Watch Looking at China for free

Three experts offer distinct and often unexpected insights into contemporary Chinese society, addressing issues ranging from rapid modernization and social inequality to censorship and cultural identity. Featured researchers include: Michael Berry, Professor of Asian Studies (UCLA), Karl Gerth, Professor of Chinese History (UC San Diego), and Pankaj Mishra, independent author and scholar. Karl Gerth (UC San Diego) examines how policy decisions have fueled China's rapid embrace of car culture, transforming everyday life. He also explores Chinese attitudes toward social inequality—comparing them with American perspectives—and notes the frustration among educated youth facing limited job prospects. Additionally, he reflects on the staggering pace of societal change in modern China. Michael Berry (UCLA), a scholar of Chinese literature and film, discusses the pervasive influence of censorship and self-censorship in the Chinese cultural sector. He also highlights the country’s vast cultural diversity, shaped by regional histories and linguistic differences. Pankaj Mishra, an independent author and scholar, adds a broader global and philosophical context to China’s evolving identity, though his commentary is more limited in the documentary compared to the others.