Postmodern Narrative Theory (Unnamed Translation Library, Xinyu Theory Translation Series)

Author: Ke Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: "New Narrative Theory" refers to the classic or postmodern narrative theories in the West since the 1990s, which reflect, innovate, and surpass structuralist narratology. In the recent decade or so, the translated and published works in China have been classic narrative theories by Western scholars from the 1970s to the 1980s. So far, they have not touched upon the category of New Narrative Theory. This series aims to help fill this gap. The first five translated works in this series embody the essence of New Narrative Theory, representing different research schools, offering fresh perspectives, depth, and distinctive features. This series serves as an important supplement and development to the Western classic narrative theories already introduced in China, providing a valuable reference for expanding thinking and deepening research.
Narratology is the theoretical and systematic study of narrative. Throughout the 20th century, it has accompanied us in various forms and has now become one of the most specific, coherent, and definitive specialized fields in literary and cultural studies. It emerged as a science studying narrative forms and structures, later dominating the field with its research on narrative methods, suppressing historical research methods for decades. By the mid-1980s, narratology faced challenges. For years, voices of opposition had been raised from the ranks of historicism, and in the past two decades, post-structuralists had relentlessly attacked its scientific tendencies and authority, leading some to declare that narrative had reached its end.