The Question of Truth and Humanism in Contemporary Photography from China during the Eighties

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Roberto Figliulo
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Traducció i d'Interpretació i d'Estudis de l'Àsia Oriental
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6933-9024

Photography is the medium of truth. Since its inception, it has been considered the most formidable tool for documenting reality. This paper analyses how this idea evolved in a period of undeniable change in China during the eighties. Through a historical and theoretical approach, it explores the emergence of a new generation of photographers that fundamentally altered the approach to photography in the country. The objective is to demonstrate how new trends originated during a decade of cultural effervescence across all realms of cultural production. This paper offers a glimpse into this incredible period.

Paraules clau
Documentary Photography, Photography in China, Theory of Photography, History of Photography, Photographic Exhibitions

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Figliulo, Roberto. «The Question of Truth and Humanism in Contemporary Photography from China during the Eighties». Inter Asia Papers, 2020, núm. 68, p. 1-27, http://raco.cat/index.php/interasiapapers/article/view/435660.
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(c) 2025

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