21st Century Chinese Literature Series - 2002 Translated Literature

Author: Chen Sihe, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: My interest in how the art of the essay can break through has existed for several years. I believe that the concept of the "essay" is somewhat similar to that of poetry—it is both a very difficult genre to define and a very difficult genre to standardize in rhetorical terms. For example, when we read some novels, poems, or even dramatic works that are not formally standardized in their artistic expression, we often refer to them as "essayistic," such as "essayistic novels" or "essayistic poems." This shows that the essay encompasses a wide range of styles and can permeate various genres, playing a role in subverting rigidly established artistic forms. Through dilution, dissolution, and subversion, it gives birth to new artistic vitality. So, is there an essay that can be called "essayistic"?