| Guo Jingming , Pop idol or China’s most successful writer? | |
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| May 5, 2008 02:11 |   |
 | Who is the most successful writer in China today? New York Times says it is the 24-year-old Guo Jingming, “a pop idol whose cross-dressing, image-obsessed persona has made him a sensation in a country where the Communist (**) advocates prudery and heterosexuality.” The following is the introductory paragraph of Guo Jingming by New York Times. You can read the full text by following this link: http://www.nytimes.com/ 24-year-old Guo Jingming  |
| May 5, 2008 02:14 | #1 |
| The most successful writer in China today isn’t Gao Xingjian, the winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize, or even Jiang Rong, the author of the best-selling novel “Wolf Totem,” just released in the United States. It’s 24-year-old Guo Jingming, a pop idol whose cross-dressing, image-obsessed persona has made him a sensation in a country where the Communist (**) advocates prudery and heterosexuality. Thousands of teenagers — his readers are rarely over 20 — flock to Guo’s signing sessions. Some post frenzied declarations of love on his blog: “Little Four, I will always be with you!” (Guo’s nickname comes from “fourth dimension war,” a random quotation he found in a magazine.) Alongside adoring letters addressed to “Big Brother Guo,” the author posts pictures of himself half-naked in the shower, in his underwear or swathed in Dolce & Gabbana accessories and Louis XIV-style shirts. Guo is hardly universally beloved. Last fall, he was voted China’s most hated male celebrity for the third year in a row on Tianya, one of the country’s biggest online forums. Yet three of his four novels have sold over a million copies each, and last year he had the highest income of any Chinese author: $1.4 million.  |
| May 5, 2008 22:33 | #2 |
| Guo Jingming (郭敬明）and Han Han（韩寒）are two pop fictionists. The reason why their works enjoyed high popularity among Chinese youngsters is that their ideas resonate with the mentality of the Chinese post-1980 generation. Since 1978 China has experienced dramatic social changes. Western culture was imported into China and clashed with the Oriental civilization. Traditional norms have been challenged. China's youngsters have been under the strong influence of western pop culture. In the eyes of old generations of Chinese, the new generation seems to "China's Lost Generation”. They can not identify with the new generation's value and behavior. Anyway, it is comprehensible. Different social environments shape different characteristics. It seems that western media prefer today's Chinese generation to their forefathers. Just look at the recent idols praised by the New York Times, Li Yuchun, an androgyny, challenged Chinese traditional notion of beauty, who was selected as Asia' Hero ( the cover girl of New York Times Magazine) in 2005. Guo Jingming's cross-dressing also challenged China’s traditional norms. Perhaps, the East and the West still hold different aesthetic standards! China's American Idol: Li Yuchun  |
| May 6, 2008 04:53 | #3 |
| GUESTCHINATEEN | I don't know much about Guo Jingming but I know Han Han is high-school dropout who often mocks China’s educational system in his novels and regularly insults older. A rebellious little kid! |
| May 6, 2008 20:55 | #4 |
| Guo Jingming likes cross-dressing. Oh, judging by his looks, he is sissy! |
| Jun 20, 2009 18:09 | #5 |
| GUESTMARYANN... | hello to all of you guys, I stumbled on this great site. Am going through a dark night of the soul and it was no chance I ended up here. Look forward to reading all the info and posts. |
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