The Foreign Land Of Imagination

The so-called borderland, in terms of political, economic or cultural sense, is far away from public views and then full of mysteries. Instead of the stereotyped pattern of life caused by globalization, it undoubtedly remains the unacquainted "foreign lands". The borderland novels exactly undertake its imagination, description and presentation. So the borderland, as the pattern of foreign lands in imagination, opens its door towards the civilized world. Borderland novels of New Age have matured into one influential school of literature, and its research has already become one urgent project presented before us. Since New Age, especially the Nineties of twentieth century, these novels has become a magnificent sight, so this thesis attempts to explore and define its cause, value and meaning. Around this core issue, this thesis combines different paradigms of Criticism, such as Ecological Aesthetics, Religion Culturology, Cultural anthropology, existential aesthetics, cultural studies New Criticism, etc., so as to perceive, in terms of content, form and spiritual values, the unique aspect of borderland novels in New Age, and comb out its special aesthetic features, pursuit of meaning and value orientation, and finally provides some meaningful and valuable reference for Chinese cultural recovery and spiritual civilization.The part of introduction analyzes its basis, value and meaning, the current situation, methods and innovations of research, and reveals that the thriving of borderland novels in New Age of China results from the development of society and requirements of ideology, together with the descending and growth of literature and civilization.Chapter one explores the conception of borderland novels and defines the research scope of New Age. As is known to all, New Age is not only the boom period of Chinese contemporary era, but also the times of progressive mature and prosperity. Therefore, the definition of its intension and extension not just benefits the clearness of the scope of text and setting up the research object of this thesis, and also account for the art features of borderland novels in New Age to display the unique artistic charm and significance. In this sense, this paper, through the historic review and combing of its present evolution, finds that borderland, in conclusion, is the carrier of special patterns of life and mode of thinking, which is based on the geographic meaning and guided by cultural significance. And then the borderland novels take root and grow in this special region, which is affected and nurtured by the culture, history, religion, aesthetic sentiment and artistic mode of thinking of nation, into unique Art Gallery. Firstly, referring to the objects of this genre, borderland novels should narrate the local customs and practices, rooted tales and legends, disposition and charm, feelings and affections, which has happened here. Secondly, speaking of its subjects of creation, they must take root in this vast land, interrelate and interconnect each other, and have ever lived, grown, and struggled in here. Therefore, borderland has become the indivisible part of their life, no matter where they are, the local breath, voice, quality and affection are deeply hidden in the heart. So this land is their cradle of life, and recurrence of dreams, wherever they are, however poor or wealthy they become, they will forever be surrounded and nurtured by this land.The following three chapters, from the views of ecology, existentialism and cultural religion, respectively explore the research paradigm of the theme and content of the contemporary borderland novels in order to pursue the artistic features differing from other novels, properly blend the analysis of forms and linguistics, and probe into its perfect harmony between forms and content. In chapter two, the ecological beauty of contemporary borderland novels, which is narrated from the harmonious beauty of "the unity between human and nature", vital beauty of life, and original worship of mother earth, represents the conception of ecological harmony and unrestrained vital state of universe. Meanwhile, this holistic view of ecology contributes greatly to the enlightment and meaning of returning naturalism from human and regressing purity from literature:after the crazy persecution of industrial civilization, human beings finally come to realize the close relation between man and nature, "nature gives birth to man" becomes the initiative choice of minds of insight. In social sense, ecological writing, in its literal ways, determinates the coming of Chinese "post-enlightment" age. In the sense of literature, this writing presses the returning purity of literature, practice the completeness of literary scope and prosperity of literary experience. In chapter three, the truth of existence, from "truth of existence" and "pain of existence", presents their honest and pure images, sincere and serious narrating feelings, true currents of life, and their true sufferings of grief. Enlightened by the writing of existentialism, this chapter reveals the significance of daily experience and concern of true life:on the one side, it breaks the obstacles of essentialism and uncovers the multi-dimensional reality of life, which presents with the daily life, hidden subconscious world and the profound tower of ivory, to enrich and manifest itself. On the other side, it rushes out of the siege of matter, breaks down the embarrassment of enslaving matter, and accomplishes, to a great extent, protruding the concern of life and refusal of eroding matter, and endows the current literary arena one truth and sincerity of life. In Chapter four, the kind-heartedness of religion, reviewed from the dimensions of time and meaning, presents the rise and evolving of religion in Chinese literature of New Age, and displays the spiritual features evolving from rendering forms to emphasizing spirit. And then this paper, from these two points of view, discusses the sacred glory and firm beliefs, and provides precious spiritual factors for the whole national value systems, such as kindness, mercy, fortitude, humility, reverence, etc.Finally, the part of conclusion, combining the dilemma of material desire and lost spirit, demonstrates the significance of religion writing progressing from experience writing to spiritual writing. So the writers of borderland novels, stick to the pure ideality and firm faith to resist the eroding of nihility and engulfing of materialism, confront their spiritual pursuit and belief, seek for the value and meaning of existence, and strive to unearth or search its mental tradition of national culture, in order to reconstruct and develop the national spirit, and also investigates how the writing of internal spirit reclaim and improve the sluggish genre, especially in the dimensions of approaches and space of thinking, and expressive methods. After the brief narration of its theme and artistic features, we need to escape the concrete analysis of text and evaluate, from the point of epoch and history, its status and significance. Therefore, chapter five describes, around the point of modernity, the general evaluation of borderland novels. This paper, from the point of cultural research, analyzes the complex relation between borderland novels and modernity. First of all, it narrates, during the course of pursuing modernity, how nationalism rapidly inflates in borderland novels and debates it the point of "marginal anxiety and fancy of a power", "blend of national culture and reconstruction of national personality" and "secrete integration of ideology". Therefore, the creation of borderland novels proves again the close relation between literature and ideology and reveals undeniable cultural colony and reconstruction of national value, which is beneficial to realize the dialectical relation between nation and world. Secondly, placed in the post-industrial images of life, how to remain sober and go beyond the modernity becomes especially important. This paper, through the analysis of borderland novels, shows the breaking up of political utopia and failure of omnipotent technique, which reveals the destiny of failure in the logos of enlightment, and then advocates the rise of romanticism guided by criticism.While the material desire and money, especially in the epoch of market economy, lead the consumption, which inevitably causes the stark juxtaposition of valuable and valueless content, borderland novels are not so perfect. Thus, the part of conclusion, from the views of dialectic and development, opens up the critique of borderland novels of New Age, reveals its tending of stereotype in theme and feature of mystery in content, hope to spark the awareness and introspection of these writers, and awaits them to treat writing with their honest and humble passion in order to provide better works for the literary arena and readers.In conclusion, the writers of borderland novels, with their unique experience of life and aesthetic appreciation, have shaped the far-away literary kingdom differing from the civilized world, and formed one "foreign land" feelings, which is filled with savagery and mystery. The innovation of this paper lies in the following:first of all, it researches the territoriality of these fictions with the view of borderland, reveals the unique theme and artistic features of borderland fiction. What's more, after the concrete narration, it defines the indispensable literary value and position. As is pointed out, the narrated borderland, in some sense, seems like the land of China in New Age, and might even be regarded as the miniature of expansive land of China. So these borderlands, which signify the primary state of economy, politics and culture, precisely provide the valuable resources and experience when we observe, research and recollect the Chinese road of modernity. As a whole, we think that the Chinese borderland fiction of New Age and the problems of modernity reveal its important present and future meaning and value.