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UID:pretalx-wha-annual-meeting-korea-2026-JC3EHZ@pretalx.com
DTSTART;TZID=KST:20260626T091000
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DESCRIPTION:The Reform and opening up policy announced in 1978 signaled Chi
 na's determination to put political struggles under Mao in the rearview mi
 rror and refocus on economic development. In the following two decades\, t
 he entire nation was plunged into readying itself for foreign investments 
 and urbanization and was a major part of this historical process. Indeed\,
  the urban landscape was transforming with unprecedented speed\, with majo
 r cities boasting new flagship projects like five-star hotels and high-ris
 e office towers. But equally impressive were cultural changes that normali
 zed new desires and new aesthetics. From fashion and dining to interior de
 sign\, urban Chinese were eagerly learning to behave like modern citizens.
  In both areas\, the West was a palpable influence because of its affinity
  to modernity. This was reflected in the import of architectural designs\,
  cultural traditions\, and everyday activities. However\, the mutual signi
 fication between the West and whiteness means that the latter is often imp
 lied and deployed when the former is invoked. Using Guangzhou as a case st
 udy\, this presentation attempts to tease out the whiteness from this sema
 ntic and psychological conflation by examining spatial constructions in th
 e reform era (1978-present). It examines a variety of historical evidence 
 including government documents\, statements from a hotel manager\, and pub
 lic opinions as reflected in newspapers and magazines. I argue that urban 
 development of Guangzhou since the economic reforms is a discursive proces
 s of spatial whitening. While the state led the way with its high-profile 
 projects intending to make China more appealing to investors from the West
 \, citizens were not on the sidelines. They also created and consumed spac
 es that invoked whiteness for their own purposes. Ultimately\, this presen
 tation seeks to lay bare the norm setting power of whiteness even in a pos
 t-colonial setting where the white population is minimal.
DTSTAMP:20260412T140531Z
LOCATION:Room 201 (Seats 42)
SUMMARY:“Pretending to be in Europe”: Spatial Whitening of Guangzhou in
  the Reform Era. - Guangzhi Huang
URL:https://pretalx.com/wha-annual-meeting-korea-2026/talk/JC3EHZ/
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