The Chinese Womens Magazines Database An Introduction

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 1

Roundtable Gender, the Popular Press, and the

Digital Humanities

Matthias Arnold, Heidelberg University

Association for Asian Sudies, 2013 Annual Conference, San Diego March 23, 2013

Research project

Interdisciplinary research project A New Approach to the Popular Press in China: Gender and Cultural Production, 1904-1937

History (Joan Judge, York University)

Cultural studies (Barbara Mittler, Heidelberg University)

Literature (Grace Fong, McGill University)

Literature (Michel Hockx, SOAS)

Art history (Julia Andrews, Ohio State University)

History (Christian Henriot, Lumire-Lyon 2 University)

Linguistics (Elisabeth Kaske, Carnegie Mellon University)

Funding: SSHRC (Canada), Humboldt Foundation (Germany)

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 2

Research project Magazines

Selection of four important womens journals as research objects

Womens World (Nzi shijie, , 1904-07) The Womens Eastern Times (Fun shibao, , 1911-17) Ladies Journal (Fun zazhi, , 1915-31) Elegance (Linglong, , 1931-37)

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 3

Methodology

1. Horizontal reading close reading of all material included in one issue

2. Vertical reading close reading of one particular theme over time

3. Integrated reading reading journals against other journals, within the same "family of journals"

4. Situated reading reading journals against other source materials

cf. Joan Judge, Barbara Mittler and Michel Hockx ed., A Space of Their Own: Women and the Periodical Press in China's Long Twentieth Century, forthcoming.

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 4

Database

Requirements for digital tool: Provide access to large amounts of metadata and images Cross-reference individual items

Articles Images Advertisements (and Agents) Collaborative online editing platform Research tool

Read/browse magazines online Search analytical data (e.g. Keywords, genres) and metadata

Open access via website

Conceptualization and implementation:

Heidelberg Research Architecture Digital Humanities Division at the Cluster of Excellence Asia and Europe in a Global Context, University of Heidelberg

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 5

DB Features

Important features Read/browse all issues online, cover to cover (if pages available) Every item on a page was recorded: articles, images, ads Pages arranged in original order, incl. blank/missing pages Records cover Chinese, Pinyin transcription, and English translation Some records provide full textual contents (Chinese only), esp.

advertisements All types of agents were recorded with their roles:

e.g. authors, photographers, organisations, translators, incl. mentionings Analytical data:

keywords, genres, together with magazine columns Search and filter functionality

Access: http://womag.uni-hd.de

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 6

DB Features - Horizontal reading

Close reading of all material included in one issue

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 7

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 8

DB Features - Vertical reading

Close reading of one particular theme over time

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 9

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 10

DB Features - Integrated and situated reading

Reading journals against other journals

Reading journals against other source materials

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 11

Outlook I - ECPO

Early Chinese Periodicals Online (ECPO) Collaboration Academia Sinica with University of Heidelberg

Funded by Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation (3 years)

Expansion of database system

Integrated access to data from different existing databases

Extensive and Intensive recording of metadata

Preparation and launch of Website for Academic research (large proportions as open access)

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 12

Outlook II Biographical data

Cluster of Excellence, University of Heidelberg Consolidation and expansion of biographical data (in planning) 1118 agents - Xiaobao db 6172 agents - WoMag db 5910 agents - ECPO db

->Create repository for biographical data to

Identify unique agents Identify and merge reoccurring agents Expand biographical data (selected

agents) Possibly submit data to China

Biographical Database (CBDB) Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 13

Matthias Arnold | University of Heidelberg | The Chinese Womens Magazines Database - An Introduction 14

Visit the database at http://womag.uni-hd.de

The Chinese Womens Magazines Database An IntroductionResearch projectResearch project MagazinesMethodologyDatabaseDB FeaturesDB Features - Horizontal readingSlide Number 8DB Features - Vertical readingSlide Number 10DB Features - Integrated and situated readingOutlook I - ECPOOutlook II Biographical dataSlide Number 14