Beijing Blur - James West

I have just finished reading 'Beijing Blur' by James West, a young Australian writer who lived in China for a year as part of a placement agreement between ABC and CCTV International.

This book is excellent and I think will touch a nerve with travellers, general readers, young and old people, those who work in the media and especially anyone who has lived in a different country and has had to adjust to a different culture. Furthermore, he is gay, which means there is added depth to his whole experience as it gives an insight into the lives and issues facing Beijing's bisexual/gay youths. It is also an interesting read for anthropoligists or politically-minded people who are interested in censorship, media and the Chinese state.

He recommends some things to take a look at in the back of his book, which I will post here and hopefully get round to having a glance at soon.

Blogs

www.danwei.org
www.zonaeuropa.com
www.beijingorbust.blogspot.com

Books

Tongzhi: Politics of Same-Sex Eroticism in Chinese Societies - Chou Wah-Shan
Remaking Beijing: Tianemen Square and the Creation of a Political Space - Wu Hung
The Insider's Guide to Beijing - Adam Pillsbury

Music (Mr West does a lot of hanging out with promising Chinese musicians)

Cut Off! - Rebuilding the Rights of Statues
Secret Mission - Wednesday's Trip
Mental Imagery - Dead J Ambient
Beijing Dream - Thin Man

Film

Dong Gong Xi Gong - Yuan Zhang (1996)
2046 - Wong Kar Wai (2004)