Sixue Liu

My research concerns the relationships between socioeconomic development, political and media change in the urban Chinese context. Specifically, my study focuses on one example of such change – the newsstand – which is a physical building and symbol of urban China. The newsstands carry various functions, from selling paper books and magazines to providing entertainment and communication. At the same time, everything involved in this physical building also builds relationships among people, between people and the newsstand, and between people and the space and culture of the city. China's newsstands have been highly significant for enable communicative interaction in various ways and constructing a unique cultural circle. There are three key aims: Examine the history and transformation of China's newsstand and its relationship with the broader transformations of China's politics, media culture, and economy. Understand the changes in the functions and social meanings of newsstands in cities, along with their potential transformation in future. Examine how the transformation of newsstands affects the lives of both consumers and owners.