A review by themorsecode
Shanzhai: Deconstruction in Chinese by Byung-Chul Han

5.0

The kind of book that subtly reshapes your conception of the world. I'd never considered that the Western idea of 'original' and 'fake' are cultural constructs and that the Far East has a very different impression of these concepts - with none of the negative connotations we hold towards forgeries and copies in the West. The view that art is a collaborative and evolving thing other time with owners and connoisseurs being encouraged to leave their mark, rather than an finality signed off with the artist's signature is a completely different sense of what art is (and can be) to me. Has also given me a different view of the knock-off products made by Chinese manufacturers, which Byung-Chul Han are produced almost in conversation with the original products (although I think he overlooks the enormous R&D costs inherent in Electronics which allow these cheaper reproductions).

Pulling in Philosophy, Art History (the aside regarding the Dutch forger Han van Meegeren and his fake Vermeer's was particularly fascinating) and Linguistics, this very short book has more insight and interest than other works I've read multiple times larger. Very much recommended.