Developmental Fairy Tales

This interdisciplinary work reframes modern Chinese history by tracing how evolutionary theory transformed into everyday cultural knowledge through literature and media. Andrew F. Jones masterfully connects children's education, print culture, and popular storytelling to reveal a surprising narrative of China's modernization. The analysis moves seamlessly from primers to film, demonstrating how scientific ideas were domesticated into the national consciousness.

What makes this study compelling is its ability to reveal the hidden ideological work performed by seemingly innocent cultural forms like fairy tales and children's textbooks. Readers interested in cultural studies, modern Chinese history, and the sociology of knowledge will find a rich, innovative perspective that challenges conventional understandings of China's development. Jones ultimately provides a fresh lens for seeing how narratives shape national identity and social change.