This week’s episode is with Noah Sheldon, who has been taking photos and making films of workers in China over the last decade or so. We discuss some of the factory conditions that aren’t covered in much of the world’s reporting on the issue. We talk about the condition of the average migrant worker in China. And we focus in on the lives of one or two people that Noah has encountered as part of his work. 

To see some of the work mentioned in our conversation, see www.noahsheldon.com.

Noah Sheldon’s object: One of his cameras, unsurprisingly.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [1]: a cyclist chasing a motorcyclist.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [2]: a boy using an oversized comb.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon: A screenshot from one of his short documentaries about a styrofoam collector. It’s only 4 minutes long, please go to www.noahsheldon.com/work to watch it in parallel to listening to this episode. 

Noah Sheldon: Some images from Wenfeng (文峰), the subject of another one of his films. 

Noah Sheldon’s inspiration: Studs Terkel, and his 1974 piece “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do”.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite restaurant: In & Out Yunnan Restaurant (一坐一忘).

Noah Sheldon’s LEAST favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 差不多 (Chàbuduō - "more or less" / "not far off").

Noah Sheldon’s favourite song to sing at KTV (karaoke): Elton John, Tiny Dancer.

One of Noah Sheldon’s favourite information sources: Liao Yiwu, The Corpse Walker: Real-Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up.

If you’re inspired by some of the stories from today’s episode, I recommend watching the Netflix film: American Factory.