This paper discusses the criteria according to which literature iscategorized as ＂high （-brow） literature＂ or ＂low （-brow） literature＂ in modem China. I suggest that these standards change over time and are in...This paper discusses the criteria according to which literature iscategorized as ＂high （-brow） literature＂ or ＂low （-brow） literature＂ in modem China. I suggest that these standards change over time and are intimately tied to the problematics of canonization, legitimization, and cultural hegemony. In modem China, the criteria are also closely related to class differentiation. Furthermore, I contend that, in the Chinese academic world, there is often a tendency to interpret certain forms of middle-brow literature as belletristic literature that breaks though the boundary between ＂high （-brow） literature＂ and ＂low （-brow） literature.＂ In discussing ＂middle-brow＂ literature in modem China, this paper takes ＂Mandarin Ducks and Butterfly＂ literature as the object of its analysis and proposes that middle-brow literature is essentially the moralization of political and social issues, which serves to displace social-economic and political concerns. This is usually accomplished through the glorification of conservative ethical-moral viewpoints.展开更多
QIAO is a beautician. Qiao is my friend. She has a pair of nimble hands. She tattoos eyebrows for her customers which look just as real as if they were beautiful and natural. Qiao is a pretty young woman. Her eyes are...QIAO is a beautician. Qiao is my friend. She has a pair of nimble hands. She tattoos eyebrows for her customers which look just as real as if they were beautiful and natural. Qiao is a pretty young woman. Her eyes are bright and intelligent, her lips as fresh as a cherry, her nose well-chiseled, and her skin as fair as snow. She is also gentle and kind. What’s more, Qiao is a successful woman; she has helped set up three展开更多
文摘This paper discusses the criteria according to which literature iscategorized as ＂high （-brow） literature＂ or ＂low （-brow） literature＂ in modem China. I suggest that these standards change over time and are intimately tied to the problematics of canonization, legitimization, and cultural hegemony. In modem China, the criteria are also closely related to class differentiation. Furthermore, I contend that, in the Chinese academic world, there is often a tendency to interpret certain forms of middle-brow literature as belletristic literature that breaks though the boundary between ＂high （-brow） literature＂ and ＂low （-brow） literature.＂ In discussing ＂middle-brow＂ literature in modem China, this paper takes ＂Mandarin Ducks and Butterfly＂ literature as the object of its analysis and proposes that middle-brow literature is essentially the moralization of political and social issues, which serves to displace social-economic and political concerns. This is usually accomplished through the glorification of conservative ethical-moral viewpoints.
文摘QIAO is a beautician. Qiao is my friend. She has a pair of nimble hands. She tattoos eyebrows for her customers which look just as real as if they were beautiful and natural. Qiao is a pretty young woman. Her eyes are bright and intelligent, her lips as fresh as a cherry, her nose well-chiseled, and her skin as fair as snow. She is also gentle and kind. What’s more, Qiao is a successful woman; she has helped set up three
