A Study On The Interpretations Of Chinese Literature In 1949～66 During The "Cold War" In The American And British Academia

This dissertation focuses on the study of the interpretations of Chinese literature in 1949～66 during the "Cold War" in the American and British academia by discussing the questions "How the American and British scholars interpreted Chinese literature in 1949-66 during the'Cold War'" and " What the hidden discourse mechanism has been conducted ". In the terms of the "Cold War" in this paper, it is defined as the historical context in the broad sense and the special perspective in this research. As is not emphasized purposefully, the researcher's description and judgment cannot avoid being influenced by her cultural tradition, social thoughts and individual identity. The British and American researchers are chosen for the subjects because of two reasons. One is that they used to be the representative members of the " Capitalism Camp " during the "Cold War", and the other is that their interpretations is one of the important parts in sinological research on the Chinese Literature in 1949-66.The interpretations of the Chinese Literature in 1949-66 during the "Cold War" in the American and British academia are divided into three periods chronologically in this paper:1950s-60s,1970s and from 1980s to early 1990s. The specific research aims to reveal how the British and American researchers interpreted Chinese literature in 1949～66 synchronically and outline the clear developing process of the interpretations diachronically by answering the questions:"who observed", "what was observed", "how to observe" and "why to observe ".This dissertation includes four parts:The fist chapter targets at discussing the identities of the researchers who were involved in the research on Chinese literature in 1949～66 in Great Britain and America during the "Cold War". Findings in this chapter illustrate that scholars in the two nations were composed of native westerners and Chinese immigrants. Their interpretations of Chinese literature in 1949～66 resembled due to the same living background they were in. But the interpretations also varied because of their own distinctive nationalities and personal taste. Such differences led to diversity. For the different identity of research mode between native westerners and Chinese emigrants scholars, the interpretations also present the periodical changes.The second chapter concentrates on what sort of Chinese literary works in 1949～66 were selected by British and American researchers in their anthologies at different stages and why they were selected. The results are:during 1950s-60s, the numbers of the anthologies about the Chinese literature in 1949～66 and the works selceted in them are small. But the trends were quite different. Some researchers selected literary works that differed from the Chinese literary ideological standard by the influence of "Cold War Thoughts"; some of the native westerners showed curious and referent attitudes toward Chinese traditional culture; and some of researchers paid more attention to the appreciation of beauty in the literary works. In 1970s, the number of the selected works increased greatly, and most of the selections were the orthodox works. Even though selectors'comment on the works have been better, there were still some researchers who only showed more interest in the relationship between Chinese old literature and the new literature. During 1980s to early 1990s, numbers of the relevant selections decreased, but the number of the literary works increased on the contrary. Although many researchers selected and interpreted literary works in the dimension of politics, their stand-point tended to be more objective and useful for the spread of Chinese literary in 1949-66 overseas.The third chapter mainly talks about British and American scholars'translation of Chinese literature in 1949～66, exploring the overall features, trends and the further hidden social, historical and cultural reasons of the translated issues at different periods. Findings are:during 1950s-60s, they were overstating the fact that Chinese literary critics'critical views on administration and social problems and failed to express the feelings and emotions of the original works in the translated work. In 1970s, as the translation has been improved greatly, most translators could faithfully express the meaning of the original works. However, some translators of native westerners tended to be more interested in idioms and literary quotations of the original works, and they preferred to keep the alien flavor. From 1980s to the early 1990s, more translators were involved in the translating. Due to the difference of the individual intention, appreciation taste, translation quality varied.The last chapter is the study of the critical papers and academic works on the interpretations to Chinese literature in 1949-66 in British and American academia. Overall, these interpretations mainly focused on the literary thoughts and debates, Maoist literary and artistic thoughts, the transformation of some key modern Chinese writers after 1949, and the contents and artistic forms of the works of Chinese literature in 1949～66. Various descriptions, the basic standpoint of the researchers, the key points of view, research methods, changes of descriptions at different stages and the general trends to these issues by the British and American researchers are relatively introduced in order to restore the ideas of British and American researchers on Chinese literature in 1949-66.