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Full-Text Articles in Chinese Studies
Conversion And Roaming: Xia Yan In The Vision Of "The State Theories", Xing Tian
Conversion And Roaming: Xia Yan In The Vision Of "The State Theories", Xing Tian
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Since the founding of P. R. China, "native" Chinese film theory, especially mainstream cinematic theoretical construction, experienced many twists and turns through its historical process. This article seeks to investigate the key points and features of cinematic theoretical construction throughout different historical phases, and theoreticians' simultaneous corrections and adjustments of their theories according to changing social contexts. Under such historical background of academic development, Xia Yan's artistic outlook and development of screenwriting theories against the development of "native" cinematic theory displayed unique value, and thus the detailed and concrete truth of theoretical construction was brought to light from the perspective …
Terminological Transformation Of “Literature”: Establishing A New Literature In Modern China, Xinjian Xu
Terminological Transformation Of “Literature”: Establishing A New Literature In Modern China, Xinjian Xu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Since the transitional period between the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, literature has been regarded as an efficient instrument to arouse public awareness, to revitalize citizens, and to remold the country in the context of "Western learning spreading to the East." Back then, various reformists and revolutionaries, as well as pioneers of the New Culture Movement, devoted themselves to the enterprise of literature. As a result, literature became a key concept frequently appearing in the Chinese society, followed by a massive occurrence of literary practice throughout the country. As a conceptual product of "Western learning spreading to the …
Theoretical Fiction Notes In The Late Qing Dynasty And The Modern Transformation Of Chinese Fiction Criticism, Qingxin Wen
Theoretical Fiction Notes In The Late Qing Dynasty And The Modern Transformation Of Chinese Fiction Criticism, Qingxin Wen
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
As one of the most important ways of Chinese fiction criticism, the emphasis of theoretical fiction notes during the late Qing Dynasty gradually shifted to the elements of fiction itself, such as textual content, characterization, aesthetic taste, social function and so on. It also attempted to make theoretical reflections on and systematic construction of fiction criticism. Specifically, fiction notes emphasized the relationship between the creation and criticism of fiction and humanities, interaction between fiction and society, expression of human value, and exploration of the connotation of fiction from the perspectives of science and democracy. As a result of these new …
From Literary Subjectivity To Intersubjectivity And Aesthetic Ideology: Contemporary Chinese Literary Theory's Reconstruction Of The May Fourth Tradition In The Recent Four Decades, Que Wang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The Chinese literary theory in the recent four decades since China's Reform and Opening-up has been focused on literary enlightenment. As an effort to continue the tradition and to fulfil the unfinished task of the May Fourth literary revolution, literary enlightenment is still an important dimension in the subjectivity of literature. The development of literary subjectivity witnessed a transformation from "literature as a study of humanity" to "literary subjectivity" and "literary intersubjectivity". There are two main theoretical orientations within this historical development: one is the intersubjectivity of literature, the other is the theory of aesthetic reflection or aesthetic ideology. The …
The "Expropriated" Subject: A Case Study Of The Negative Character Qian Shouwei In "Model Plays", Yihan Chen
The "Expropriated" Subject: A Case Study Of The Negative Character Qian Shouwei In "Model Plays", Yihan Chen
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
There are a few scholarly interpretations of negative characters in the eight "model plays". Generally, existing scholarship is mainly dominated by two research methodologies: first, the binary of "literature and art" and "politics", "ideology" and "Utopia", and second, the formation of "subject" from the perspective of modernity. The first methodology leads to the conclusion that due to political constraint, the creative characteristic of literature has not caught due attention; while in terms of the second, "the other" becomes a sign in the subject's self-construction. By introducing Agamben's idea of biopolitics, this article re-examines the situation of Qian Shouwei and restores …
The Extremely Sensitive Believer Of "Love In The Human World": The Discovery And Shaping Of Zhu Ziqing's "Sensibility Of The Human World" During The Period Of "Literature For Men", Xianfei Zhang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
A new wave of exploration and shaping of modern Chinese experience starts with the "Preliminary New Literature" which serves the ideological transformation of modern humanistic society reconstruction during the May Fourth period. As a representative writer during the period of "Preliminary New Literature" (or "Literature for Men"), Zhu Ziqing, with a strong belief in modern humanitarianism, begins to express his genuine and unique life experience and feelings. His sentiments include not only sincere brotherly love but also the keen insight into individual's existence as a living being, and most remarkably, the "New People's" sadness, helplessness and indignation over the disregard …
The Historical Genesis And Contemporary Development Of The Theory "Chinese Artistic Spirit" During The Twentieth Century, Shuiping Tao
The Historical Genesis And Contemporary Development Of The Theory "Chinese Artistic Spirit" During The Twentieth Century, Shuiping Tao
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The theory "Chinese artistic spirit" in this article is an important aesthetic trend and literary tradition, which has been lasting over the past hundred years in the study of Chinese aesthetics and literary theory. It has become frequently discussed by scholars in recent years. Considering the fact that existing scholarship is always limited to one of the different aspects, this article aims to promote the study of Chinese art and aesthetic spirit through a holistic theoretical description and illustration of the academic genealogy, historical context, philosophical basis, theoretical connotation, characteristics and value, and the contemporary development of the aesthetic trend …
Unveiling Aestheticism: Reflections On The Dissemination Of Western Aestheticism In China, Chengyong Jiang, Xiang Ma
Unveiling Aestheticism: Reflections On The Dissemination Of Western Aestheticism In China, Chengyong Jiang, Xiang Ma
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
For over a hundred years, nineteenth-century Aestheticism's dissemination in China has been insufficiently examined, which leaves the intension and extension of Aestheticism still unclarified even to date. The key to defining Aestheticism is the concept's inherent link to aesthetics, that is, the self-awareness of sensibility, which explains why numerous forms of perceptual knowledge can be intuitively grasped from the works of Western Aestheticism. However, under the influence of natural sciences as well as the industrial and commercial civilization, the target of perceptual knowledge shifted from natural to artificial objects. Through manifesting the diverse forms of perceptual knowledge, Aestheticism conveys the …
Enlightenment Of "Affection": The Inner Construction And Historical Significance Of The Origin Of Lu Xun's Literary, Cheng Luo
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The research on "the May Fourth Movement" represented by Lu Xun studies needs an urgent shift from current paradigms that have been used over the past three decades. An interpretive framework that organically combines humanity with literature needs to be constructed so as to enrich the understanding of history by focusing on literature, instead of making literature history's footnote. In 1908, Lu Xun published five articles in the classical Chinese language, in which he in fact provided an inner vision of an alternative experience of art and literature, which differed from existing discussions that were mainly from a "logocentric" perspective. …
Renewing The Centurial Discourse Of Chinese Literary Theory Through The Genealogy Of Spirit: Case Study Of Zong Baihua And Li Changzhi, Yunyan Zhang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
A disparity exists between the first and the revised edition of Zong Baihua's The Birth of Chinese Artistic Conception. Adopting a comparative methodology, the revised edition highlights the spiritual dimension of artistic conception. When Zong Baihua regards artistic conception as "incarnation of the supreme human mind," the word "incarnation" is more than a metaphor for an aesthetic expression; it also gestures at a deep meaning of religious spirit. "Symbol" is one of the ways to actualize such incarnation. Influenced by Zong's theorization of religious spirit, Li Changzhi's literary theory and aesthetical thinking further shows a modern Chinese genealogy of spirit …
A Probe Into The Conceptual Framework And Mechanism For Writing In Vernacular Chinese During The May Fourth Period: Focusing On The Three Schemes Proposed In New Youth, Wei Deng
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The magazine New Youth publishes three systematic schemes for vernacular Chinese during the May Fourth Period, and they were proposed by described by Qian Xuantong, Liu Bannong and Fu Sinian to clarify, sort out and write down the views on the reforms on Chinese language. These schemes, to a considerable extent, define the appearance of modern vernacular Chinese, and the approach to transform the existing vernacular written Chinese through "Europeanization" and to achieve an ambiguity-free language for the practical needs in social communications results in the so-called "Europeanized Vernacular Language." The new vernacular Chinese functions to enhance cultural solidarity interrelate …
Does Lu Xun Subvert The Discourse Of National Character?, Dongfeng Tao
Does Lu Xun Subvert The Discourse Of National Character?, Dongfeng Tao
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The author tries to elucidate his views on the debate concerning national character by responding to He Yugao and Liu He's related papers. Firstly, the author disagrees with He Yugao's argument that Liu He fails to criticize Lu Xun by pointing out Liu's denial of Lu Xun's artistic creativity. Liu's denial is shown in herrepeated highlight of the dominating impact from the missionary discourse of national character and she goes even further to claim that Lu Xun's Ah Q "gives a verbatim performance" of the national character script. Secondly, the author rebuts Liu's claim that critics in line with Lu …
The Birth Of The Modern Discipline Of Literary And Art Theory During The Period Of The May Fourth Movement, Zhixiang Qi
The Birth Of The Modern Discipline Of Literary And Art Theory During The Period Of The May Fourth Movement, Zhixiang Qi
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The period around the May Fourth Movement, specifically from 1915 to 1927, saw the birth of the modern Chinese discipline of literary and art theory. This article, on the basis of Huang Chanhua's An Introduction to Fine Arts, Xu Qingyu's Philosophy of Beauty, Xu Weinan's Philosophy of Arts, Liu Yongji's On Literature, Pan Zinian's An Introduction to Literature, Ma Zonghuo's An Introduction to Literature, Shen Tianbao's An Introduction to Literature, and Tian Han's An Introduction to Literature, explores the historical situation of the construction of the discipline of philosophy of art, the first stage in the history of modern Chinese …
The Decline And Reconstruction Of "Poetic" Text In Chinese "Renaissance", Changsheng He
The Decline And Reconstruction Of "Poetic" Text In Chinese "Renaissance", Changsheng He
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
To compare China's New Cultural Movement to Europe's Renaissance aims at finding a totalizing Chinese form of "speech/writing" that may be equivalent to the Western counterpart, and the way to achieve it is to build on the transformation of language from classical Chinese to vernacular as a breakthrough. However, the long-established "lyrical" tradition in Chinese literature and the genre system which orthodoxizes poetry have no capacity to endow a spiritual form that can correspond to the narrative of the modern. The Vernacular Poetry fails to extend the tradition of poeticization in Chinese literature and to appropriate the specific truth-pursuing function …
Two Historiographical Approaches To Evaluate Qi Baishi: The Myth Of The "People's Painter" And Its Counterargument, Zhongyi Xia
Two Historiographical Approaches To Evaluate Qi Baishi: The Myth Of The "People's Painter" And Its Counterargument, Zhongyi Xia
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Two approaches, one explicit and one implicit, exist in the past seventy years of art history to evaluate Qi Baishi's (1864-1957) flower-and-bird painting. One is the Soviet approach, which is characterized by "theory guiding history" and "theory replacing history". It frames Qi Baishi as a "people's painter", emphasizing that Qi's poor peasant family origin has resulted in his folk taste of paintings and his realistic brushwork (close to "realism"). This approach, initiated by Wang Zhaowen, lasts for at least sixty years, which can be seen as the "mainstream". The other (non-Soviet) approach is characterized by "history exemplifying theory" and "theory …
Where Did The Souls Go?: Revisiting The Chinese Art From The Xinhai Revolution To The May Fourth Movement, Yichuan Wang
Where Did The Souls Go?: Revisiting The Chinese Art From The Xinhai Revolution To The May Fourth Movement, Yichuan Wang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
It is necessary to link the May Fourth literature with the Xinhai literature and to expand them into the May Fourth art for analysis. With the fundamental change of the political system from traditional monarchy to modern republic, modern Chinese art began its own modern transformation. For example, Xu Zhenya's pain of soul breaking, Su Manshu's mourning of soullessness, Wu Changshuo's endless growth of strong spirit, Lu Xun's madness of wounded soul, and Hu Shi's vernacular Utopia, have successively become the spotlights of Chinese art from the Xinhai Revolution to the May Fourth Movement. They shared the common objective to …