Nothing to Say Here: Shanghai Street Photos (Mops!)

You know what Shanghai is? Shanghai is MOPS. Period. Screw economic prowess, massive deconstruction projects, shiny buildings and nouveau riche bazillionaires and their homicidal spawn and their ¥10,000 bottles of moutai in garish clubs. This city is all about the mop.

See?

Mop, drying duck, drying fish, huge pants drying on a laundry line, black car illegally parked: Shanghai in a nutshell

Antique store mop isn't actually antique
A nuclear family. The small one is probably a boy. If not, they'll soon be trying for one.
The bunny, official mascot for The Year thereof, in its cage outside a restaurant, accompanied by mop.
Emblematic of a city: mop and indoor/outdoor winter pyjamas

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16 responses to “Nothing to Say Here: Shanghai Street Photos (Mops!)”

  1. Bella Avatar
    Bella

    This, THIS is post-post-modern Shanghai. Especially the first with the duck and fish so casually hanging out. Squeegees in Israel, 2-ft-high straw besoms in Greece, and the majesty of the mop in China (or is it solely Shanghai?).

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      Hehe. I aim for the po-po-mo approach to urban analysis. The mop is mostly Shanghai- I’ve not seen it nearly so represented elsewhere. In Dalian, all I could see was cabbages. I should move there for the cabbage montage.

  2. Sally Avatar

    My favorite is the Mop Family. I can really see the family resemblance.

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      They do look alike, don’t they?

  3. Rory Avatar

    This is so true, you see mops everywhere and I had to use one ever week when it was my turn to clean the teachers office at school. Great photos by the way.

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever known a city so rife with mops as Shanghai. It’s a curious thing.

  4. Cronopio Avatar
    Cronopio

    Ha, I found you! I was missing you over on LJ so I went to your profile and found the other blog and then this blog. Yay! I was a little worried about you. Anyway, cool pics!

    Happy New Year!

    Patricia (Tx_cronopio)

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      Oh, wow, it is so good to see you over here! I’m so glad you tracked me down! Happy new year to you too. Please come back again as this is where I am these days (also at http://www.wokwithmebaby.com).

  5. pam Avatar

    Okay, I know this is about mops, but I can’t get past the PADDED WINTER JAMMIES! I WANT THEM.

    That is all.

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      Did you see them in use? Check out today’s photo post, with the padded pjs out in full glory! (https://www.ephemeraanddetritus.com/2011/12/31/nothing-to-say-here-the-solutions-edition-put-a-shirt-on-that-pig/)

      I want them too.

  6. David S. Wills Avatar

    I have no idea how I stumbled upon this page, but I am thankful that I did. Been in China a yr and a half and I somehow failed to notice the significance of mops. But now you mention it… wow. Mind=blown. I’m looking out at my balcony now and I have four mops there. Four! I’ve never even used them. They were here when I moved in. I have three in the house that I use. There are another two out in the hall… Why did I never realise how weird this was until now?

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      You realize now, of course, that they offer the elusive key to the riddle that is life! I just started a new Tumblr blog just for mops so feel free to submit any photos of them. Mops ARE Shanghai! http://awesomemopsofchina.tumblr.com/

      Enjoy your 4 balcony mops and 3 indoor mops. I’m sure they think of you fondly.

  7. David S. Wills Avatar

    I will try and get some photos of the local Hefei mops. I wonder if there’s a difference in culture or style…

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      I’m pretty sure I have a few Hefei mops in my computer somewhere- I go there every few months for work. One of the classrooms I test in looks out over a kind of decrepit shantytown type housing area full of mops. Even rooftop mops!

  8. Alexandra van Vianen Avatar

    Love the mommy daddy and baby mop!!! Also I booted up my Google reader finally so got caught up on what you have been up to lately, scuba diving looked great and you never cease to amaze me with your many talents.

    1. MaryAnne Avatar
      MaryAnne

      Aw, thanks! I assume you are referring to my awesome mop-scouting talents, right? 😉

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