Popular Literary Tradition and the Localization of Early Chinese Films

As a new form of artistic expression, film has gone through a history of more than 100 years in China. Focusing on the aesthetic taste of the underclass, popular literary tradition, which highlights appreciation habits of the citizen stratum, is the quintessence of Chinese traditional culture. Breaking through the mode of Western films, the early Chinese film, referring to artistic elements in story-telling script, fiction, and drama in Song and Yuan Dynasties, has created new film genres of ＂unofficial historical film＂ and martial-art film which are positive results of the localization of early Chinese films. Though the unofficial historical film failed in adapting the theme of popular literature, its groundbreaking significance is still worth approving

Some Remarks on the Role of Tamil Literary Tradition in Siva Satakam of Narayana Guru

The paper presents an analysis of the selected stanzas of Siva Satakam （One Hundred Verses on Siva）--the most important hymn devoted to Siva composed in Malayalam by Narayana Guru. The analysis shows that there is a tendency in the hymn to emphasise the equal status of Sanskrit and Dravidian literary tradition. Several stanzas are constructed on the basis of Sanskrit stories or myths; however, this ＂classical＂ scheme is filled with Tamil or Malayalam concepts, ideas, and key words. What is more, Narayana Guru employs so called twilight language used by authors of Tamil philosophical works in order to provide a receiver of the poem with the opportunity to interpret some stanzas in accordance with Sanskrit as well as Dravidian tradition. The introduction of a person belonging to lower caste of South India as the one who is able to attain liberation, as well as presentation of the welt-known philosophical concepts as equal or even subordinated to the Dravidian ideas could become a significant contribution to the social activity of Guru comprising among others the concern for spiritual and social uplift of the lower caste people of Kerala.

The Influence of the Pluralism of Chinese Language and Literature on the Tradition of Literary Criticism

The current problems facing literary criticism are not only the influence of the external environment,but also the understanding of the traditional Chinese culture from the perspective of“globalization”and“diversification”of literature.It is also a guide for related literary criticism.This paper first discusses the pluralism of literary criticism,gives an overview of literary criticism,analyzes the problems of literary criticism in Chinese literature in our country,and finally propoeses relevant suggestions for literary criticism under pluralism.

On the Encounter of Satan and Christ in John Milton＇s Paradise Lost

In Milton＇s Paradise Lost, Satan is conspicuously depicted as the ＂mighty chief＂ （I 566） and ＂the dread commander＂ （I 589） of the rebel army. True to the Hebrew meaning of his name, Satan poses appropriately as a grand ＂Adversary＂ （I 629; II 282） to ＂wage by force or guile eternal war＂ （I 121） against God. The poet has deliberately built up a parallel between Satan and Christ the Son, who is the commander-in-chief of the angelic army. With ＂Almighty arms / Gird on, and Sword upon [his] puissant Thigh＂ （VI 713-14）, the Son certainly makes an impressive figure of warrior-general. Satan＇s stance as the ＂idol of majesty divine＂ is really extraordinary. During the War in Heaven, he does show superhuman courage and strength; his ability to change his bodily form has no doubt increased his potential as a warrior. Furthermore, he commands a highly disciplined army, surpassing by far the best troops in human history. All this seems to indicate Satan as a great hero. Even before God proclaims the Son to be raised ＂by merit＂ to the position of＂second omnipotence＂ （III 309）, Milton has already made it clear to the reader that Satan, too, is ＂by merit rais＇d / To that bad eminence＂ （II 5-6）. This ambivalent merit of Satan has incurred heated controversy among the critics. The present paper will set out to analyze the encounter between Satan and the Son in Paradise Lost, in an effort to determine the true meaning of heroism.

Chinese Tradition in the World Literature:Review of Zhang Longxi's A Historyof ChineseLiterature

This essay reviews Zhang Longxi's A History of Chinese Literature.The book covers Chinese literature from its very beginning to modern times.It emphasizes texts'literary and aesthetic qualities when evaluating and historicizing literature.The book demonstrates the importance of canons in literary history,using Chinese tradition as an example.Therefore,it also brings the Chinese tradition into the broader framework of world literature.Reading Zhang's concise historical overview of Chinese literature,we can better understand the interplay between literary tradition and the individual talent.Zhang Longxi has skillfully combined the writing of a history of literature with literary criticism in this book.Zhang's successful attempt informs literary scholars of possible paradigms of compiling literary history in a post-cultural-studies theoretical context.

Rethinking the Modern Transformation of Classical Chinese Literary Theory

Though it is not new, the topic of the modem transformation of classical Chinese literary theory still holds profound significance for China＇s current efforts in carrying forward the essence of classical literary theory and constructing a new literary theory that conforms to the spirit of our times. Today, Chinese scholars have to handle two traditions： one is the classical literary scholarship up to the 19th century, distant in time and space from today; the other is the modern tradition that started in the early 20th century. These two traditions involve not only rupture and heterogeneous change but also continuity and partial homogeneous preservation. Taking our stand on the modem and contemporary tradition, we should consciously pursue research on classical literary theory, using modem consciousness to scrutinize, reorder, discover, select, interpret, activate and absorb its finer elements, those that are still vital, so as to creatively promote its modem transformation and further integrate it as an organic component of the construction of modem Chinese literary theory. Over the past two or three decades, Chinese scholars have been advancing this great project in a systematic and solid way, achieving gratifying progress. We must strengthen our efforts and make further progress with this great undertaking.

[World] Literature: Beneath and Beyond

In this interview,Zhang Longxi explores topics and approaches that have made him one of the leading scholars on cross-cultural studies in the world.Longxi's innovative understanding of both the relationship between East and West and literary hermeneutics is clarified in his latest contribution,World Literature as Discovery:Expanding the World Literary Canon,which aims at suggesting that world literature may favor a productive way to return to the reading of literature.

An interview with Professor Jonathan Locke Hart

Professor Jonathan Locke Hart answers our questions about Comparative Literature in Canada,Canadian indigenous literary traditions,Shakespeare,and the dominance of American academia,and the English language.He refers to a wide range of texts and scholars,his personal experience as a poet and scholar,and comments on the potential future of our shared disciplines.

Natural Science,Legends,and Local Chronicle-Style Novel Pedigree of Guizhou--On Ouyang Qiansen'sNovel Creation

Ouyang Qiansen is a writer from Guizhou who is quite influential in the Chinese literary circles of the new century.He has worked hard to rejuvenate the Chinese nation's literary tradition with modern thinking.This is reflected in the fact that he includes modern geological expertise in his novels,portraying geographical scenery with poetic language,thereby forming a unique narrative style based on modern knowledge and renewing the "natural science"narrative tradition of China's ancient novels.Moreover,he pays special attention to myriad unusual events and people throughout Guizhou's history and in reality,and creates typical literary Guizhou characters of all types whereby he revives the"legend"narrative tradition based on historical records or biographies and is typical of ancient Chinese novels.Both the geography-based"natural science"narrative and the people-based legend"narrative are merged into Ouyang's local chroniclestyled novel pedigree of Guizhou.By creatively transforming the narrative tradition of local chronicles and local chronicle-style novels of ancient China,in his literary creations,Ouyang manages to revive and reconstruct the Guizhou spirit,which serves as the local expertise and culture.