Touch, Body, and the New Perceptionism: Mu Shiying’s Case

Abstract

This chapter rereads Mu Shiying through emphasizing the dimension of body and touch, which, unlike substantial determinations of social relations that derives from disciplines, social identities, and institutions, gives rise to a relation without substance, an individual whose individuality (or singularity) stems from its contiguity with other bodies. A contingent connection among different bodies, different individuals, and, in the last analysis, different words deprived of significations: this is Mu Shiying’s answer to the semi-colonial Shanghai where capitalism overdetermines cultural productions as well as political articulations. Where revolution is unexpectable, there is possibility of revolution. The political message that the New Perceptionism leaves may be as follows: try out different connections.