{"product_id":"appearance-politics-by-lex-lu-9781501787447","title":"Appearance Politics","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAppearance Politics\u003c\/i\u003e, by Lex Lu, argues that crafting an appealing and powerful outward image has long been a critical political tool in China. This strategy is evident in historical records, imperial portraits, physiognomic assessments, photographs, posters, statues, and digital images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsing rare archival materials from Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, Lu explores how political figures designed their images and examines the shifting standards of male beauty that shaped their choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book analyses five case studies: Ming Prince Zhu Di's usurpation; the rise of Manchu masculinity and blended Han-Manchu beauty standards under Emperor Yongzheng; modern photography and Western beauty ideals in the early twentieth century; Sun Yat-sen's crafted image as the Republican founding father; and Mao Zedong's iconic visual legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough this empirical, nuanced study, \u003ci\u003eAppearance Politics\u003c\/i\u003e challenges stereotypical portrayals of Chinese male leadership in Western media and scholarship, offering a richer understanding of appearance as a deliberate political strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933807558892,"sku":"9781501787447","price":127.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781501787447-appearance-politics.jpg?v=1783880729","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/products\/appearance-politics-by-lex-lu-9781501787447","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}