On Sinicization Of Marxist Literary Theory In The Context Of Globalization

Abstract: This thesis is a detailed study on the construction and development of contemporary literary theory in the context of globalization. On the one hand, it explains how to understand "the context of globalization" in contemporary China, what major influences it brings to Chinese literature and its study, and what new topics in this field these influences result in. For example, it discusses the "Tradition" aspect, "Aphasia" view of literary theory, "Modernized transformation" of Chinese ancient literary theory, "End" view of literature study and literary theory, "Expansion" view of literary theory, pedagogical practice and other related phenomena. On the other hand, it tries to analyze and solve the new problems in terms of Marxist standpoint, views and methodology, which is the fundamental connotation of sinicization of Marxist literary theory and also the fundamental way of constructing the system of Marxist literary theory with Chinese characteristics. By critically combining Marxist literary theory and literary theory of Chinese national culture and that of contemporary culture, the process of sinicization of Marxist literary theory develops Marxist literary theory in practice. The whole thesis is made up of Introduction, four chapters and Conclusion.In Introduction, based on a full understanding of "globalization" in the context of modern China, the thesis argues that either from the perspective of current situation or from the perspective of future development, globalization brings considerable influence to the construction and development of Chinese contemporary literary theory. It then comments on globalization—this new context and points out that sinicization of Marxist literary theory is of great significance. Sinicization of Marxist literary theory is the new demand and a new fact of the development of contemporary literary theory in the context of globalization; it is also a process of furthering Marxist literary theory by enhancing innovative blending of Chinese and western literary theories and a process of reconstructing the system of contemporary literary theory with Chinese characteristics.The first chapter is on the context of globalization and native literary theory construction. Firstly, form angle of globalization, the thesis discusses and comments on the "world literature" view and then points out that literature study and literary theory bear both global and national characteristics. In the context of globalization, the topic of sinicization of Marxist literary theory reflects attention to both global and national factors. Secondly, it discusses the "Tradition" aspect of Chinese literary theory in the context of globalization. It argues that Chinese culture and literary theory have their own uniqueness, and stresses from the angle of traditional generativeness that the "Continuing" view is based on modern and contemporary culture and literary theory tradition formed and developed over nearly a century's time, which is in turn based on Chinese ancient culture and literary theory tradition. Thirdly, it reflects critically on the view of "Aphasia" in literary theory and "Modernized transformation" of Chinese ancient literary theory. It argues that for over nearly a century modern and Chinese contemporary literary theory has been based on practice and has been trying to keep pace with the actual states of the development of literary theory all the time, and that a new tradition of modern and Chinese contemporary literary theory has been formed. All these can't be denied by the "Aphasia" view. In today's globalized context, Chinese literary theory construction can not go directly back to "Chinese ancient literary theory", rather it should be based on modern and contemporary literary theory tradition and should absorb nutrition from ancient and western resources to make more innovation. This is the fundamental connotation of sinicization of Marxist literary theory both in terms of theory and practice.The second chapter discusses the context of globalization and the "End" view of literature study. Firstly, the thesis points out from the perspective of historical development that globalization will give rise to change in the position of literature study, but not the "change" in the sense of the weakening or disappearing of literature and its study as a result of globalization and the development of market and information as some people think. Secondly, it discusses impact from image and Internet on literature and its study in the context of globalization. By analyzing and commenting on ideas of such scholars as M. Mcluhan, Baudrillard and Daniel Bell, it traces the source of the impact view and shows the logic of the formation of the "End" view (the other view is "Expansion", which will be dealt with in the next chapter). It then argues, on the basis of a thorough analysis of the "End" view of literature study and literary theory, and of dispute over this "End" view in China, that literature and literature study will not end at all. Lastly, it points out from the perspective of Marxism that production as the ultimate source of literature will undoubtedly influence literature development but the influence will never be simply just progress or end. It also points out the "End" view is not the weakening or disappearing of the whole literature; rather, it is a call for innovation in literature paradigm and ways of thinking. Thus, these scholars' ideas on the "End" view may be understood from these two points: 1) these ideas do not mean the "end" of literature study; 2) the implied demand of these ideas is to improve the position of literature study.The third chapter focuses on the context of globalization and the view of culture turn of literary theory. Firstly, It discusses the phenomenon of applying ideas and methods from culture study to literary study and then points out that though such application has positive influence but it is not right to exaggeratedly boast the "Expansion" view accordingly. Then the thesis reflects on the view of culture turn. After a detailed analysis on this culture turn and changes in literature theory paradigm, and "Expansion" view of literary theory in China, it argues that the "Expansion" view does not apply to the facts of literature theory development in our country and does no good to finding breakthroughs in the construction of contemporary literary theory of our country. Finally, it uses related Marxist ideas and methods to analyze the humanity foundation of literary theory and argues that it is this foundation that decides the literary theory will never be really expanded like that.The fourth chapter is about the context of globalization and the pedagogical practice of literary theory. The discussion centers around three aspects: 1) Globalization brings challenges to pedagogy in literary theory. The current situation of pedagogy is analyzed, for example, some textbooks are out of date, many scholars doubt whether the current literary theory is commonly accepted, "Essentialism" exists in many textbooks. 2) It tries to answer how to practice its pedagogy. Some ways are suggested, for example, practice from the history, local, professional and rational perspectives, more training on reading and writing, etc. 3) Construction of the system of literary theory with Chinese characteristics is just at the pioneering stage and should be strengthened in pedagogical practice.Thesis concludes in the Conclusion part that sinicization of Marxist literary theory is the fundamental way of innovating contemporary literary theory of our nation as it offers ways to meet challenges brought out by the context of globalization and as it plays an important role in enhancing development and innovation in contemporary literary theory of our nation.