A Comment On The Novels Since New Period In The Perspective Of Cultural Conservatism

Cultural conservatism, as a world-wide anti-modernization trend of thought, is a product of modernization movement itself. Due to its dissatisfaction with the overexpansion of instrumental rationality which leads to the human dissimilation, the loss of cultural norm and the perishing of liberal spirits and morals, cultural conservatism advocates a remedy and a counterbalance on the basis of the factors of religions, arts and morals. This trend has provided precious experience for the introspection of modernization and efficient control of the side-effect caused by modernization. The generation of Chinese cultural conservatism is to some extent affected by western thoughts; but more closely linked with local culture traditions, it is profound and rich in its contents. Besides its worries about the human dissimilation and criticisms on the supremacy of instrumental rationality, it also has to confront the problem in the relation between foreign culture and domestic culture. Since the birth of Chinese cultural conservatism, its supporters, on the basis of active thinking over the problems such as domestic and foreign cultures, tradition and modernity and westernization and modernization, have raised many valuable ideas. But China of that period was facing a survival problem, only the radical measures can shake of the traditional control and introduce advanced western culture so as to have more appeal and influence. Their theories on modernity, which seem safe and reasonable, are in fact pedantic and conserved; therefore they are doomed to being suppressed and overshadowed. After the new period of national reform, cultural conservatism begins to thrive and increasingly becomes a popular social trend of thought. Facing the problems caused by the development of Chinese modernity such as worldly pursuit, commercialization, marketing, instrumental rationality and its destruction of environment, money, worship of violence, loss of morals, indifference to interpersonal relationship and so on, cultural conservatism authors reveal and criticize these problems with worries and responsibilities. They express their pursuit for the return of traditional culture, advocacy of liberal rationality and establishment of harmonious ecosystem. Undoubtedly, this has great far-reaching influence on the ongoing modernization and urbanization and offers valuable experience for how to coordinate between instrumental rationality and value rationality, social development and eco-harmony, domestic tradition and foreign culture, historical development and human care. But it is necessary to be alert to the misunderstandings and bias in the literary creation.This thesis, mainly based on the cultural philosophy and the careful observation of texts, investigates the cultural conservatism of the new period, particularly the novels of cultural conservatism, and also points out the value of them. The thesis generalizes their limitations and shortcomings which are intended to provide experience for the current literary creation and criticism. The thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter1mainly focuses on the context of the rise of cultural conservatism trend of thought in the new period, its true profundity and representation, and its occurrence and expression in literature. It is believed that the rise of this trend has a complicated international and domestic background and it is also related to neo-Confucianism and the thoughts from overseas scholars of Chinese culture. In essence, this trend represents the problems and confusions in the period of Chinese social transformation in the field of Chinese ideology and culture which confronts modernization. So it is a hope and plan to reconstruct the cultural value and order and to reconstruct spiritual homeland for Chinese, which is displayed in the novel creation.Chapter2dissects the theme of cultural conservatism novel creation in the new period and points out that cultural conservatism novel, similar to the theme of tradition revival and creation of cultural conservatism, aspires for the origin of national culture by way of literature. Drawing on the western civilization and culture, cultural conservatism novel keeps the essence and get rid of the scum, and generates cultural value of the times. Due to the worries about the side effect brought about by industrialization and urbanization, it also expresses the returning to traditional culture of native soil, attempting to use the essence of traditional culture to solve the problems.Chapter3focuses on the ideal of cultural conservatism novel, that is, to rectify and counterbalance the bias of instrumental rationality via the advocacy of human spirits and moral goals, and to question and introspect enlightening discourse through aesthetic modernity, discovering the ultimate meaning and value of life. The chapter, drawing on Chinese traditional culture and western postmodern eco-culture, criticizes the two-fold destruction of natural ecosystem and spiritual ecosystem caused by the utility development view and advocates and pursues an eco-harmony.Chapter4mainly discusses the artistic aesthetics of cultural conservatism novel, believing that the characteristics in novel creation include the maintenance of traditional aesthetic goals, the pursuit of classical beauty of neutralization, the decency of narrative discourse and spirits of poems, the pursuit of poetics of romanticism, the expression of wish of returning to the nature, the description of healthy human nature, the pursuit of idealism about the world and life. The novel mainly adopts the perspective of folk narrative and folk value to extol folk traditions and beautiful life. It also reconsiders and challenges enlightening rationality and scientific discourse.Chapter5concludes the limitations and shortcomings in cultural conservatism and cultural conservatism novel. The former has a bias in introspection of and criticism on modernity. There is also a counterbalance between moral rationality and historical rationality and narrow-mindedness of adhering to traditional culture. In the novel creation, cultural conservatism novel also has the shortcomings such as inaccuracy in deciding the development of the times and stubbornness in insisting on the civilization of home soil and civil standing point, which deserves special alert and attention.