Appearance Politics - by Lex Lu (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Appearance Politics, Lex Lu argues that crafting an appealing and powerful outward image has long been a critical political tool in China. This strategy is evident in historical records, imperial portraits, physiognomic assessments, photographs, posters, statues, and digital images. Using rare archival materials from Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, Lu explores how political figures designed their images and examines the shifting standards of male beauty that shaped their choices.

The book analyzes five case studies: Ming Prince Zhu Di's usurpation; the rise of Manchu masculinity and blended Han-Manchu beauty standards under Emperor Yongzheng; modern photography and Western beauty ideals in the early 20th century; Sun Yat-sen's crafted image as the Republican founding father; and Mao Zedong's iconic visual legacy.

Through this empirical, nuanced study, Appearance Politics challenges stereotypical portrayals of Chinese male leadership in Western media and scholarship, offering a richer understanding of appearance as a deliberate political strategy.

Review Quotes

[A] lively and well-researched book. Recommended.

About the Author

Lex Lu is Associate Professor in History at Clark University. His research focuses on conceptualization of masculinity, as well as changing male beauty standards, as they pertain to Chinese politics, society, and culture.