Comparison and Beyond: A Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Literary Theories at the Turn of the Century

Author: Zhang Yisheng, Wang Jianhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: "This book is a comparative study of Chinese and Western literary theories at the turn of the century. The time span covers reflections on the overviews of Chinese and Western literary theories in the 1980s and 1990s, and prospects for the literary theory landscape of the 21st century. The systematic structure of the book: The first and last parts are comprehensive reflections on the theoretical perspectives at the turn of the century, while the middle part is a case-by-case theoretical interpretation. The case structure is the main body of the book, interpreting the main theoretical views of seven major Chinese scholars such as Wang Yuanyuan, Qian Zhongwen, Tong Qingbing, Wang Yuangiang, Sun Shaozhen, Xu Ming, and Nan Fan. The academic individuality is reflected in the differences between the three generations of scholars—senior, middle-aged, and young—and the diverse perspectives of academic concepts and the pluralization of research methodologies. It is like the Eight Immortals crossing the river, each showing their unique skills. The book truly takes a contemporary approach to interpret, using a diffusive mindset to open the window of 'scattered perspective,' moving horizontally and vertically, comparing China and the West, and elucidating transcendence. In the academic forest at the turn of the century, it can be called an academic research monograph that 'pioneered the path and opened the mountain.'