The School of Media and Communication hosted an enlightening research talk titled “From ‘City of Shanzhai’ to ‘City in the Sky’: Shenzhen as a Media City”. The talk was delivered by Professor Fan Yang from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and moderated by Professor Guang Yang, Associate Dean of the School of Media and Communication.
Professor Fan Yang is a distinguished scholar in the Department of Media and Communication Studies at UMBC. She is also a faculty affiliate in the Asian Studies program and the Ph.D. program in Language, Literacy, and Culture, and serves on the Global Studies Coordinating Committee. Her research focuses on transnational media studies and the rise of China in the context of globalization. She is the author of Faked in China: Nation Branding, Counterfeit Culture, and Globalization (2016) and has recently published her new book, Disorienting Politics: Chimerican Media and Transpacific Entanglements (2024).
Professor Fan Yang began the lecture by exploring Shenzhen’s evolving role as a Media City, describing it as a “Media-infrastructure Complex.” Using the evolution from counterfeit phones to drones as an example, she examined the relationship between mobile technology and power, highlighting how both individuals and nations are captivated by the limitless possibilities that mobile technology offers.
Drawing from her personal experiences witnessing emerging technologies in Shenzhen, Professor Yang elaborated on concepts such as counterfeit (Shanzhai) phones, mobile technology, and immobile infrastructure. She highlighted the relatively brief yet significant history of China’s drone industry, which is primarily concentrated in Shenzhen. Citing the Shenzhen Aerospace Industry Development Plan (2013-2020), she pointed out that the aerospace industry, including drone development, has been designated as one of Shenzhen’s three key future industries.
Professor Yang also discussed the challenges posed by technological developments, such as drones, to urban infrastructure planning, including issues like traffic congestion. She suggested that these challenges could be addressed by enhancing overall infrastructure efficiency and accelerating the development of digital information infrastructure. The lecture concluded with an engaging discussion between Professor Yang and the attending faculty and students.
