作为文献的明清小说插图——明清刊本小说文图关系研究方法反思

Novel Illustrations of Ming and Qing Dynasties as Classical Documents——Reflection on the Research Method of Text-graphic Relation in Ming-Qing Publications

有关明清刊本小说插图与文本关系的研究是时下热点,创获良多,但亦有值得反思之处。专注于图像叙事功能的研究立场有待检讨,有关文学与图像关系的探讨,要避免流于只关注文—图关系或将一切内容都投射于此的倾向,图像绘制的过程受多种因素综合作用,决非叙事一端。重理论提炼、轻文献整理的研究思路也有待转变,从基础文献整理出发,综合考虑插图、插图题字和文本间的复杂关联,方能有全备、深入之理解。

The research on the relationship between illustrations and texts in the novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is a hot spot in the field of literary studies nowadays, which has gain plentiful achievements but also needs more reflections. The research stance that focuses on the narrative function of images needs to be reviewed. While discussing text-graphic relations, we should avoid the tendency that only focus on the relationship between text and images or project all content on it. The process of image rendering is affected by comprehensive factors rather than only narrative factor. The research approach that emphasizes theoretical extraction and ignores document arrangement has to be reversed. Only when we start from document arrangement, then comprehensively consider the complicated associations between illustrations, illustration inscriptions and texts, can we have a thorough and overall understanding on this topic.