The Study of American The Study of American Literature in China: Literature in China:

American Content and American Content and Chinese PerspectiveChinese Perspective

1, A Brief Introduction to the Translation 1, A Brief Introduction to the Translation of American Literature in Chinaof American Literature in China

2, A General Introduction to the Study of 2, A General Introduction to the Study of American Literature in China (with a American Literature in China (with a focus on the New Period Time: since focus on the New Period Time: since 1979)1979)

3,The Trend of Reading (American ) 3,The Trend of Reading (American ) Literature: Personal PerspectiveLiterature: Personal Perspective

1, A Brief Introduction to the Translation of 1, A Brief Introduction to the Translation of American Literature in China:American Literature in China:

1910: 1910: Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin ， ， Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe (translated as The Appeal of the Black Slaves ((translated as The Appeal of the Black Slaves ( 黑奴吁黑奴吁天录天录 ))

19291929 ：“：“ The Killers“The Killers“ ， ， Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway 1930-1949: 1930-1949: An American TragedyAn American Tragedy, Theodore Dreiser, , Theodore Dreiser, TT

he Main Streethe Main Street, Sinclair Lewis, , Sinclair Lewis, The Wrath of GrapesThe Wrath of Grapes, Jo, John Steinback, hn Steinback, Farewell to ArmsFarewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway, et, Ernest Hemingway, etc……c……

The special issue of American literature in The special issue of American literature in

the literary journal: the literary journal: ModernModern , Oct., 1934 , Oct., 1934 the development of American novels the development of American novels modern American drama modern American drama modern American poetry modern American poetry modern American literary criticism modern American literary criticism writers discussedwriters discussed: : Jack London, Upton Sinclair, Jack London, Upton Sinclair,

Theodore Dreiser, Eugene O’Neill, Ezra Pound, ErnesTheodore Dreiser, Eugene O’Neill, Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, William Faulknert Hemingway, John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, etc, etc…………

issues:issues: modernity, national identity and origimodernity, national identity and originality nality

19781978-: Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Cheever, Elli-: Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Cheever, Ellison, Bellow, Updike, Morrison, Frost, Wilson, Bellow, Updike, Morrison, Frost, Williams, Stevens, Ginsberg, Plath, Kingstoliams, Stevens, Ginsberg, Plath, Kingston, Tan, etc……. n, Tan, etc…….

2, A General Introduction to the Study of American 2, A General Introduction to the Study of American Literature in China (with a focus on the New Period Time: Literature in China (with a focus on the New Period Time:

since 1979)since 1979)

2.1: case studies (major books published on Am2.1: case studies (major books published on American literature) erican literature)

A Brief History of American Literature , 1978/19A Brief History of American Literature , 1978/1982, 200382, 2003 ( ( 董衡巽 《美国文学简史》董衡巽 《美国文学简史》 19781978 ，， 19819822 ，董衡巽《美国文学简史》，董衡巽《美国文学简史》 2003) 2003)

On Contemporary American Novelists,1987On Contemporary American Novelists,1987 (( 钱满素《美国当代小说家论》钱满素《美国当代小说家论》 1987) 1987)

A Survey of Modern American FictionA Survey of Modern American Fiction, 1990 (, 1990 ( 王王长荣《现代美国小说史》长荣《现代美国小说史》 1992) 1992)

Contemporary American DramaContemporary American Drama ( ( 汪义群《当代汪义群《当代美国戏剧》美国戏剧》 1992) 1992)

A History of American Drama A History of American Drama （郭继德《美国（郭继德《美国戏剧史》戏剧史》 19931993 ） ）

A History of Twentieth Century American PoetA History of Twentieth Century American Poetryry, 1995 (, 1995 ( 张子清《张子清《 2020 世纪美国诗歌史》世纪美国诗歌史》 1995)1995) ，，

A History of Twentieth Century American LiterA History of Twentieth Century American Literatureature, , 1999 1999 (( 杨任敬《杨任敬《 2020 世纪美国文学史》世纪美国文学史》 ))

A Study of Contemporary American Novels,A Study of Contemporary American Novels, 2000 2000 (( 黄黄铁池 《当代美国小说研究》铁池 《当代美国小说研究》 2000)2000)

A New History of American Literature, 2003-2004A New History of American Literature, 2003-2004, (, ( 刘刘海平，王守仁《新编美国文学史》海平，王守仁《新编美国文学史》 20032003 －－ 2004)2004)

American Postmodernist Novels, 2003American Postmodernist Novels, 2003 （扬任敬《美国（扬任敬《美国后现代派小说论》后现代派小说论》 2004)2004)

A History of Popular American Literature, 2003A History of Popular American Literature, 2003 ( ( 黄禄黄禄善《美国通俗文学史》善《美国通俗文学史》 2003) 2003)

Selected Readings of American Literature, 2000 (Selected Readings of American Literature, 2000 ( 陶洁陶洁《美国文学选读》《美国文学选读》 2000) 2000)

Selected Readings of Twentieth Century American LiteSelected Readings of Twentieth Century American Literature, 2006 (rature, 2006 ( 陶洁《陶洁《 2020 世纪美国文学选读》世纪美国文学选读》 2006)2006)

2.2: merit and demerit 2.2: merit and demerit

Case StudiesCase Studies : : 1, 1, A Brief History of American Literature , A Brief History of American Literature ,

1978/1982, 20031978/1982, 2003 ( ( 董衡巽《美国文学简史》董衡巽《美国文学简史》 11978978 ，， 19821982 ，董衡巽 《美国文学简史》，董衡巽 《美国文学简史》 20032003) )

eg: the comment on Allan Poe in 1978 edeg: the comment on Allan Poe in 1978 edition of the bookition of the book: a: a representative of the representative of the reactionary southern American aristocrareactionary southern American aristocratic class tic class

In the 2003 edition: In the 2003 edition: “Poe took pains to “Poe took pains to write about beautiful images through write about beautiful images through the exploration of the unconscious, the exploration of the unconscious, the irrational and the morbid, focusing the irrational and the morbid, focusing on the other end of life”on the other end of life”

comment on Edward Taylor(1645-comment on Edward Taylor(1645-1729) : 1729) : “madly advocating the “madly advocating the Christian doctrine and the so-called Christian doctrine and the so-called the original sin”the original sin”

Norman Mailer: Norman Mailer: “his novels reveal the “his novels reveal the abnormal psychology and sexuality abnormal psychology and sexuality in a way of naturalism, but at the in a way of naturalism, but at the same time, they also launch a same time, they also launch a criticism criticism and satire on the social and satire on the social illness and illness and capitalist systemcapitalist system in in contemporary America, thus one can contemporary America, thus one can say they are still of some social say they are still of some social significance.”significance.”

E.L Doctorow, Ragtime: E.L Doctorow, Ragtime: “the book teem“the book teems with the sympathy for the oppressed, as with the sympathy for the oppressed, and concerns with the revolutionaries annd concerns with the revolutionaries and revolution” d revolution”

2, 2, AA New History of American Literature (2003-New History of American Literature (2003-2004)2004), (, ( 刘海平，王守仁《新编美国文学史》刘海平，王守仁《新编美国文学史》 20020033 －－ 2004) (four volumes) 2004) (four volumes)

The original texts for reference: William Trent, The original texts for reference: William Trent, et al, eds. et al, eds. The Cambridge History of American The Cambridge History of American LiteratureLiterature, 1917, 1917, Robert Spiller, , Robert Spiller, Literary HistorLiterary History of the Untied Statesy of the Untied States, 1948, 1948, Emory Elliott, , Emory Elliott, ColColumbia Literary History of the United Statesumbia Literary History of the United States, 19, 198888, Sacvan Bercovitch, , Sacvan Bercovitch, Cambridge History of ACambridge History of American Literaturemerican Literature, 1994., 1994.

Salient characteristics with Chinese Salient characteristics with Chinese PerspectivePerspective::

the special focus on the Indian literary trthe special focus on the Indian literary tradition adition

the interactive or dynamic exchange betthe interactive or dynamic exchange between American literature and Chinese cween American literature and Chinese culture: ulture: Emerson, Thoreau ,transcendentalism & clasEmerson, Thoreau ,transcendentalism & classical Chinese philosophysical Chinese philosophy

eg: eg: ““ 大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。”善。” “ “ renew thyself completely each day; drenew thyself completely each day; do it again and again, and forever again” o it again and again, and forever again”

Thoreau: “ I got up every early and Thoreau: “ I got up every early and bathed in bathed in the pondthe pond; that was a religious exercise, and on; that was a religious exercise, and one of the best things which I did. They say that ce of the best things which I did. They say that characters were engraven on the bathing tub of haracters were engraven on the bathing tub of king Tching-thang to this effect…” king Tching-thang to this effect…”

acceptance and influence: acceptance and influence: Whitman and ChineWhitman and Chinese literaturese literature

1918: introduced into China by Tian Han, translated in1918: introduced into China by Tian Han, translated into Chinese by Guo Moruo later and influenced his to Chinese by Guo Moruo later and influenced his GodGoddessdess

1945: the first complete translation of 1945: the first complete translation of Leaves of GrassLeaves of Grass1987: the second 1987: the second 1991: the third1991: the third

The appropriation of Democracy vs the neglect of erotThe appropriation of Democracy vs the neglect of eroticismicism

the stress on Chinese American writersthe stress on Chinese American writers

literary theories and the incorporation into anliterary theories and the incorporation into analysisalysis

eg: eg: the reception of Emily Dickinsonthe reception of Emily Dickinson

““Dickinson does not care about the national affairs like the Civil War, thus iDickinson does not care about the national affairs like the Civil War, thus in comparison with Whitman, Dickinson is too self-centered, which also n comparison with Whitman, Dickinson is too self-centered, which also prevents her from writing poems with more significant themes.” prevents her from writing poems with more significant themes.”

3, 3, A History of Popular American LiteratureA History of Popular American Literature (20 (2003)03)

19th century19th century: seductive fiction, gothic fiction, rel: seductive fiction, gothic fiction, religious fiction and women’s fiction…igious fiction and women’s fiction…Susan WSusan Warner, Maria Cummins, George Lippard ……arner, Maria Cummins, George Lippard ……

20th century20th century: cowboy western fiction, political e: cowboy western fiction, political expose fiction, historic romantic fiction, detectixpose fiction, historic romantic fiction, detective fiction, science fiction, new fantasy fictionve fiction, science fiction, new fantasy fiction……Upton Sinclair, Sidney SheldonUpton Sinclair, Sidney Sheldon ……. …….

new centurynew century: cyberpunk fiction, horror fiction….: cyberpunk fiction, horror fiction….Steven King, William Gibson …….Steven King, William Gibson …….

3.The Trend of Reading (American ) 3.The Trend of Reading (American ) Literature: Personal PerspectiveLiterature: Personal Perspective

3.1: the use of literary theories in textual 3.1: the use of literary theories in textual analysis:analysis:

The Repressed Otherness in The Repressed Otherness in As I Lay Dying As I Lay Dying The Power of Repetition in Poe’s PimThe Power of Repetition in Poe’s Pim The Loss of Freedom: A Foucaultian Genealogical ReaThe Loss of Freedom: A Foucaultian Genealogical Rea

ding ofding of The Portrait of A Lady The Portrait of A Lady Masculinity in Two of Updike’s NovelsMasculinity in Two of Updike’s Novels Theories:Theories: Bakhtin, Bakhtin, dialogisimdialogisim, Freud, , Freud, the death instincthe death instinc

tt, Foucault, , Foucault, genealogygenealogy, femininity & , femininity & masculinitymasculinity

Defect: the justification of theories Defect: the justification of theories through textual analysisthrough textual analysis

““if meaning is intention, Shakespeare if meaning is intention, Shakespeare did not intend the Oedipus motive or did not intend the Oedipus motive or anything less than Hamlet; if anything less than Hamlet; if meaning is effect, then it is Hamlet meaning is effect, then it is Hamlet which affects us, not the Oedipus which affects us, not the Oedipus motive.”motive.” (Lionel Trilling) (Lionel Trilling)

3.2: The foregrounding of main stream 3.2: The foregrounding of main stream

American mind (against Chinese context):American mind (against Chinese context): the cultural contradiction & a reading of the cultural contradiction & a reading of

John UpdikeJohn Updike Texts: Texts: Daniel Bell: Daniel Bell: The Cultural Contradiction oThe Cultural Contradiction o

f Capitalismf Capitalism, 1978, , 1978, John UpdikeJohn Updike ：： Rabbit Tetralogy, 1995Rabbit Tetralogy, 1995((Rabbit RunRabbit Run, 1960, , 1960, Rabbit ReduxRabbit Redux, 1971, , 1971, RaRa

bbit Is Richbbit Is Rich, 1981, , 1981, Rabbit at RestRabbit at Rest, 1990), 1990)

The former (The former (the economicthe economic) is ruled by an economic ) is ruled by an economic principle defined in terms of efficiency and principle defined in terms of efficiency and functional rationality, the organization of production functional rationality, the organization of production through the ordering of things, including men as through the ordering of things, including men as things. The latter (things. The latter (the culturalthe cultural) is prodigal, ) is prodigal, promiscuous, dominated by an antirational, anti-promiscuous, dominated by an antirational, anti-intellectual temper in which theintellectual temper in which the self self is taken as the is taken as the touchstone of cultural judgments, and the effect on touchstone of cultural judgments, and the effect on the self is the measure of the aesthetic worth of the self is the measure of the aesthetic worth of experience. The character structure inherited from experience. The character structure inherited from the nineteenth century, with its emphasis on the nineteenth century, with its emphasis on self-self-discipline, delayed gratificationdiscipline, delayed gratification, and , and restraintrestraint,, is still relevant to the demands of the techno-is still relevant to the demands of the techno-economic structure; but it clashes sharply with the economic structure; but it clashes sharply with the culture, where such culture, where such bourgeois valuesbourgeois values have been have been completely rejected—in part, paradoxically, because completely rejected—in part, paradoxically, because of the workings of the capitalist economic system of the workings of the capitalist economic system itself. itself.

““(The) ‘new capitalism’ (the phrase was first used (The) ‘new capitalism’ (the phrase was first used in the 1920s) continued to demand a in the 1920s) continued to demand a Protestant EthicProtestant Ethic in the area of production—that is, in the realm of workin the area of production—that is, in the realm of work—but to stimulate a demand for pleasure and play in t—but to stimulate a demand for pleasure and play in the area of consumption ”he area of consumption ”

““It is the breakup of this It is the breakup of this ethic and (the Puritan) temethic and (the Puritan) temperper, owning as much to changes in social structure as , owning as much to changes in social structure as to changes in the culture that has undercut the beliefs to changes in the culture that has undercut the beliefs and legitimations that sanctioned work and reward in and legitimations that sanctioned work and reward in American society” American society”

The result: the rise of “The result: the rise of “fun moralityfun morality””

The purpose of the study:The purpose of the study:

Literature as HistoryLiterature as History A Reflection on Contemporary Chinese A Reflection on Contemporary Chinese

Society:Society:

--- Marx Weber: --- Marx Weber: The Protestant Ethic and The The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of CapitalismSpirit of Capitalism & the discussion of & the discussion of Culture in the 80s in China,Culture in the 80s in China,

---the Protestant Ethic & the “Puritanism” in ---the Protestant Ethic & the “Puritanism” in Chinese Tradition and Culture (Chinese Tradition and Culture (frugality, frugality, sobriety, self-discipline and self-sobriety, self-discipline and self-restraint, abstinencerestraint, abstinence ) )

WASP: the core constituent of the main stream American WASP: the core constituent of the main stream American cultureculture

C Wright Mills, C Wright Mills, White Collar: The American Middle ClassesWhite Collar: The American Middle Classes . 195. 1951.1.

William H. Whyte, William H. Whyte, The Organization ManThe Organization Man. 1956.. 1956. Daniel Bell, Daniel Bell, The Cultural Contradictions of CapitalismThe Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism.. 1978. 1978. Robert N Bella, et al. Robert N Bella, et al. Habits of the Heart: Individualism and CoHabits of the Heart: Individualism and Co

mmitment in American Lifemmitment in American Life. 1985.. 1985. Christopher Lasch, Christopher Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in

an Age of Diminishing Experiencean Age of Diminishing Experience. 1979.. 1979. Samuel P. Huntington, Samuel P. Huntington, Who Are We?—America’s Great DebatWho Are We?—America’s Great Debat

ee.. 2004. 2004.

R. H.Tawney, R. H.Tawney, Religion and the Rise of CapitalismReligion and the Rise of Capitalism. 1926.. 1926. Marx Weber, Marx Weber, The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of CapitalismThe Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism. .

Trans. Talcott Parsons,1958.Trans. Talcott Parsons,1958.

3.3, The Influence and Confluence: A 3.3, The Influence and Confluence: A Comparative PerspectiveComparative Perspective

1,“The (Mis)Reading of Uncle Tom’s Cabin” 1,“The (Mis)Reading of Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (Tao Jie)(Tao Jie)

------a short history of the translation, study and criticism a short history of the translation, study and criticism of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in China of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in China

2, “The Influence and Confluence: A Deconstru2, “The Influence and Confluence: A Deconstructive Approach to Mo Yan’s ctive Approach to Mo Yan’s Big Breasts, Big HBig Breasts, Big Hipsips””

------writing strategy, deconstruction, ideologywriting strategy, deconstruction, ideology

3, “3, “Theory, Reality and the Writing in the Context Theory, Reality and the Writing in the Context of Globalizationof Globalization””

texts:texts: Frederic Jameson: “Postmodernism or the Cultural LFrederic Jameson: “Postmodernism or the Cultural L

ogic in Late Capitalism (1984)”, ogic in Late Capitalism (1984)”, Terry Eagleton, Terry Eagleton, After TheoryAfter Theory (2003), (2003), John Updike: John Updike: In the Beauty of the LiliesIn the Beauty of the Lilies (1996), (1996), Philip Roth: Philip Roth: Human StainHuman Stain (2000), (2000), Yu Hua: Yu Hua: Brothers (2004-2005)Brothers (2004-2005) Ye Xing: A Ye Xing: A City Of DesireCity Of Desire (Hua Tu (Hua Tu) ) (2004)(2004)

Questions to ask:Questions to ask: 1, how much has globalization coupled 1, how much has globalization coupled

with commercialization covered up trutwith commercialization covered up truth from reality?h from reality?

2, what can theories and literary writing 2, what can theories and literary writing do to see through the globalized illusion do to see through the globalized illusion to reveal the real political and cultural sto reveal the real political and cultural scenario around us?cenario around us?