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A Study On Contemporary Literary Theory: Reflecting, Adjusting And Deepening, Daren Lai

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Recently, the change and development of the contemporary literary theory have started a new cycle of historical movement which interweaves the interaction between breakthroughs, inductions and establishments. To respond to the resultant changes and new issues, it is necessary to adjust the theoretical standpoint and approaches. Further construction, innovation and development of the contemporary literary theory pose new requirements in the form of three returns: a) from pursuing cultural studies to reverting on literary studies, b) from interpreting the phenomena to focusing on practical issues, and c) from the production of knowledge to the reconstruction of theory. Under the present …

Linear Narrative ― Did It Ever Exist?: Traditional Narratives Read As Fragmentary Vs. Fractured Post-Colonial Ones Read As Linear, Hajdu Péter

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The ground hypothesis of this paper is that narratives are not per se linear or fractured: linearity and fragmentariness are interpretive achievements. Readers interested in the experience of coherence tend to find linearity in every narrative, while those who like the representation of a fractured human condition will hardly experience linearity anywhere. The hypothesis is tested through four examples. The first one could be regarded as the most obvious example of linear narratives The Three Musketeers. A careful reading of its "Introduction" suggests that this text tends to advertise its fictionality, continuously plays with the focalization, undermines the identity of …

Benevolent Neighborhood Is Beauty: The Meta-Problem Of The Aesthetic Thought In Pre-Qin Confucianism, Haozhe Tan

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The idea that "benevolent neighborhood is beauty" in The Analects highlights the human aspect of Confucian aesthetics, and the theoretical proposition in the idea may be argued to be a meta-problem. It reveals the intrinsic connection between Confucius's aesthetics and his view of benevolence (Ren) and the benevolence-based nature of Confucian aesthetics, while it is the rationale and criteria for aesthetic thinking and judgment in various fields of life, society, art and nature. Confucius's idea of benevolence echoes in Mencius's concept that "enrichment and fulfillment are beauty." The idea that "benevolent neighborhood is beauty" highlights three main characteristics of pre-Qin …

The Production Of Thought And The Knowledge Innovation Of Literary Theory, Xijian Li

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

To investigate the knowledge innovation of contemporary literary theory from the angle of thought production may bring about profound academic implications. The production of thought creates value and meaning and is fundamental in creating knowledge. It also responds to the intrinsic qualities and rules of the literary theory as a discipline of humanities. As literary theory takes on more modern characteristics, the dominant presence and the production of intellectual thoughts in literary theory are being increasingly recognized and are even taken as the reason and aims for knowledge innovation. As a discipline that makes value interpretation and aesthetic judgment on …

A Cultural Inquiry Into The German Enlightenment Tragedy, Yuan Zhang

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

In the light of modernity horizon, the German tragic dramas from 1850s to 1930s represented by Schiller, Goethe and Lessing may be argued to have been most deeply influenced by the Enlightenment Movement and become an independent cultural phenomenon of Enlightenment. The German tragic drama embodies the characteristics of German Enlightenment and infuses modernity to the German national culture, and it may well be called Enlightenment Tragedy. German enlightenment tragedy becomes an expression of the modernistic pursuit of German enlightenment culture, and the paper demonstrates the five aspects of the modernity German enlightenment tragedy pursued.

Rationalist Criticism In China's Current Social Transformation And The Neo-Rationalist Spirit In Literary Theory, Nan Gao

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Realistic contexts define the construction of literary criticism, and they function through the practices in reality. The current historical period since 1980s has been characterized by social transformation which shows a general feature of interaction between criticism and construction. This period is in turn divided into four different phases characterized by the critique of rationalism, contingent continuation of rationalism, direction selecting, and neo-rationalist spirit construction, while the neo-rationalist spirit is constructed along all the phases. The neo-rational spirit was proposed and named in the 1990s, and the neo-rationalist spirit in literary theory shows in the four aspects of humanism, modernity, …

Signs Of The Return To Literary Studies From The Debate On Literary Canon, Wenfang Yao

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The debate on literary canon in 1970s raised the cultural issue behind literary canonization and promoted the turn from literary study to cultural studies. The turn, however, has also resulted in a return to literary studies, which could be seen in the 1990s arguments of some representative scholars engaged in the debate. Scholars such as J. Guillory, Harold Bloom and Jonathan Culler have all expressed that the canonization of literary texts should center on literature and aesthetics. Their common appeal also implies an inherent logic which helps to reconcile the debate on literary canon.

The Discourse Of Revolt And The Study Of Contemporary Literary Theories, Yun Fan

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The discourse of revolt is gaining increasing popularity in contemporary literary theories, and the collaboration between the radical politics and literary theories has also alerted scholarly attention. One demanding question is how to evaluate and reflect the radical trend in contemporary literary theory. While Western researchers have made timely responses to the issue, Chinese scholars need to extend the research field and return from discursive politics to aesthetic ethics.

A Dynamic Analysis Of The Essence Of Art, Yan Chen

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The essence of art is neither inbuilt in human brains nor conceived by theorists, but constructed in the course of the practice of art. Any static transcendental and metaphysical circumscription is doomed to fail, and this failure provides an easy excuse for the analytical aesethtics to deny the study on the essence of arts. If a perspective of art history is taken to dynamically examine the essence of art, art may be easily defined as a collection of artifacts that people created by way of material medium and conceptual symbols on the basis of imagination gained from life experience and …

Non-Academic Discourse Practice: Contemporary Association Among Aesthetics, Politics And Ethics: A Review On Rancière's Seminar WithTheoretical Studies In Literature And Art, Yin Bai, Feng Lv

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

No abstract provided.

Narrative Frequency And Three Dimensions Of Time, Weihua Li

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Time, as an experience for human beings, has three dimensions: linear time, annular time and psycho-time. Gerard Genette's theory of narrative frequency has dealt with only two of the three dimensions, namely, linear time and psycho-time. As a result, Genette's theory of narrative frequency demonstrates as a binary structure between the singular and the iterative. The lack of annular time leads to the neglect and misunderstanding of repetition. From the perspective of the three dimensions of time, a new theoretical structure of narrative frequency can be constructed in the frame of the singular, the repetitive and the iterative.

On Pleasure, Imagery And Value Of Beauty As The Characteristics Of Aesthetics, Zhixiang Qi

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Textbooks on the principles of aesthetics have all tackled the fundamental issue about the characteristics of aesthetics, but generally there exists a breakdown between the description of characteristics and the definition of beauty or there is no distinction between the pleasure of beauty and the pleasure of aesthetic perception. Modern aesthetic theories have a tendency of highlighting the generative aspect of beauty in aesthetic activities and denying the homogeneous quality of beauty and its definition, and therefore the possibility and necessity of the research into the characteristics of beauty is ungrounded. This paper takes a constructive post-modern stance to re-examine …

A Synopsis Of The Symposium On "Paradigm Transformation Of Literary Theory And Traditions Of Literary Theory In West And China", Yong Li

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

No abstract provided.

Beauty As The Intuitive Presentation Of Idea: A Phenomenological Interpretation Of Hegel's Aesthetics, Hongbin Su

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Hegel's aesthetic view derives from his view of arts, which grows out of his views of art typology and art history. However, his views of art typology contradict his logic principle, and his views of art history contradict the historical practice of art history, and Hegel's aesthetic view is therefore seriously undermined. On the other hand, Hegel’s idea of intellectual intuition proposed in philosophy of mind may serve as a cognitive ability and produce a general representation. This representation, we believe, is actually idea in its intuitive state, which means that idea can be directly presented by way of intuition. …

On Aesthetic Depth Psychology And The Appreciation Of Art, Yuneng Zhang, Gong Zhang

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Aesthetic depth psychology has a decisive role in art appreciation. Unconsciousness and sub-consciousness formed in the course of art appreciation as a social practice may act on a certain "pre-view" embedded in aesthetic unconsciousness and sub-consciousness and result in "horizon fusion", and constitute "a schema of evocation". Thus the subjecthood and creativity in the act of art appreciation may be attained.

The Locality Of Theory: Name, Reality, History And Position, Xuehu Chen

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

This paper attempts to discuss from the aspects of name, reality, mainstream and related contemporary issues the social position and role of the so-called theory and literary theory in China. Scholars still tend to take literary activities as purely personal perceptions and ignore the social connotations and its structuration, with the result of failure to understand the position and role of theoretical reflection on literature's social significance. This paper hopes to clarify some of the misunderstanding and delineate the related contextual issues before drawing the conclusion that contemporary theory should inherit Chinese theoretical tradition developed in the 20th century, break …

The Will To Power: Retreating From The Ontological Position, Xueqin Feng

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

"The will to power" has long been considered to be the foundation of Nietzsche's aesthetics or even his entire thought, as it is the most clarified differentiating mark in Nietzsche's philosophical thought. However, this claim has pinned Nietzsche's aesthetics on the metaphysical concept of aestheticization and overlooked his breakthrough contributions to contemporary aesthetics. The ontological theorization of the will to power is itself not an established theory, and a retreat from the ontological position of the theory can be found in Nietzsche’s later works. Nietzsche eventually abandoned his project to build a mansion of philosophy on The Will To Power. …

A Comparative Study Of Aesthetics Between Fang Dongmei And Xu Fuguan, Cheng Xu

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

A comparative study of the aesthetics between Fang Dongmei and Xu Fuguan may reveal that their common aesthetic idea is the aesthetic identification between the Nature and the human, but they hold different understanding in the dominating-dominated role in the interactive relation between the Nature and the human. For Fang Dongmei, the Nature is the dominant, and a metaphysical axiology is built around the Heaven. For Xu Fuguan, the human is the dominant, and a humanist axiology is built around humanism. From the methodological perspective, Fang Dongmei’s aesthetics unifies Confucianist and Taoist philosophies while Xu Fuguan's aesthetics interprets Taoist thoughts …

Meta-Theoretical Procedure Of Foreign Literature Research: An Approach To The Science Of Foreign Literature, Jin Fan

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The paper suggests the concept of a discipline of "the Science of Foreign Literature Study" and claims that such a discipline may be constructed from a trans-theoretical standpoint. The paper argues that the various methodologies and theories introduced into Chinese literary researches should be integrated so as to investigate the general formational principles behind the symbolic system of "foreign literature." This argument is attempted by bypassing all the methodological debates and then is made from the perspective of the double duality between the real vs. the imaginary and the self vs. the other in the sign system of foreign literature. …

Narrative Act And Literariness: On Formal Analysis And Literariness, Xu Liu

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Literariness is one of the fundamental issues in literary studies, and this paper tries to examine the forma presence of literariness in literary texts. The paper approaches the issue from the perspective of postclassical narratology, and it focuses on formal analysis combined with content analysis while the paper also tackles the relation between literariness and the writer's creative talent. The paper analyzes the texts by such writers as Zhao Shuli, Eileen Chang and Liu Qing to illustrate the inevitable relation between literary form and literariness, and it concludes that literariness of a literary text is determined by the narrative act …

On Literature As An Art Form And Its Ways, Feng Peng

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

This paper argues that literature is an art form and proposes three ways to approach the issue. The issue is then rephrased as three views of literariness: the formalist, the ontological and the procedural. The formalist view claims that the literariness exists in special linguistic and narrative features, such as defamiliarization. The ontological view emphasizes on a certain form of existence of the text and takes a literary work as a pure intentional object. The procedural view asserts that literariness exists in the appropriate attitude of reading as a result of long-term literature education.

On Lu Ji's Concept Of Audible Meaning As A Form Of Synesthetic Criticism, Songqing Chen

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Lu Ji's term of "liuliang" in A Treatise on Rhapsody (Fu) had been interpreted since Li Shan in the Tang Dynasty as "clear and bright" or "lucid," although some scholars take it as referring to a new mode of writing rhapsody ("fu," rhymed prose) in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. In this paper, I argue that "liuliang" means "resonant," which was then used to describe the high and loud quality of sound. The term was used by Lu Ji to describe not only the loudness of the sound quality in "fu" but also the rhetoric and beautiful style in its …

On The Acceptance OfThe Books Of Songs In The Qing Dynasty Poetry, Guoan Chen

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

The acceptance of The Book of Songs shows not only in a branch of study in itself but also in almost all the genres of literary texts. This paper surveys how The Book of Songs was accepted in the poetry from Qing Dynasty and examines the acceptance into the Qing Dynasty literature from the perspectives of preserving the original spirit, the lyric way of expressing emotions and the imagery.

On The Suzhou-Poetics Centrism In Qian Qianyi's Selected Poems Across Dynasties, Yijin Bai

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Qian Qianyi's Selected Poems across Dynasties was compiled with a highlighted local style and taste centred on the poetics developed around Suzhou (traditionally called Wu). The compiler of Selected Poems across Dynasties had consciously evaluate and position the various poetic schools in Ming Dynasty from the perspectives of Suzhou poetics, and the perentage of Suzhou-originated authors in those poetic schools and the affinity with the Suzhou poetics were highlighted to delineate the development of Suzhou-poetics as the mainstream and authodox source of literature in the Ming Dynasty.

On The Theoretical Innovations Of The Chinese Cultural Poetics, Zuzhao Gu

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

Chinese cultural poetics as constructed by Chinese scholars is a response to the international academic trend in the 20th century, and it has not only developed a new arena for literary studies and literary theory in China but also brought about an all-around and profound theoretical innovation. This paper focuses on the cultural and aesthetic features of literature, cultural identity and subjecthood of nationality, and the theoretical innovation attributed to the "other" theory. The paper summarizes four main features of Chinese cultural poetics, and argues for the theoretical potentials of Chinese cultural poetics.

Beyond Maidens, Minxes, And Mothers: The Female Vampire And Gothic Other In Dracula, Hellsing, And Chibi Vampire, Brianna Murch

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Immigrant Brides In Taiwan: New Land, New Hope?, Yuwen Chen

Student Research Initiative

In the last two decades, transnational marriages have been growing in Taiwan, Republic of China (R.O.C). Increasing numbers of Taiwanese men have married bride immigrants from Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia) and Mainland China. These women usually are from low socio-economic class and have little formal education. (Chen, Katsurada & Wu, 1998; Tsai, 2006; Tsai & Hsiao 2006) Their offspring are the so-called “New Taiwanese Children”(NTC). The academic performance of New Taiwanese Children has become a contested issue in Taiwanese society, because these children are viewed by some as not being able to contribute to …

China's 80后 And 90后: The Next Generation Of Leaders In The World's Next Superpower, A Students-Teaching-Students Course, Patrick Slavin

Senior Honors Projects

In light of China’s recent reemergence as a global superpower, it is becoming increasingly important for westerners to understand its history and culture. For current college students, the culture of China’s youth is particularly pertinent.

In this project, a course, HPR 107: Chinese Youth Culture, was designed and taught through the Students-Teaching-Students program, which provides senior Honor’s Program students the opportunity to design and teach their own Honor’s Program course. The HPR 107 course focuses on China’s 80后 and 90后 generations, those born in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.

This multi-faceted project includes: subject matter research, course development, pedagogy development, …

Classroom-Library Collaboration: Incorporating Information Literacy Into The Beginning Japanese Curriculum Using Japanese Grade Readers And Other Resources Beyond The Textbook | 図書館との連携による情報リテラシー教育を取り入れた初級日本語カリキュラムの作成と実践—多読ライブラリーや教科書外のリソースを使った日本語情報リテラシー・プロジェクトー, Atsuko Takahashi, Sharon Domier

East Asian Languages & Cultures: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Preserving Dance Forms In India Through Education And Performance: A Curriculum For Bollywood Dance, Kimberly Martin

Masters Theses

This project is a practical curriculum of Bollywood dance that can be used to assist in the preservation of dance forms in India through education and performance. The goal of this curriculum is to systematically equip dancers of all ages with the basic knowledge and experiences needed to excel as dancers and choreographers of Bollywood dance. This will be achieved through practical experience that is built from the basics of Bollywood dance and founded in classical tradition and theory as presented in Bharat Natyam. This curriculum is broken up into four sixteen-week semesters and covers a series of steps, basics …