小亨利·路易斯·盖茨的路径:建构黑人文学的批评传统

Henry Louis Gates’s Approach: The Construction of Black Critical Tradition

盖茨认为,种族差别并没有任何科学依据,完全是建构出来的。黑人不仅能够写作,而且能够通过写作获得自由,保留种族的历史和文化记忆。由此盖茨进一步肯定了黑人文学的美学价值,打破了“伟大传统”的禁锢,拓展了黑人写作和批评的空间。盖茨赞成学习西方主流文学理论,但是他并非强调简单的同化与融入。在掌握西方主流理论的同时,他强调要将理论置于黑人文化的环境下来审视,并结合黑人的语言创造独特的黑人文学批评传统。

Gates believes the difference of race is constructed rather than scientific. Black writers can not only write but keep historical and cultural memory of their race. He further ascertains the aesthetic values of Black literature and throws out the shackles of so called “the Great Tradition”. In this way, he expands the space of Black writing and criticism. Gates espouses learning mainstream theory, whereas he does not simply assimilate. In addition to mastering western theory, he emphasizes that Black critical tradition should be created by Black vernacular and critical theory should be read under the background of black cultural background.