Kelly W.S. Ritter, Ph.D., is an historian who explores the intersection of buildings and visual culture to uncover stories about people and societies. As a Professor of Architectural History at the Savannah College of Art and Design, she specializes in East Asian studies, particularly 1930s Shanghai. Dr. Ritter's research weaves together the city's physical form with its representations in popular print media, offering a unique lens on urban life. Her work charts new paths in understanding how architecture and visual narratives shape our perceptions of urban environments.
Authors | Kelly W.S. Ritter
Articles on Amodern by Kelly W.S. Ritter
A TRULY MODERN MEDIA
Avant-garde Visual Culture and the Printed Character in the 1930s Shanghai Pictorial Magazine 時代漫畫 Modern Sketch
This article examines the influential 1930s Shanghai pictorial Modern Sketch and its owner Shao Xunmei's vision for promoting literacy and political engagement among Chinese citizens. Shao viewed pictorials as a tool to make reading enjoyable and cultivate politically aware readers, contrasting with more didactic and staid literacy efforts. The article argues that Modern Sketch uniquely combined high-quality printing, avant-garde art, and carefully structured text to appeal to readers of all literacy levels while delivering sophisticated political and social commentary. Through a case study of a 1937 photomontage, the article demonstrates how intricate and incisive critiques of society and culture could be interpreted at different literacy levels. It positions Modern Sketch as an important alternative public space capturing the complexities of life in semi-colonial Shanghai.