Chow King Mun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-144). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English and Chinese) --- p.iv-v / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Notes --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Diagrams and Tables --- p.viii / Figures / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The Aim of the Study / Chapter 1.2 --- The Road to Chinese Modernity / Chapter 1.3 --- Modernity and Consumption / Chapter 1.4 --- Theories of Consumption / Chapter 1.5 --- Consumption in China / Chapter 1.6 --- "A Brief Overview of the Tian Village, Zhongshan" / Chapter 1.7 --- Methodology / Chapter 1.8 --- Summary of the Chapters Making up the Thesis / Chapter 1.9 --- Significance of Study / Chapter 2. --- Tian Village and its Environment --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Xiaolan Town / Chapter 2.2 --- The Tian Village / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Background / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Dramatic Transformation of the Village / Chapter 2.2.3 --- The Economic Activities / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Education Level / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Migrant Labourers / Chapter 2.3 --- Summary / Chapter 3. --- Aspiring to be Modern --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1 --- What is Modernity? / Chapter 3.2 --- The Aspirations of Older and Younger Villagers / Chapter 3.2.1 --- The young generation / Chapter 3.2.2 --- The old generation / Chapter 3.3.3 --- The hardships of the older villagers / Chapter 3.3 --- The Government Initiatives / Chapter 3.4 --- The Hong Kong Influences / Chapter 3.5 --- The Discourses of Modernity / Chapter 3.6 --- Summary / Chapter 4. --- Striving for a Better Life --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1 --- Strategies to earn money / Chapter 4.2 --- Case Study 1: Big Brother / Chapter 4.3 --- Case Study 2: Ah Ming's mother / Chapter 4.4 --- Case Study 3: AhYan / Chapter 4.5 --- Case Study 4: Mr He / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary / Chapter 5. --- Consumption and Modernity --- p.92 / Chapter 5.1 --- Interpreting modernity: Consumption as a strategy / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Housing / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Food / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Transportation / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Clothes / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Consuming modernity as a daily activity / Chapter 5.2 --- Economic power and generation differences in consumption / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Mobile Phones / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Debit cards/Shopping VIP cards / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The concept of frugality / Chapter 5.3 --- Anti-consumption: the problems of social security / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Ah Han Case / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.130 / Appendix - List of Chinese Characters --- p.137 / Bibliography --- p.139