Introduction

“A Solitary Party: Subjectivity of Chinese Rock Culture in The Big Band” examines rock music in Mainland China, focusing on the subjectivity of Chinese youth reflected in the music works. In recent years, after the release of the online variety show The Big Band, rock culture has gained vast popularity in China after long being marginalized in the mainstream due to its rebellious identity.

This thesis aims to look beyond the surface of the phenomenon of rock ‘n’ roll’s re-trendization to explore the social influence of rock music, and to further discuss the problems in the lives and social environments of the Chinese youth represented by this culture.

If interested, you may read Pengshan’s Dissertation here.

Experience at MALCS

The study experience at MALCS has broadened my academic knowledge and helped me gain a deeper understanding of cultural studies as a discipline. MALCS program offered us the opportunity to study a wide variety of texts and cultural phenomena, and through the research and studies, I was able to gain a deep appreciation for critical thinking and learn from various mentors the importance of respecting the text itself.

Additionally, on top of the more traditional academic studies, this program also included some more practical courses, and the skills I learned from them have helped me with some of my career development after graduation.