Ding Ling Study In America

The ups and downs of her literary narrative and fate make Ding Ling a quite controversial and legendary figure among Chinese modern female writers.Ding Ling's literary,her fate and the course of Chinese contemporary history mirror each other.To some extent,the interpretation of Ding Ling is the interpretation of modern China.In the global research field of Chinese modern literature,Ding Ling is undoubtedly a conspicuous figure and fascinating research object.In the United States,a group of scholars with continuous interest on Ding Ling's works and life,has achieved abundant accomplishment,which has important influence on the study of Ding Ling.Therefore,to summarize and introspect the study of Ding Ling in the United States has its significant meaning.The general social situation of the United States after World War II,the Sino-American relationships,the literary theory and research paradigm of America,and the study of modern Chinese literature in the United States,all contributes to the constitution of the society historical and literature cultural context of the study of Ding Ling in the United States.In this particular context,Ding Ling had contact and exchange with the American academia,and her works were translated and introduced to the American Public.The dissemination and research of Ding Ling in the United States has a history of 90 years,which causes the intergenerational change of Ding Ling's researchers in the United States.Different values,epistemologies and methodologies between researchers in different generations,have an inseparable contact to its phrase characteristics of perspectives and achievements of the study of Ding Ling in the United States.There are three topics in the study of Ding Ling in the United States.The first topic is about Ding Ling's writings on love of female.There has been a tremendous shift of American scholars' perception towards those works.Other than the sarcastic and critical attitude held by Chih-tsing Hsia,later American researchers such as Gary John Bjorge,Yi-tsi Mei,Barlow,Lydia Liu and Jianmei Liu,all have a positive and applausive review.They believe that Ding Ling's writings on love of female had a pioneer significance for the Chinese literature in 20 th century,and fully embodied the construction of female subjectivity in modern China.They also connect the inner world of women in Ding Ling's works with modern Chinese revolution,by pointing out that those female figures succeeded in breaking through the obstacle of love to the revolution road,which highlights their deep concerns for the fate of their homeland and country,their awareness of historic responsibility,their huge potential and creativity to be revolutionaries.The second topic is about Ding Ling and revolution.Most American researchers hold a critical attitude toward the embrace of revolution in Ding Ling's works.They believe that geopolitics has caused serious damages to the writer's autonomy and independence.There was one exception-Yan Haiping,who questioned the mainstream view.By tracing the writing process of Ding Ling,Yan insisted that Ding Ling's writing in different historical stages did have different stage characteristics,but in a sense,these different stages of writing had their own continuity and identity.Meanwhile,all researchers notice that that there was an anomalous relationship between Ding Ling,revolutionary women created by her and modern Chinese revolution.The third topic is about the political and artistic disputes of Ding Ling's literature narrative.In Chih-tsing Hsia's opinion,“the creation of proletarian novels” by Ding Ling,which began after 1931,has become a propaganda tool used by the communist party for its political and revolutionary purposes,which,in results,badly hurt the literary and artistic quality of Ding Ling's works.Gary John Bjorge,Yi-tsi Mei agree with Hsia.But,in the interpretation by Barlow and Yan Haiping,the traditional analytical categories in politics and arts are not included.They both highlight the gender politics,revolutionary in Ding Ling's works and her fate in their studies.From the perspective of epistemology,it is undeniable that insight and prejudice,as well as truth and false,all do coexist in the findings of studies of Ding Ling.Therefore,it is necessary and especially meaningful for belated researchers to evaluate the study of Ding Ling in the United States as comprehensively and objectively as possible.Though,the insights and wisdoms that we learn from those findings,have certain reference and enlightenment meaning,the slight sense of superiority shown by American academia,and the power of discourse in the research field of Ding Ling controlled by them which reflects cultural and academic hegemony,constantly alert us that we should be well aware of their prejudice and its ideological roots.The study of Ding Ling in the United States also shows obvious ideological nature in current historical and cultural context,which is a pervasive prejudice against the Chinese revolution led by the Chinese Communist Party.So,it is almost inevitable that there are lots of misunderstandings and prejudices when American scholars tried to interpret Ding Ling's decision to devote herself to the Chinese revolution as a female writer.Finally,the study of Ding Ling in the United States shows no matter how hard American researchers try to maintain neutral,they are still deeply influenced by American values and the recognition of its cultural identity.