Sinology As Methods

Based on the idea that the Modern Chinese Literature is an opening, unfinishedconstruction, this paper discusses the value of Overseas Studies on Modern ChineseLiterature. I break the limits between home and overseas on purpose, try to introduce theLiterature Field Theory, and take all the research activities and productions which focus onor about Modern Chinese literature as an organic Research Field. I especially analyze thesituation of English world. Through applying and modifying Pierre Bourdieu's FieldTheory and Michelle Yeh's idea about Game-Changer comprehensively, I regard theOverseas Studies on Modern Chinese Literature as a beneficial exploration ofButterfly-effect style, rather than a final transformation or subversion, which effectivelykeeps the understanding away from been either exaggerated or despised. In other words, itreminds us that a historic, long time observation is required. I discuss these values fromfour aspects. They are de-Cold War, decolonization, de-Empire, and de-paradigm.The prefix "De-" in this paper means keeping distance and adopting a more cautiousattitude, rather than eradicating. These objects which will be "de" may have something todo with the specific historical experience, or connect with the new era context, or derivefrom the discipline itself. In a sense, they forbid us from thinking the Modern ChineseLiterature and Culture deeply and thoroughly. Therefore, they must need to be constantlyreviewed.I used the concept "de-Cold War" to reflect binary opposition in studies, and analysisthe relationship between literature and politics. We should admit the fact that no matterhow deeply the relationship has been discussed in the past overseas studies, the basic ideaof binary opposition is still make sense, which overlooked adopting a new outsideparameter to rethink the linear relationship. Fortunately, this understanding begins to standout recently. I explored two kind of feminism, one as social text and the other as criticalpositions, and point out the challenges which are bought out by them, especially therewriting of the entire social and cultural interpretation. The discussion of "Decolonization" pays attention to the issues of colonial history andthe legacy of colonialism. I quote Rey Chow, Shu-mei Shih and Jing Tsu as three examples,and argue how did they redefine the concept of semi-colonial, or gained insights by usingthe post-colonial theories, even achieved the modernity through rethinking the experienceof be-colonized. Their studies enunciate the sense of hierarchy is buried under thediscourse of colonialism. They not only analyze of the huge harm of it, but also point out itcan be reversed.The part of "de-Empire" focuses on how to configure a new identity effectively in thecontext of cross-cultural communication, especially the globalization. Through the analysis,we will see the researchers obtain their own independent position, and propose their piecesof advice from three different time orientations, the past, the present and the future. Someof them explore the formation of Empire by returning to the history; some of them exertthemselves on figuring out the method to resist imperialism by facing the reality; the elseseek a cultural space to get over imperialism through designing a possible approach.By going back to the literature history, I try to investigate the phenomenon orconcepts which are regarded as a matter of course. I name it "de-paradigm". I articulate theideas, including Lu Xun, May-Fourth, Realism, after the process of canonization alreadyhave the character of exclusion and self-purification, Which needs to be reviewedhistorically or modified through the way of introducing an external parameter.In the conclusion, I reflex the common problems of these four different aspects totally.In my opinion, there are three harmful research patterns must be alerted. One is a profitableknowledge production; one is the imperialism aesthetics whose core doctrine isuniversalism; and the last one is academic exploitation whose feature is taking a part forthe whole and recycling the part until it been bled white.