Return to public space

Author: Xu Jilin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: This book, Returning to the Public Space, is a collection of essays written by the author after returning to his alma mater, East China Normal University, to teach in 2002. These writings were mostly published in non-academic newspapers and public journals, serving as intellectual byproducts of the author's engagement with daily life and reflections on the contemporary world alongside his academic research. It is the author's fourth collection of essays on intellectual and cultural criticism. The previous three books were The Third Kind of Dignity (People's Literature Publishing House, 1996), Ambiguous Nostalgia (Shanghai Education Publishing House, 1998), and The Intellectual Map of the New Century (Tianjin People's Publishing House, 2002). Interestingly, the three earlier works primarily focused on academic and cultural critiques, with a strong scholarly and literary tone, while this new collection leans more toward social and intellectual commentary. Although the writing style has become "less attractive," it carries a heavier weight. This book, like the author's previous works, reflects his intellectual musings arising from his engagement with daily life and reflections on the contemporary world alongside his academic research. It covers contemporary intellectual observations, reflections on university system reforms, in-depth analyses of major domestic and international such as the "9/11" and SARS incidents, as well as critical examinations of everyday cultural life.