Conclusion

Abstract

Minkan during the period from 1949 to 1989 manifested a resistance culture and independent communities that spanned across different social groups mainly in the urban areas. Minkan is significant because it presents the dynamic process of moveable words; links the older history of Chinese print culture to its renaissance; makes various formats; forms different modes of production and circulation; constructs distinctive civil networks; and, creates changeable physical and mental spheres. Moveable minkan communicates with the public, influences the social discourse, and directly interacts with the different social groups. Minkan in China not only put up a real fight to overcome censorship and repressive institutions, it also created the conditions for social and political movements or student movements. With minkan, there was self-identification and community-creation in the plural public spheres, which characterized the resistance momentum. Meanwhile, minkan also created a strong adhesive that bonded together the open physical spaces and the mental spheres, thus bridging the various networks. In addition, the development and transformation of minkan created new spaces and invaded the conventional circulation channels, by using the contending spaces to make the public differentiate various perspectives.