Lin Yutang Cultural Pursuit Of The Aesthetic Of Modern Sexual Orientation

Maybe Li Yutang doesn't know what aesthetic modernity is. But there's aesthetic modernity inclination in his culture pursuit what reflected in his literary and artistic creation. Chinese literary world used historic modernity to explain aesthetic modernity for a long time and as a result of it, Lin Yutang had been ignored even criticized. In fact, aesthetic modernity and historic modernity constitute a tension. This thesis will expound the aesthetic modernity inclination in Lin Yutang 's culture pursuit. Nobody notice and discuss the proposition at present. Firstly, thesis introduces modernity, analyzes Chinese intellectual's aesthetic modernity pursuit and classifies it to two kinds. Secondly, thesis integrates Lin Yutang's life experience with his culture pursuit to interpret his aesthetic modernity inclination of his outlook on life and culture. Thirdly, from the angle of aesthetic modernity to discuss Lin Yutang's culture selection. Fourthly, compares Lin Yutang with Chinese modern metropolis writers to discuss the distinction of Lin Yutang's culture pursuit, and points out its significance and limitation. This thesis integrates Lin Yutang with the theory of aesthetic modernity to analyze his aesthetic modernity inclination.Chapter one is thesis's theory background. Modernity is full of contradictory elements. Both historic modernity and aesthetic modernity are modernity's aspects. They have internal unity and contradictory. On one hand, aesthetic modernity identifies historic modernity. It advocates emancipating personality. On the other hand, it is the letter's dissident. It stresses introspection, perception and spirit. In 20th century, Chinese intellectuals pursuehistoric modernity and aesthetic modernity. The great majority intellectuals select historic modernity, e.g. Chen Duxiu, Hu Shi, Guo Moruo emphasize science, democracy and the theory of evolution. But some intellectuals show aesthetic modernity inclination, e.g. Lu Xun, Cai Yuanpei, Wen Yiduo, Qu Shiying, Zhang Junmai underline people should maintain vigilant to scientism. Thesis classifies the aesthetic modernity pursuit of Chinese modern intellectuals to two kinds.Chapter two discusses Lin Yutang's different expressions of his aesthetic modernity when he lives in different country and city, namely America and Beijing, and from the angle of modernity to differentiate his creation. In the influence of American material civilization, Lin Yutang's aesthetic modernity inclination has dual natures. On one hand, he affirms the reasonable part of modernity. On the other hand, he maintains vigilance to the malpractice of modernity. Lin Yutang's great majority creations those relate to Beijing culture are written after he gone to overseas. He realizes modern industrial civilization bring many social evils, so he establishes an ideal culture through Beijing culture. From the above, we can see why America, Shanghai provides comfortable material life to Lin Yutang but he loves Beijing culture and life. So this chapter discusses the influence of American modern civilization in advance, then discusses Lin Yutang's cherishing on Beijing culture.Chapter three discusses Lin Yutang's aesthetic modernity inclination from his deity ideology. Lin Yutang restricts and guides humanity by deity ideology after he realizes the trend that rationalism supersedes faith in modern society. He seeks the domination of the world, opposes scientism and takes deity ideology as a faith. On one hand, deity ideology restricts humanity by theopinion of universe cycle. Lin Yutang holds that human should comply with the law of nature, or they will be penalized. But he doesn't agree that human always yield to disaster when they face the obstacles of the society. He holds that human should struggle against the disaster and obstacles of the society. On the other hand, deity ideology guides humanity by the opinion that people should love and admire life. Lin Yutang stresses human should enjoy life, pursue happiness, against rationalism and value great vitality.Chapter four discusses Lin Yutang's aesthetic modernity inclination from his esteeming of harmony. On one hand, Lin Yutang blends Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, fuses Chinese culture and Western culture to get rid of spiritual crisis. The harmonious culture system is a surmounting to single culture system and a modern transformation to traditional culture. On the other hand, the purpose of the harmonious culture is the harmony of human. Lin Yutang holds that human should in harmony with nature and themselves. As a result of esteeming harmony, we can classify the characters in his creation to some types. It's a shortcoming of Lin Yutang's creation.Chapter five discusses Lin Yutang's aesthetic modernity inclination from his appreciating to traditional metropolis. Traditional metropolis blends the characteristics of traditional society and modern society. On one hand, Lin Yutang holds that traditional metropolis can offer comfortable life and avoid alienation. He criticizes the modern social evils and praises the traditional social superiorities. His decision of selecting Taiwan to settle down relates to Taiwan's traditional metropolis trait. On the other hand, Lin Yutang praises traditional metropolis by showing family life and points out the evils of modern family. He criticizes the hurry life style of modern metropolis by leisure life style oftraditional society.Chapter six compares Lin Yutang with Chinese modern metropolis writers to discuss the distinction of Lin Yutang's culture selection. The identity between Lin Yutang and Shen Congwen is valuing deity ideology, great vitality, and criticizing metropolis by dream, recollection and imagination. Their difference is that Lin Yutang appreciates traditional metropolis, but Shen Congwen abominates metropolis and likes countryside. The identity between Lin Yutang and Hai School writers is showing the great influence of modern society. But their difference is clearer: Lin Yutang embodies aesthetic standards and optimism, but Hai School writers embody the attention to ugliness and pessimism.Lin Yutang stresses humanism when he establishes ideal culture. The aesthetic modernity inclination of his culture pursuit is a supplement to the main trend of New Literature and a balance to the process of modernization. Nowadays, Lin Yutang's many introspections can give us many revelations. But at the special period, his limitation is he has ignored the differences of the culture and the national conditions between China and the West. His many opinions, such as the stress to leisure and hedonism, can correct the alienation to a certain extent, but they are not fit for China when it was in the condition of saving the nation from subjugation and ensure its survival. We should realize that the formation of Lin Yutang's culture selection relates to his experience.