The Modern Research

Many original features of the history of Chinese modern literature are unfolded through the periodical of modern literature. Therefore, a thorough and meticulous study of the periodical of modern literature can be of help in discovering a great amount of contents lurking behind the history of literature and helps us to recreate a more realistic sketch of the history of literature. As to the literature in1930s, the existence of Modern Times, a large-scale literary publication which is of great compatibility, is very valuable. In this article, I attempt to recur the specific historical context of the creation of Modern Times and reveal its value in the history of literature through the discussion on its modern features so as to provide some more powerful evidence for clearing the history of Chinese modern literature in1930s.This article is divided into three parts:The first part mainly centers on the reason why Shanghai is the seedbed of Modern Times, which is further analyzed in four parts:the economic and political environment of Shanghai, cultural tradition and urban spirit, the internal need of new literature development and link to the world literature. The second part discusses the modernity of Modern Times. Starting from the concept of "modern times" by the editor in chief Shi Zhecun, I observe how his ideas of modern standpoint, modern consciousness and modern attitude come into being, proving the genuine modernity of Modern Times. The third part is mainly on the reflections of the literary value of Modern Times, which not only contributes to the rise of Chinese modernist school but also promotes the development of the left-wing literature and creates a free-speaking "public space" which is similar to the "public field" of western society.Reading Modern Times in the specific historical environment of1930s and exploring its living style and existing value, we can have an overall understanding and knowing of Modern Times. On the zigzag way of development of Modern Times, we can see that the literature publication made every effort to stay alive in1930s without losing its main spirit and its contributions to the literature development at that time and after that time. Thanks to Modern Times, we have a richer and realer history of literature, which helps us to evaluate the history of literature in1930s in the more fair and objective point.