The Stories Of Shanghai (1976-2004): The Follow And Evolvement Of Secular Spirit

The subject of this paper is the stories of Shanghai from the end of seventies of the 20^th century to now. In the development of history, the stories of Shanghai has been a relatively independent system, which is a kind of imaginable resource as well as a kind of restricted reference to the later writers. The author regards the subject as a part of this system according to the theory of "archetypal criticism", and probes into its adjustment and innovation on the relevant problem of secular spirit.The introduction analyses the visual angle, explain "secular life" "secularization" "secular spirit" and grasp the inner influence between each other. "Secular life" is abundant actual live world, before the modern time, it is under cover of religion, ideology, royalty and so on. "Secularization" means that people's sentiment and movement focus on this life during the course of modernization. "Secular spirit", namely people's conscientious and meaning confirm of this life, refers to the change of writers' realization about secular life and their implement in the field of novel. The secularization causes the progress of secular life, and facilitates the awakening and development of secular spirit.Chapter one traces the secular spirit of stories of Shanghai back to the source. In the long history, the stories of Shanghai has gradually form outstanding specialities correlated with secular spirit, which the part one sums up it as modernity, decadence, romance and daily life. Regarding them as the core, this part commands the numerous and complicated works in the long span, defines the four key concepts, and then analyses the concrete representation in different historical stages. On the basis of all these, a conclusion can be drawn that the prosperity of secular temperament has been a remarkable fact. In the same time, the common-law thinking of former writers fettered they to grasp objects deeply, which reserved space for later creation.Chapter two discusses the regeneration and boom of the secular spirit. Before the middle of 1990s, led by the reflection thoughts, writers devoted to revalue the past time, the independent historical consciousness of Shanghai had not yet formed, but they set up visual angle of reflection when they identified with the leading trend, lead the stories of Shanghai into history to link the traditional resources, which establishfoundation for further consideration and writing. After that time, in the tide of reminiscence, writers have chance to intensify the self-consciousness of Shanghai and then to adjust the aim and strategy of composition. In this period, the secular spiritual makes for update and flourish gradually.The following two chapters expounds two secular themes and the characteristic of the secular spirit that shows among them. Corresponding to two dominating life space of Shanghai, the two themes are closely linked and hold basic status. Through dealing with them, the writers break the inherent mode of traditional novels, expand the field of relevant theme and promote the modern quality of secular spirit.Chapter three studies the theme of common daily life that is insufficient portion in the stories of Shanghai. In the new atmosphere, through discerning the subject with modern thinking, writers endow the subject with high worth. First of all, the idea that common daily life itself is essence has established progressively. Writers experience the process from negative denial to positive affirmation, from limitation of ideology to adherence to the standpoint of human culture, and from loss to regain after search. All these changes indicate that the secular spirit has deepened day by day. Secondly, they observe daily life of all kinds of living space, different levels and culture background to discern the collectivity of Shanghai from past to now. Third, writers set up broad and compact relationship between works, history and the whole life of Shanghai to reveal the historical temperament. The concrete behavior is that the writers bring on connection in length and breadth to show historical scale, regard the individual growth as metaphor of the development of Shanghai to infuse historical sense into daily life, and depict history from daily angle. In the end, writers think daily life itself is romance, thereupon they display romance in the whole frame, plot and details. In conclusion, daily life is really a compatible conception in this period, though it writer combine and innovate the traditional literature.Chapter four treats the theme of decadence. First, writer probe into decadent characters deeply. On the one hand, they describe the characters' rich psychology particularly, on the other hand, they uncover the inner complicated cause and secret motive to offer logical support to the mentality and movements. Secondly, writers display the idea and image representing the western temptation, which embody briefly in the problem of feminism and post-colonialism. During the course, writers clear therelationship of "Shanghai and west" which always maintain important position in history and now. Third, in the scope of the flesh, writers also make a lot of achievements. They not only show us ardor of body and sex bravely, but also greatly admire characters. In these novels lust is the soul and command all the other aspects, which make them to be the most fashionable specimens in the society. In the same time, they bring much harm too. At last, writers enrich the decadent style. The above four respects have constructed wide scene of decadence.The epilogue discusses writers' thinking and express about the future trend of secular life of Shanghai. Based on the general survey, the stories of Shanghai have rebuilt independently modern quality. Furthermore, writers expand a perspective over the subject and try to treat it on both positive and negative side.