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)



……