| This dissertation consists of 7 parts: introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, and conclusion.The first part introduces the purpose of choosing "The Social and Economic Significance of the Rise and Decline of Gramophone Record Industry in Shanghai in Late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China" as its subject of discussion. It investigates into the selected topic from the perspective of academic theories and history, pointing out that while drawing on the experience of the new research methodologies of foreign cultural history, the author' s argument has its root in the history of Shanghai and Chinese modern and contemporary history. In essence, the present research falls to the category of social history researches in modern Shanghai. Finally, it reviews the research trends in the academic circle both at home and abroad and points out that there are seldom researches into the interactive relationship between gramophone records and the society.Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 review the development of gramophone record industry from late Qing dynasty when wax cylinder gramophone was introduced into Shanghai to the end of Republic of China. It mainly discusses how gramophones and gramophone records were introduced to Shanghai, and how Shanghai became the center of gramophone record industry in the Republic of China.Chapter 3 probes into the interactive relationship between gramophone records and the society. On the one hand, gramophone records are very popular among residents in Shanghai; on the other hand, the social influence and significance of the gramophone records is analyzed.Chapter 4 expounds the influence and restriction of politics in late Qing dynasty and the Republic of China upon gramophone records. It mainly covers three aspects: the effects of gramophone records in the patriotic campaigns in late Qing dynasty; the unsound inspection system of Kuomingtang Shanghai authority; the strict control of Japanese authority.Chapter 5 makes a case study of Pathe—the largest gramophone producer in the Republic of China. It discusses the enterprises that produce gramophone records, their management mechanism and why they develop different kinds of records, through which it attempts to find out how Baidai Company could be a tycoon of Chinese record manufacturing industry for several decades.The conclusion is a summary of the author's gains and feelings in writing this dissertation. |
