Sewing Machines And Modern Shanghai Social Change (1858-1949),

This dissertation mainly studies on sewing machine in Modern Shanghai(1858-1949).In this dissertation,the author retraces the development of sewing machine,from its birth,development and historical background in western countries such as Great Britain,France and America to its first introduction in China,and makes clear when it was introduced to Shanghai,what is its translated name and its price,etc..The development of sewing machine in Shanghai is divided into several phases, each of which is analyzed in the whole process of Modern Shanghai's history development.This dissertation is written on the basis of its related history and the knowledge of History,Economics and Sociology on City,which focuses not only on micro respects but also on macro prospects. In this dissertation,the author manages to develop the studies on micro angle---sewing machine into studies on macro angle---History and Sociology,etc.,which challenges the traditional model of Object-object. And therefore,an initial angle has been seen in studies on sewing machine by discussing how material culture functions in its city's development. The dissertation introduces people from different walks of life who have their respective reactions to the introduction of sewing machine in Shanghai,among whom there are the Hongbang tailors proficient in western suits,wealthy aristocrats,liberal middle-class women and artisans,etc.. In this dissertation,some well-known makes of sewing machines and their manufactories are also related,and their respective developments are discussed and analyzed in detail.Furthermore,garment industry in modern Shanghai which is closely related to sewing machine is stated as well. The study,beginning with discussion of suits,shirts,shoes and caps, and fashionable dresses,focuses on sewing machine's influences on the society of Modern Shanghai,the dressing customs of its people and the changes of their concepts in social life.The author makes a deep analysis on the gender problem of using machine,the changes of their concepts as well as other related prospects.The analysis involves many social problems such as science and technology,the modernization of the city of Shanghai,consuming ways of people from all walks of life,the notion of equal rights between women and men,etc.,which,from all-round respects,presents sewing machine's effects on the great change of social life in Shanghai.In this dissertation,the author manages to develop the studies on micro angle---sewing machine into studies on macro angle---History and Sociology,etc.,which challenges the traditional model of Object-object. And therefore,an initial angle has been seen in studies on sewing machine by discussing how material culture functions in its city's development.