Dreams Of Prosperity Over Sixty Years

In 20^th century literature from urban Shanghai, two styles (or phenomena) of novel writing constitute a comparison that we can observe today: first, the "New Sensation School" novels of the 1930's;and second, the "Late Generation" novels of the 1990's. "New Sensation School" novels emerged from semi-colonial Shanghai, and are indicators of a Shanghai that was transitioning into a prosperous and cosmopolitan time; whereas the "Late Generation" novels are a new genre pioneered by female writers mostly born in the 1970's, at a time when Shanghai is becoming in a global metropolis. Through methods of comparative research, this paper seeks to compare descriptions of two eras of urban Shanghai, from five different perspectives:Section 1: Background of the TimesThis section discusses the differences between the "New Sensation School" novels of the 1930's and the "Late Generation" novels of the 1990's, with regards to descriptions of economic development, urban conditions, and socio-cultural thought.Section 2: The Urban ExperienceThis section discusses the differences in how novels from these two eras portray the experiences and expressions of their characters. Through differentiating between sensations of "social drift" and "social malaise," this discussion explores the impact that urban life and conditions affect the survival of city-dwellers.Section 3: Changes in DesireThis section discusses the changes in the desires of the urbanite, as described by the novels from these two eras. This discussion reveals that whereas the "New Sensation School" novels primarily portray desire through the perspective of men, "Late Generation" novels are seen through the perspective of women, and portray uniquely feminine desires.Section 4: Urban Trends and ConsumerismThis section, by analyzing the spending patterns of characters from both the "New Sensation School" and the "Late Generation" genres, reveals that while the "New Sensation School" novels depict the prosperous and materialistic lifestyles of 1930's Shanghai, the "Late Generation" novels show that the desires of the consumer have become increasing visceral and sexual in nature, and that physicality has become intertwined with consumerism. Furthermore, under a wave of nostalgia, the "Old Shanghai" of the 1930's has today become an intrinsic aspect of imagination and consumerism.Section 5: From Semi-Colonialism to Post-ColonialismThis section discusses Shanghai's transition from semi-colonialism to post-colonialism. In the semi-colonial period of the "New Sensation School" genre, novels depict the complexities of joy and guilt within the lives of urbanites. However, the "Late Generation" novels primarily depict the hedonism of "The New Person" in city life.With regards to research methodology, this paper primarily utilizes comparative literature analysis, while also seeking to synthesize cultural research with literary analysis. Ultimately, this paper seeks to reveal the significant impact that the changes in time and urban environments have on the intrinsic and extrinsic nature of novels.