Lessons from the movies in Shanghai

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Tirelessly exposing iniquities in Chinese society through his writings, Lu Xun understood the power of modern media to reinforce social divisions. For him, film showings in 1930s Shanghai were a prime example. Paul Courtenay Hyu reads an extract from Lu Xun’s 1933 essay, Lessons from the Movies. Photo: A poster for the 1930s film 'West Of Shanghai' (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)