Imagining Asia: Cultural Citizenship and Nation Building in the National Museums of Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau

(Hardback)

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Despite widespread recognition that we are living in an era of mass globalization, there has been a startling resurgence of nationalism in many regions of the world. Alongside this development, many new national museums are being built or refurbished, pointing to the critical role the telling of history plays in processes of building national identity. From new museum construction to the re-purposing of colonial monuments, and from essentialized narratives to spaces which encourage visitors to dream, this book explores the development and influence of national museums in three contemporary Asian societies Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Reviews

Imagining Asias three-city comparative framework provides a new conceptual lens through which to examine these museum sites. The case studies are well chosen, as all three share similar legacies of British colonisation and Chinese hegemony. Furthermore, the museum focus extends the study of cultural agencies in Asia, as well as the way they shape formations of national identity. -- Audrey Yue, Professor of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore

Author Bio

Emily Stokes-Rees is associate professor of museum studies at Syracuse University, USA.