In this lecture, Anna Greenspan will talk about her book Shanghai Future: Modernity Remade. China is in the midst of the fastest and most intense process of urbanisation the world has ever known, and Shanghai - its biggest, richest and most cosmopolitan city - is positioned for acceleration into the twenty-first century. Yet, in its embrace of a hopeful - even exultant - futurism, Shanghai recalls the older and much criticised project of imagining, planning and building the modern metropolis. Today, among Westerners, at least, the very idea of the futuristic city - with its multilayered skyways, domestic robots and flying cars - seems doomed to the realm of nostalgia, the sadly comic promise of a future that failed to materialise. Shanghai Future maps the city of tomorrow as it resurfaces in a new time and place. It searches for the contours of an unknown and unfamiliar futurism in the city's street markets as well as in its skyscrapers. For though it recalls the modernity of an earlier age, Shanghai's current re-emergence is only superficially based on mimicry. Rather, in seeking to fulfill its ambitions, the giant metropolis is reinventing the very idea of the future itself. As it modernises, Shanghai is necessarily recreating what it is to be modern.

Anna Greenspan holds a doctorate in philosophy and cybernetic culture. Her current research interests include urbanism, digital technology, street markets, futurism and the philosophy of time. Her book Shanghai Future: Modernity Remade is forthcoming in 2014.

Anna lives for most of the year in Shanghai, China. She teaches on urbanism and digital culture at NYU Shanghai.

Anna is a founder of the Shanghai Studies Society

RSVP: to RAS Bookings at: bookings@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn

ENTRANCE:  TBC

Includes a glass of wine or soft drink

Priority for RAS members. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.   

MEMBERSHIP applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.

RAS MONOGRAPHS - Series 1 & 2 will be available for sale at this event. 100 rmb each (cash sale only)

WEBSITE:  www.royalasiaticsociety.org.cn