BETWEEN STATE AND SOCIETY: THE TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA'S PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE 1980S.

This article examines the transformation of photography in China during the 1980s, specifically the shift from state-controlled visual culture to a more diverse and independent artistic expression. It discusses the concept of the "third realm," an intermediate space between the state and society, and how it influenced photography during this period. The article explores the role of camera clubs in promoting aestheticism and propaganda photography, as well as the emergence of independent photography groups that challenged these dominant modes. It highlights the tensions and negotiations between different approaches to photography in China during the 1980s, and how collaboration between the state and society shaped its development. [Extracted from the article]