Overview
Rural underdevelopment in China is a multidimensional issue that calls for a solution concerning the local economy, culture, history, and identity. As part of a wider project aiming for rural revival, the development-through-art program sets itself apart through its emphasis on rural residents' self-management and initiative in seeking changes. In this book, the authors provide an account of this program and its implementation in three Chinese villages, namely Gejia, Dingwang, and Chengyang. They analyze the changes resulting from the program through a combination of the phenomenological approach and an array of sociological concepts. These include Heidegger's concept of dwelling, the concepts of placemaking and place identity, and Eliade's concept of the center and its symbolism. The last part of the book focuses on this program's potential impact on the prospects of these rural places and, in particular, the possible economic and civilizational benefits to be gained from tourism development.
What's New
Presents an exhaustive analysis of the development-through-art program launched in the three Chinese villages of Gejia, Chengyang,and Dingwang.
