SYMBOL OF URBAN LIFE: SCULPTING THE DYNAMICS OF FAMILY AND MODERNITY IN URBAN CHINA

บทคัดย่อ

This study investigated the profound transformations within urban family structures in modern China, amidst the country’s rapid urbanization following the reform and opening-up policy. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the research explored the socio-economic and cultural shifts influencing family dynamics, particularly focusing on the experiences and environmental interactions of younger urban dwellers. The research involved extensive fieldwork in Baoshan City and a critical review of literature spanning life-course theory, modernization theory, and gender equity theory. The findings highlighted the evolving roles within the urban Chinese family and the challenges posed by urban living. The core of the investigation lay in synthesizing these themes through visual arts, with a series of sculptures encapsulating 'The Symbol of Urban Life'. Drawing inspiration from the works of Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, and Julian Voss-Andreae, the sculptures acted as a narrative tool, dissecting, and reconstructing the layered complexities of urban existence. The resulting sculptures depicted the urban experience and provided analytical and sociological commentaries on the state of the family in urbanized China. Suggestions for future research involved interactive public art installations and examining the psychological impact of living in high-density urban environments, advocating for a cross-disciplinary approach to further explore the dynamic interplay between urban studies, psychology, and visual arts.