Marja Kaikkonen Meiling
About me
Professor in Sinology
Biographical Details
After studies in Finland, China and Sweden, I took my PhD in Sinology at Stockholm University in 1990. By then I was teaching Chinese at both Uppsala and Stockholm universities. I was employed as Research Fellow at Department of Chinese Studies, Stockholm University, in 1992, as Lecturer in 2000 and as Professor in 2016.
Education
- Docent (Associate Professor). Stockholm University 1996. Sinology.
- PhD Stockholm University 1990. Sinology. Dissertation: Laughable Propaganda: Modern Xiangsheng as Didactic Entertainment.
- MA Stockholm University, 1981. Chinese, English.
- BA University of Helsinki 1977. English philology, Russian language and literature, Nordic philology, Sociology.
- 1974-76 Studies at Peking University. Chinese literature.
- 1973-74 Studies at Beijing Language Institute. Chinese language.
Research
Research Interests:
Chinese culture: literature, esp. popular literature, since late Qing; non-avant-garde popular culture. The relationship between culture and politics, culture, politics and modernization. Propaganda and culture. Popular literature journals and publishing. Traditional popular culture today.
Current Projects:
- Gushihui: A popular literature journal that survives.
- Maoist iconography in posters 1950-1980.
- Funerals and the changing culture of ancestor worship.