement, Chinese citizens protest Western control of the country  1920’s – Chinese Communist Party is formed, Chiang Kaishek, Commanding General of the Chinese Army begins his campaign to take over China

 ’s – Continued fighting for power, Second Sino-Japanese War, WWII, Civil War, Establishment of the Communist Government  1960’s – Cultural Revolution  1970’s – Era of Industrial growth  1986 – Tiananmen Square  1997 – Hong Kong returned to China  Present – China is an economic world leader

 All music is composed by men  Early 1900’s, beginning of women’s rights movement › Strong European Influences › Girls sent to school › Abolishment of Foot binding › Songs encouraged girls to pursue good health and equality

 Mid 1910’s to the 20’s › Female Heroes were often depicted in music › Hua Mulan – Fought in place of her elderly father › Liang Hongyu – Played the war drum for her husband and his fellow soldiers › Portrayed women doing their part to support men who were fighting for change

 1930’s saw the development of the Communist party and expectation of women to take part in the development of the nation › Mass songs encouraging women to work for the good of the nation  Fine Art › Complete removal of gender

 Censorship and degendering of Music › Love songs changed to Love of the Nation › Romantic songs discarded › Removal of gender specific referneces  Unisexing the people › Common Work Uniform › Short Hair › No Makeup or Jewelry › Binding Chests › Male Bias and Super Woman

 70’s included increased economic development and artistic freedom  Common themes are Traditional Confucian gender values  Masculinity has two parts › Wu – Physical Strength, Military power › Wen – Intellectualism and Self Control “A scholar is no less a man than a Soldier”

 Completely Masculine Field  Elements of brotherhood, physical strength and political unrest  References to women are less common and typically include a revelation of distraction

“You brought me inside your flower-house I couldn’t escape the enchanting fragrance of the flowers, Without noticing I lost direction”

 Male singers in Popular Music  Often include allusions to dependence on women and the heartbreak caused by this dependence  Men are depicted as delicate intellectuals who are often mistreated by women.

Oh Helen, don’t cry... I don’t understand what you once said That we do not have a future I don’t dare to face this love that gradually goes away Although at night my heart yearns for you in sorrow... But I will be still waiting for you to return

 Far more constrained  Most female singers sing songs written by male lyricists  Depiction of women as soft, delicate and for the pleasure of men  Songs often involve waiting for a male lover to act

 Since the 1990’s a few female singers have begun composing their own music  Faye Wong › Originally giving a fake persona › Reinvented herself once she achieved fame  Ai Jing › Achieved representation by drawing on current events that resonated with the larger population

 New levels of female identity › Working › Maintaining a family › Pursuing romance  Ai Jing “You are my Wings” draws on Cui Jian’s lyrics  Female freedom of expression is increasing at the start of the new century