Dance in the Mirror: Literary Narratives in the Context of Contemporary Consumer Culture

Author: Zheng Chong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: The literary concepts embodied in Dance in the Mirror reflect a dual commitment to humanity and aesthetics. Through this, the author discusses the pervasive influence of consumer culture on contemporary literature and the distortions and setbacks it imposes on literature at two levels. In his passionate or objectively calm writings, we see the author's heartfelt concern and meticulous scrutiny of literature, rather than relativizing, nihilizing, or conceptualizing literary views, which would reduce vibrant literature to mere footnotes and examples in cultural studies. Although he appears enthusiastic about broad issues, he remains focused on solving practical problems, avoiding grandiosity. Against the increasingly complex backdrop of contemporary literary development, such a work is beneficial. At the very least, it clarifies some fundamental understandings of literature, enabling a more accurate grasp of the current state of Chinese literature.
Before this, Zheng Chong had read numerous literary works, accumulated extensive documentary materials, and researched many social and cultural phenomena. He continuously offered his perspectives on new literary and cultural phenomena in contemporary times, publishing some relevant papers (some of which were reprinted in authoritative periodicals). In essence, he had made substantial preparations for the writing of this book. The key issues it focuses on are: How to understand consumer culture within the Chinese context? How to recognize the overall penetration of the logic of consumer culture into literature? How to understand the various narrative transformations presented by contemporary literature in the mirror of consumer culture? How to envision the future trajectory of literary development within the context of consumer culture? These are indeed some of the most perplexing questions arising from contemporary literature under the shadow of consumer culture, leaving readers with a sense of having struck a nerve. The author does not "dance around the issues," demonstrating academic courage.