Narrating Shanghai Lives

Publication Type
Talks

The Literary Reading Series at NYU Shanghai, a project of the Writing Program, brings acclaimed writers from around the world to our Shanghai campus. This Spring, we welcome renowned China correspondent Rob Schmitz.

Home to more than 24 million people, Shanghai is rich with human stories — many of which will go untold. Curiosity for these unreported lives led award-winning journalist Rob Schmitz to look beyond politicians, business leaders and celebrities, to document the man and woman on the street. At the NYU Shanghai Literary Series, he shared excerpts from his soon-to-published  first book, Street of Eternal Happiness, a captivating portrait of contemporary China as seen through the personal lives of a group of Shanghai residents.

Street of Eternal Happiness was inspired by observing contemporary life along Changle Road in the Former French Concession. As Schmitz began to investigate the history of his surroundings, he was drawn to the stories and secrets hidden behind the walled houses.

"News comes up every two minutes in China. As a journalist, because of the volume of news in this country, it seems there is too much to focus on," said Schmitz, who reports for American Public Media’s Marketplace program.

What began as a series of informal interviews, soon became a bigger narrative nonfiction project as he delved into the everyday lives of his neighbors, befriending those he wrote about.

“Young people everywhere were searching for happiness,” said Schmitz, reading excerpts from his story of CK—a bright young accordion player whose over-the-phone salesmanship talents (Italian accordions) allow him to realize his ‘dream’ of “running an unprofitable second floor sandwich shop, [where he can] sit in the unprofitable second floor sandwich shop, pondering the meaning of life.”

"I wanted to show that you don't need to go very far to find amazing stories in China. All you have to do is walk and have the patience to speak to somebody,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz trailed after the intricate lives of his new friends — going everywhere from an endless reel of pyramid scheme meetings with middle aged ‘Auntie Fu,’ to following the off-kilter life journeys of Shanghai’s hipstery wényì qīngnián, the ‘cultured youth’ working hard for the means to “watch independent films, study existentialism and visit art galleries.”

“We're in a time — not only in this city — but in this country, that is crucial. I think it's important to understand everyday people in China and what they're going through — what change does to them and their families. I wanted to understand that, and focus on just normal people,” Schmitz said.

Rob Schmitz is Marketplace’s China correspondent, based in Shanghai. Street of Eternal Happiness, is his first book. It will be released on May 17, 2016.

The Spring 2016 Literary Reading Series is curated by Perry, Edochie and NYU Shanghai Director of External and Academic Events, Constance Bruce.
Don't miss the next event with Yang Jian, one of China's greatest living poets, and renowned Chinese writer Wang Xiaoni.