Trace of Criticism: Cultural Theory and Cultural Criticism (1985-2002)

Author: Zhang Xudong
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Features: Contemporary Criticism. This book collects the author's major Chinese articles over the years and translations of some of his English articles. During his student days, Zhang Xudong personally experienced the "Cultural Great Debate" of the 1980s and was dedicated to introducing contemporary Western literary criticism and cultural theory. In the 1990s, he studied in the United States, mentored by the contemporary literary theory giant Jameson, and sought to analyze and study the social and cultural phenomena of contemporary China within the global context of critical theory, comparative literature and cultural studies, modernism and critique of modernity, postmodernism and globalization theory.
As a collection, the book demonstrates a systematic approach due to the consistent problem awareness and theoretical interests running through it. While situated within the American academic production mechanism, the author clearly identifies with contemporary Chinese cultural consciousness and intellectual life. The book across four dimensions: the introduction of Western cultural theory, the and elaboration of the history of contemporary Chinese cultural consciousness, the theoretical implications of cultural politics and political philosophy, and the practice of contemporary Chinese literary creation and criticism. It also lays the groundwork for preliminary theoretical construction. On the other hand, these articles trace the temporal changes and development of contemporary Chinese cultural consciousness through their own trajectory.