Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been ...Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been observed in various animals. However, the much advanced human culture became possible by its transmission by language, and by its being cumulative. The concept of cultural change as a progressive process, popular by 18th and 19th centuries thinkers, is nowadays rejected, and the uniqueness of each culture stressed. Although, there are some similarities between biological evolution and cultural change, important differences between these processes are emphasized. The rapid rate of cultural change （especially its technological aspect）, as compared to the rate of biological evolution, is noted. In addition, some cultural changes led to new phenomena, which in a time of crisis can be annulled. The possible consequences of the different rate of these two processes for humans as individuals, and for their societies are discussed.展开更多
In the development of human civilization, plant has been closely attached to human beings, and also been endowed with rich cultural imagery. However, ascribed to the differences between Chinese and English cultures, p...In the development of human civilization, plant has been closely attached to human beings, and also been endowed with rich cultural imagery. However, ascribed to the differences between Chinese and English cultures, plant of the same kind exhibits similar, distinct or vacant characteristics. This paper adopts comparison method so as to compare and to analyze the differences and similarities of cultural connotation contained in plant emerging in Treasure Island （a representative of western adventure literature） and The Swordsman （a representative of Chinese martial arts literature） and roles plant plays in a certain chapter, or the whole story. The literature study presents a general knowledge of research theories in this field and cultural background. Moreover, the induction method integrates and summarizes the prior analyses and researches. Reasons underlying those cultural differences are also expounded, including legend and folklore, literature works and convention and custom. The conclusion is that analyzing the cultural connotation of plant is of significance for understanding the corresponding cultural differences as well as appreciating adventure and martial arts literature.展开更多
It is very innovative significance that Chinese Literary Anthropology invents the Great Tradition in the new century and puts forward series of theoretical propositions and academic points based on it. The new Great T...It is very innovative significance that Chinese Literary Anthropology invents the Great Tradition in the new century and puts forward series of theoretical propositions and academic points based on it. The new Great Tradition transforms the opposition between the Great and Little Tradition of American anthropology, and makes the new concepts gain the legitimacy of the cultural values transferred from the old terms. It dates the second coded significance of the written culture from the material narrative and the image narrative of the oral tradition, and highlights the generative and primary of the symbolic significance. It also questions the authenticity of the written representation, endows the truth and credibility to the material and image representation, and manifests the imaginative and expression of the early human culture. Though its theoretical innovation inverts the binary opposition structure, and it wants to jump out of knowledge limits of dual structure such as structure and destruction, objective and subjective, material and spiritual.展开更多
文摘Human beings do not live in nature, they live in culture. Contrary to biological evolution, which is based on genetic inheritance, cultural change is transmitted by instruction. Simple beginnings of culture have been observed in various animals. However, the much advanced human culture became possible by its transmission by language, and by its being cumulative. The concept of cultural change as a progressive process, popular by 18th and 19th centuries thinkers, is nowadays rejected, and the uniqueness of each culture stressed. Although, there are some similarities between biological evolution and cultural change, important differences between these processes are emphasized. The rapid rate of cultural change （especially its technological aspect）, as compared to the rate of biological evolution, is noted. In addition, some cultural changes led to new phenomena, which in a time of crisis can be annulled. The possible consequences of the different rate of these two processes for humans as individuals, and for their societies are discussed.
文摘In the development of human civilization, plant has been closely attached to human beings, and also been endowed with rich cultural imagery. However, ascribed to the differences between Chinese and English cultures, plant of the same kind exhibits similar, distinct or vacant characteristics. This paper adopts comparison method so as to compare and to analyze the differences and similarities of cultural connotation contained in plant emerging in Treasure Island （a representative of western adventure literature） and The Swordsman （a representative of Chinese martial arts literature） and roles plant plays in a certain chapter, or the whole story. The literature study presents a general knowledge of research theories in this field and cultural background. Moreover, the induction method integrates and summarizes the prior analyses and researches. Reasons underlying those cultural differences are also expounded, including legend and folklore, literature works and convention and custom. The conclusion is that analyzing the cultural connotation of plant is of significance for understanding the corresponding cultural differences as well as appreciating adventure and martial arts literature.
文摘It is very innovative significance that Chinese Literary Anthropology invents the Great Tradition in the new century and puts forward series of theoretical propositions and academic points based on it. The new Great Tradition transforms the opposition between the Great and Little Tradition of American anthropology, and makes the new concepts gain the legitimacy of the cultural values transferred from the old terms. It dates the second coded significance of the written culture from the material narrative and the image narrative of the oral tradition, and highlights the generative and primary of the symbolic significance. It also questions the authenticity of the written representation, endows the truth and credibility to the material and image representation, and manifests the imaginative and expression of the early human culture. Though its theoretical innovation inverts the binary opposition structure, and it wants to jump out of knowledge limits of dual structure such as structure and destruction, objective and subjective, material and spiritual.
