Cultural Critique of the End of the Century

Author: Yu Kaiwei (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Preface: At the end of the 20th century, with the advent of the period of social transformation, the waves of commercialization and secularization surged and swept across the nation. The unprecedented impact and invasion on the literary field are undeniable. The secularization of literature and the secularization of literature have become the fashion and general trend of the current era. The traditional scholar's aspiration for the Way has transformed into a scholar's aspiration for profit; literature for carrying the Way has shifted to literature for indulging desires. Regarding these cultural phenomena, there are diverse opinions and many ambiguities, leading to academic discussions and literary debates that are thriving and reaching their climax, attracting widespread attention from readers. On one hand, this reflects the vibrant and unprecedentedly active scene in the cultural and academic circles of the late 20th century; on the other hand, it radiates the value conflicts and cultural choices of several generations of Chinese intellectuals at the turn of the century, which is highly meaningful in the context of the turbulent times. Especially the articles that emerged from current academic discussions and literary debates, which are unconventional and reflect independent thinking, are not only beneficial to promoting a healthy academic atmosphere but also to the moral fabric of society—truly invaluable. The classical German philosopher Fichte pointed out in On the Duty of the Scholar that the true mission of a scholar is: "to highly value the general process of human actual development and to constantly promote this process." He profoundly stated: "In a disoriented era, it calls everything it cannot ascend to madness, and with a fearful heart, it avoids a vision that can only see its own numb indifference and baseless shame." Therefore, true scholars should possess a spirit, a spirit of dedication to truth and scholarship. As Fichte said, "to take on the task of enlightening our time and future generations; to produce the path for future generations from our work." To provide contemporary readers with relatively typical and rich cultural information at the turn of the century and to offer representative reference materials for future research on contemporary Chinese literature with cultural value, we have collected and compiled this manuscript. We hope it will contribute to the cultural construction of the present and enlighten readers. Due to the limitations of the compilers' capabilities and conditions, it is inevitable that some omissions have been made. We sincerely hope for the understanding and guidance of the readers and experts. When this book is reprinted, we once again express our gratitude to all the scholars and critics who contributed to its writing.