Study on the Transformation of Literary Criticism in Postwar Taiwan
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
Lee, Wei-Tsu
Abstract
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the mutual effects between the academic evolution and external factors such as politics, society, or cultural backgrounds. We chose several parts of academic field in postwar Taiwan as materials for detailed inspection and discussion on the two different sets of discourse as well as wording in Chinese and Western literary criticism. The purpose of conducting this research is to try to draw the outline of the development and transformation of current literary criticism, and then investigate the reasons behind.
The first chapter aims to bring out the background of the collusion between Chinese and Western literary criticism. The transformation of Chinese academic took place in late Qing, during which the discipline “Literary Criticism” was confronted with the two systems of Western literary theory and Chinese poetry talks. The peculiar political atmosphere in postwar Taiwan had influenced and shaped the traditional and conservative research as well as teaching style in the Department of Chinese Literature.
The second chapter circles around New Criticism, and discusses the strikes from Western literary theory on academic field in postwar Taiwan. We present firstly the cross examination between scholars of different standpoints, and then proceed to the different treatments New Criticism gained in Western and Taiwan academic field. The reasons for New Criticism to come down in Taiwan may lie in the overall preference for reality and dissatisfaction of “departing from reality” in 70’s. However, the development of New Criticism before 70’s had already paved the way for the prevalence of literary theory after.
The third chapter discusses the phenomenon of Western literary theory leading Taiwan academic field. We place the colonization of Taiwan academic field in the overall American modernization of Taiwan for discussion. We also take the academic transformation in America and Western Europe as references, point out the meaning and function of “theory,” and try to provide explanations for the phenomenon that theory prevails over poetry talks.
The last chapter further explores the possibility of “academic writing.” It is thought that the poetic and aesthetic writing of Daivd Der-Wei Wang not only connotes classical aesthetics in modern academic, but can also be regarded as the revival of poetry talks in current literary criticism. It is also pointed out that Taiwan’s acceptance of David Der-Wei Wang’s “heteroglossia” can be easily manipulated for political purposes and crisis.
Subjects
Literary Criticism
Academic Transformation
Research Methods
Literary Theory
Poetry Talks
Academic Writing
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