Chinese Studies Commons^™

Natural-Object Metaphor And Chinese Literary Criticism, Xiaoling Feng

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Natural-object metaphor is included in the metaphor system of Chinese literary criticism, with its historical progress of development and evolvement. Natural-object metaphor has its intrinsic theoretical basis and is connected with the genetic theories of Chinese literature, Chinese aesthetic tradition, and the epistemology and life view of Chinese philosophy. The natural-object metaphor has significance in many aspects of literary criticism. It connects the cultural world and the cosmological world, enriches literary expression and aesthetics, and links literary criticism and art criticism, which reflects the life consciousness and the lyric spirit in Chinese literary criticism and traditional aesthetics.

On Issues Of Internet Literature As A Research Topic, Youquan Ouyang, Yufei He

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Theoretical criticism centering around Internet literature has recently witnessed its growing boom. Issues being popularly addressed include not only the construction of evaluation system for Internet literature, social benefits it brings, legal regulations, but also its cultural heritage, industrialization, categories, reviews, overseas spread, corpus construction, and tendency in research direction. The aim of this article is to review the current situation of Internet literature as an academic hot spot and to reflect on it through a discussion of its dynamics and limitations.

Poetry And The Generation And Maintenance Of National Community: The Core Issue And Line Of Thinking In Heidegger's First Lecture On Hölderlin, Zhenhua Zhang

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

This paper is an interpretation of Heidegger's first lecture on Hölderlin. The lecture centers on how a national community is created and maintained, and Heidegger's belief is that poetry plays as decisive role. Poets are hailed as "demigods" between the sphere of divinity and that of people. Poetry-writing embodies the message of God and passes it to the people, and achieves the connection between them; hence a national community is generated.

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 …

How Traditional Chinese Theatre Reflected Modern Life: Discussions During The Seventeen Years, Jingfeng Huang

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

During the Seventeen Years (1949 - 1966), three intensive discussions on traditional Chinese theatre's reflection of modern life emerged in correspondence to the three pinnacles of modern xiqu creation and performance. Appearing in 1958 and 1960, the first two were derived from the forum of "xiqu reflecting modern life" and the Ministry of Culture's festival of modern xiqu respectively, while the third one took place in 1964, when cities like Beijing and Shanghai held symposiums and the press started columns in cooperation with the nationwide modern xiqu movement. The achievement of these three discussions constituted a comprehensive supplement to and …

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 …

"Andersstreben" And Cross-Media Narrative, Diyong Long

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The term "Andersstreben" means that a type of medium seeks to imitate the features of another type while keeping its own characteristics. In terms of narrative, "Andersstreben" means cross-media narrative. Regarding fiction that features cross-media narratives, we need to understand both its own medium particularities and the other media properties that it pursues. Only in this way can we better appreciate its aesthetics. Cross-media narratives primarily originate from the mutual imitations between temporal arts and spatial arts, and often achieve magical artistic effects and rich artistic connotations that are otherwise unattainable for literature and arts by simply sticking to their …

Reinterpreting The Concept Of Human In The Pre-Qin Classics Of Literary Theory, Jianzhong Li

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

In the pre-Qin classics of literary theory, "human" is one of the most important and fundamental concepts. First, the significance of human in the pre-Qin era is diverse. While Confucianism interconnects "human" and "benevolence" and emphasizes the kindhearted dimension of humanity, Taoism, under the slogan that "Man conforms to nature," stresses the unfettered nature of humankind. As an alternative voice, Mohism devalues music and underlines the principle of abstinence. Secondly, the pre-Qin philosophers consider language to be the specialty that distinguishes human beings from other animals. Specifically, Confucians advocate "to achieve glory by writing," "to pass down the classics," and …

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 …

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 Creation And Performance Of Traditional Chinese Theatre With Modern Themes: Significance, Problems, And Developmental Trajectory, Hengfu Zhu

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Traditional Chinese theatre with modern themes stems not only from the aesthetic change of the new era but also from the development of Chinese theatre arts, given that modern themes may be more popularly accepted. This paper proposes three suggestions to improve the creation and performance of traditional Chinese theatre with modern themes: to broaden the concept of the mainstream work to cover any scripts that reflect contemporary patriotism and traditional value of Chinese nation with modern aesthetic pursuits; to modernize the theatre expression with poetic lines and lyrics, visualized stage performance through body and expressions, and contemporary style of …

The Ethics Of Memory In Adorno's Aesthetic Utopia And Its Transform, Wenjun Ding

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Regarding how art exists after Auschwitz, Adorno argues that the legitimacy of post-war art is based on representing the memory of accumulated intergenerational suffering, which reflects on and criticizes Auschwitz and its roots in modernity with reference to Walter Benjamin's methodology of theological redemption. Memories of sufferings exist in artworks in a constellation-like structure, causing explosive production of meaning and breaking the monopoly of meaning and value by the identity system. With remembrance as the means, art presents the memory of suffering concerning Auschwitz, and offers a new understanding of the development of contemporary capitalism and possibilities for imagining a …

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 …

The Research Style And Original Achievements Of Xu Zhongyu's Theories On Literature And Art, Xishan Zhou

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The 104-year-old Xu Zhongyu, whose academic career of over sixty years has been in tandem with the development of the PRC, has established his distinct style in the theoretical studies of literature and art, namely the combination of theory and practice, of the ancient and the modern, and of inheritance and innovation. His original achievements include initiating the methodology of comprehensively collecting and categorically compiling the materials of ancient Chinese literary theory, raising a series of original and significant academic viewpoints on ancient Chinese literary theory, advocating an interdisciplinary research on the theories of literature and art, envisioning a modern …

The Theoretical Misconceptions And Realistic Choices Of Modern Xiqu Creation: Additionally On The Historical Significance Of Zhang Manjun's New Opera Of Song And Dance, Wei Li

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

There are at least three theoretical misconceptions on the creation of modern xiqu: to consider conventionalization essential to xiqu, to consider typification of roles essential to xiqu, and to consider "xiquness," whose meaning is rather vague, as the creative goal and artistic criterion of xiqu. However, these misconceptions fail to hinder the practical development of modern xiqu creation. Directors like Zhang Manjun have created an innovative genre known as "new opera of song and dance." This maneuver, in fact, signifies a return to the comprehensiveness of traditional xiqu, which, centering on music, features a trinity of poetry, song, and dance. …

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 …

"The Chinese Animation Industry: From The Mao Era To The Digital Age", Stephanie Jones

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since the 1950’s the Chinese Animation industry has been trying to create a unique national style for China. The national style of the 1950’s and early 1960’s was one of freedom, fantasy, and creativity. With the success of “Heroic Little Sisters of the Grassland”/草原英雄小姐妹(1965), the government administration, namely Jiang Qing of the “Gang of Four”, demanded that all animation should follow specific guidelines based on Social Realism guidelines. This in turn, ushered in a new national style of animation during the Cultural Revolution(1966-1976). During this ten-year period government policies imposed strict restrictions on animators and cause a drain of creative …

Cultural, Social And Family Shadows: Finding A Place In The Rainbow, Lingfeng Xu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Due to Chinese traditions, certain living environments are not friendly towards the LGBT community in China, who experience immense pressure to keep silent in society. They often are discriminated against, and in the case of most, their families do not support them. It is difficult to have healthy self-identification for sexual minorities. Besides cultural and family pressure, and representation in media, the current legal framework and society are unfriendly to this community. There is no legislation on homosexuality in China at present, and China does not make any clear provisions on homosexual marriage.

In this environment, most LGBT people are …

Fresh Blood In The Labor Market: Challenges And Rewards Of China's Returning Millennial Generation, Xinyu Li

Master's Projects and Capstones

In recent years, fresh blood has begun to emerge in China’s workplace: Chinese millennials who have gone abroad to study and received an overseas education. This special experience has brought many obstacles for them when they return to the Chinese workplace, whether it is the lack of synchronization between recruitment and graduation periods in the early stage of job seeking, or the pressure they encounter later. However, this experience also creates a set of unique advantages for them. Accepting international higher education makes their resumes more attractive, brings them a global perspective, and cultivates their ability to learn new skills …

The Battle Of The Powers: Newly Obtained Benefits From The Revitilised Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Scott Halsted

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement would have been the most sizeable free trade agreement in history. The agreement was set up by the Obama administration as an economic benefactor plus geopolitical tool to maintain the balance of power in the Asia Pacific region, rivaling the power of China. However, numerous politicians within the Trump administration, plus multiple political opposers including Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, were major advocates for the U.S. removal after realistically adjusted estimates of the TPP showed economic benefits not equating to original estimates. However, the United States withdrawal raises significant successes that can be …