Rethinking Desire: Literary Narratives and Artistic Spirit in Twentieth-Century China

Author: Cheng Wenchao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This is the sacred record of anxieties by Professor Cheng Wenchao of the contemporary intellectual class. He is neither the Don Quixote who blindly rejects desires and dares to fight against windmills, nor the opportunistic figure who mixes with human desires with great enthusiasm, trying to take advantage of the situation. He focuses his thoughts on how to face desires—as if a believer is earnestly contemplating how to overcome the challenge of the devil. I believe this is the direct motivation behind his conception of this manuscript and the immediate significance of this research topic. —Literary critic Chen Sihuo
Among his peers, I think Wenchao is one of the few scholars who have achieved a comprehensive understanding of Western theories and the history of modern and contemporary China. Wenchao is not the kind of person who shows off his sharpness and shocks others with his words, but he is steady, his theories are solid, his thoughts are profound, and he never speaks without careful consideration, always offering unique insights. Wenchao is familiar with new theories but not fanatical, which makes his arguments always quite inclusive. Rooted in his own stance and persistent, this down-to-earth and determined spirit is what makes Wenchao extraordinary. His resilience in dealing with people, matters, and literature is a model for his peers. —Literary critic Chen Xiaoming
In the summer of 2004, with his life nearing its end, Wenchao entrusted this manuscript, completed with his students in his final days, to me. "I hope it becomes part of the Southern Criticism Series." He explored with his life an effective path that combines narrative analysis with poetic experience, directly addressing the issues of desire narratives and contemporary culture. In the autumn of 2004, at the age of 49, Wenchao left this world, and this posthumous work became a testament to his life, testifying to his scholarship, his talent, and the spirit of Chinese literary critics. —Literary critic Zhang Yaling
This book argues that culture is a narrative of desires, and the history of 20th-century Chinese literature is a history of reprinted narratives of desires. This book conducts an in-depth study of the narratives and artistic spirit of 20th-century Chinese literature, revealing the narrative strategies of various Chinese and Western desire discourses hidden in literary narratives, and showcasing the insights and blind spots of these strategies, as well as the underlying reasons for their rebellion and being rebelled against.