本书为当代文化研究新论丛之一。

该书运用后殖民研究、话语-权力、大众文化、话语权、弱势群体研究等文化研究理论，以及语用学中的话语幽默、认知语境、关联等理论，对赵本山等人通过小品塑造中国农民形象这一文化现象进行了研究。

全书以英文的形式呈现。

传统中国文化作品中的农民形象多是负面的。而赵本山1995～2000年间在央视春节联欢晚会上演的系列小品，从正面的角度全面重塑了中国农民形象，具有重要的文化意义。本书运用后殖民研究、话语-权力、大众文化、话语权、弱势群体研究等文化研究理论，以及语用学中的话语幽默、认知语境、关联等理论，对赵本山等人通过小品塑造中国农民形象这一文化现象进行了研究。

Introduction: Interrogating Images of Chinese Peasantry

 I Chinese Peasantry Presented in Traditional Chinese Culture 

1 Images of Peasantry in The Four Books

2 Images of Peasantry in Chinese Idioms/Fables 

3 Images of Peasantry in Other Literary Works

4 Literature on Peasants' Insurgence

5 Images of Peasantry in Popular Culture

 II Power in Popular Culture and Branding Characteristics

1 Current State of Cultural Studies

2 Mechanisms of Popular Culture

  (1) Language

  (2) Contradictions and Complexity

  (3) Conformity versus Subversion

  (4) Humor, Guerrilla Strategy, and Appropriation

  (5) Setting, Context, Theme

3 A Brief Account of Zhao Benshan's Comic Sketches

 III Methodology

 IV Structure

 V Selection

Chapter One: Articulating for the Chinese Peasants

 I Power and Representation: Images and Stereotypes

 II Zhao's CSs as Power Front for the Peasants

  III Significant Themes of Zhao' s CSs

 1 Aspects of Amelioration and Brightness of Peasant Life

2 Unfavorable Images of Peasants

  IV General Strategies in Zhao's CSs

Chapter Two: The Linguistic Complexity

  I Dialect and Colloquialism: Micro Narration for

  Macro Culture

  II Humor: Shortcut in Confrontations

  III Tones, Intonation, and Purposeful Misuse of Language

  IV Governing Principle: Relevance

  V Linguistic Power: Driving Toward the Goal

Chapter Three: Cultural Ambivalence

  I Contexts: Ideological and Cultural Implications

  II Conformity: Endorsing Ontological Ideologies

  III Subversion: Empowering the Powerless

  IV Romanticizing the Margins

Chapter Four: Can the Chinese Peasants Speak?

  I Preconditions for Effective Articulation:

  Language and Knowledge

  II Can the Chinese Peasants Speak?

  III Can Zhao Speak for the Chinese Peasants?

  laslon

Bibliography

References in English

References in Chinese

Major Films and Websites

Appendix A: Three of the Quoted Fables and Idioms

  I The Foolish Old Man and the Wise Man

  II The Farmer Who Abandoned His Cattle

  III The Rich Man Who Wanted One More Sheep

Appendix B: A Brief CV of Zhao Benshan and His

       Major Works

Appendix C: Scripts for Four of Zhao's Comic Sketches

I红高粱模特队 (1997)

  (Red Sorghum Models)

  II 拜年 (1998)

  (Spring Festival Call)

  III 昨天、今天、明天 (1999)

   (Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow)

  IV 钟点工 (2000)

   (Odd Job)