The limitations of realism

Author: (American) Amy B. Tseng, translated by Jiang Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: "Realism," initially introduced to China as a tool for cultural transformation, exists in complex tension between its aesthetic premises and the social mission it promises. This book approaches the topic from this perspective, first examining the use of "Realism" in China through the lens of "archaeology of knowledge," analyzing its unique reception history. Subsequently, the author conducts in-depth textual interpretations of works by writers such as Lu Xun, Mao Dun, Ye Shaojun, and Zhang Daqi, focusing on the controversial and fragmented aspects of narrative in fiction. This reveals the penetration, transformation, and unique aesthetic possibilities of Realism as a "formal element" in novels. Finally, the book explores the end of Realism in the face of a new collectivist discourse.