“理论热”后理论的呼唤——现当代西方文论中国接受之再反思

Calling for Theory after “Theory Heat″:Reflections on the Reception of Modern and Contemporary Western Literary Theories in China

现当代西方文论在我国的传播与接受经历了冷热交替的过程。我国学界曾经的理论热一方面标示着对理论和方法创新的渴望与追寻,另一方面也表现出对西方文论的过度崇拜和理论运用的失范以及运用者自身的理论匮乏。文本阐释与文学研究中运用某种理论和观念,体现了阐释主体对研究对象的审美与人文的价值判断,符合文学评论之规律和规范,与西方文论之"主观预设"不是一回事,文学之跨学科研究也不等于"场外征用"。要理性对待现当代西方文论,不能因为其有某些缺陷而无视其对我国文学研究曾有的作用和依然存在的借鉴价值;不能因为理论热之弊而忽视理论之重要性,忽视理论引领对文学研究之必要性,忽视我们责无旁贷的理论原创与理论建设的历史责任。理论热后呼唤的是融合了古今中外之优良理论传统的具有中国特色、中国气派的新文学理论,以及有理论深度和学术理性的文学研究与文学批评。

The dissemination and reception of modern and contemporary western literary theories in China have been a process of alternation between cooling and heating. The ＂theory heat＂ once appearing in literary circle in China shows the Chinese scholars＇ eager pursuit of creativity in theories and methods, which was undoubtedly positive and promoted the diversity and creativity in literary theories, literary studies and criticisms to some extent. On the other hand, it also reflected the excessive admiration of western literary theories, the anomic theoretical application and the theoretical dearth of its applicants. Actually, the literary studies in the past 100 years or so have been growing up with the nutrition of western theories. Although we can＇t say that there was absolutely no theoretical originality in our literary theories and criticisms in this process, we have to admit that on the whole our literary theories and criticisms are short of theoretical originality. There do exist defects in modern and contemporary literary theories like ＂subjective presupposition＂, ＂off-field appropriation＂, ＂from theory to theory＂, ＂disconnection between theory and text＂ and ＂degrading literature to the servant of theory＂ and such defects also exist in literary theories and studies in China. This phenomenon should be corrected, but not by simply calling for literary critics and researchers to return to texts and to reading more classic works, since effective textual reading and interpretation need the guidance of proper, resourceful and mature theories. Literary criticism and literary studies are a process of sublimation, which is extremely difficult to achieve effective professional reading and interpretation without previous theoretical acquisition, accumulation and preservation, let alone literary studies and the ＂reassessment＂ of canon. Especially, the application of some theories and ideas in textual interpretation and literary studies reflects the aesthetic and value judgment of the research object by the interpretative subject, which conforms to the law and norm of literary criticism and differs from the ＂subjective presupposition＂ of western literary theories. In addition, it is obviously necessary for literary theoretical construction and literary criticism to return to literature and texts. But the creative ＂eagle＂ of literary theory neither can nor should hover over the small land of literature, seeking and searching for a better literary theory. For a long time, cross-disciplinary studies of literature have been advocated in both domestic and foreign academic circles which should not be mentioned in the same breath with ＂off-field appropriation＂, one of the defects of modern and contemporary western literary theories. It remains one of the ways for the creativity of current and future literary theories and approaches to reform our literary theory on the basis of synthesizing knowledge, theory and methods of other disciplines and to conduct cross-disciplinary literary studies and criticisms under the guidance of the methodology of comparative literature. Literary studies and criticisms always need the guidance of theories and conceptions. Modern and contemporary western literary theories should be treated rationally. We should neither ignore their contributions and remaining value to the literary studies in China despite some of their defects, nor should we ignore the importance of theories and the necessity of their direction in literary studies in spite of the excessive ＂theory heat＂. What we call for now after ＂theory heat＂ is a new literary theory with ＂Chinese characteristics＂ which tries to integrate all of the excellent, ancient and modern, domestic and foreign theoretical traditions as well as theoretically profound and academically rational literary studies and literary criticisms.