A Cultural Memory Perspective Of Yan Lianke's Shouhuo

This dissertation paper examines contemporary primary research sources to interpret and examine how cultural memory theory can be applied within literary criticism.Specifically,this paper applies a theoretical framework constructed by German scholar Astrid Erll attempting to provide a literary critique of Yan Lianke's novella Shouhuo(or "Lenin's Kisses" in the west).Although we have witnessed a tremendous enthusiasm towards cultural memory theory in China within the last few years,however,this particular mode of research has still been relatively unexplored within the realm of literary criticism.Simultaneously,Yan's works often narrate(or"remember”)certain historical events that belong to a special time in China's past,such as the Great Leap Forward,the Great Famine,and the Cultural Revolution.Through familiarizing oneself with the theoretical framework and research methodology of cultural memory theory,as well as engaging in a close reading of the text,Shouhuo,this paper asserts that the novel embodies a counter memory of the Chinese past;readers can regard it as a storage vehicle for Chinese cultural memory.In this light,Shouhuo provides the reader with a "counter memory" of Chinese history,which demonstrates the heterogeneous quality of memory.The introduction focuses on contemporary research done on Shouhuo and other related background information.Included in this section are the significance of this paper's topic,the primary goals of this research,and a summary of the methodology used to complete this study.The first chapter of this paper summarizes the historical development and important theories of cultural memory from a diachronic perspective as well as analyzes its implications for the novel.The second chapter analyzes and critiques several historical narratives found in Shouhuo from a theoretical perspective compiled by scholar Astrid Erll.The motivation for this is to provide an account of how Shouhuo can be understood as containing a cultural memory of Chinese history.Such specific memories included are The Great Leap Forward,The Chinese Cultural Revolution,and others.The third chapter considers an intertextual dimension of literary research done within Cultural Memory theory and its application towards a critique of the novel.Finally,the conclusion reiterates the major findings of this research as well as explains the implications,future research prospects,and limitations of this paper.