Study On "Criticism Of Studies On A Dream In Red Mansions"

"Criticism of Studies on A Dream in Red Mansions" is a movement involving political and cultural circles in 1954.Through illustrating this event,discussing its reasons and analyzing its implications,the thesis conducts a case study to renew our understanding of this case and issues concerning the literary environment and system during that period of "Seventeen Years(1949-1966)".The first chapter uses empirical research to deal with what the movement is about.Though previous researchers have made clear of its process,this thesis focuses on multi-stage and multi-level discussion so as to feature its essential characteristics of the political and cultural movement during the"Seventeen Years".The second chapter discusses the background and the reasons of the movement.The rising of "small potatoes" and the rough transformation of the outdated intellectuals were distinctive phenomenon during the 1950s.Li Xifan and Lan Ling used to write an article to question Yu Pingbo.Though they did it by accident,their opinion was not rare among their fellow young people.The education received by that generation shaped their homogeneous ideology and emotions.On the other hand,along with the rising of "small potatoes" was the long process of ideological transformation for the outdated intellectuals.Such a transformation could date back to Yan'an period,but it did not become a universal and profound multi-level transformation extending from system to ideology until after 1949.Around 1954 when political and social environment became increasingly stable,handling ideological and cultural issues gained more importance and they had to step into a new stage.Such factors as the questioning from "small potatoes",the guidance of Chairman Mao and the hidden contradictions of literary circle together triggered "Criticism of Studies on A Dream in Red Mansions".The third,fourth and fifth chapter deal with the implications of the movement.Unlike the general description of previous researchers,the third chapter details the minds of different types of intellectuals during the movement by integrating historical materials like the newly-published scholar journals,criticism and self-criticism materials.Some were beating drums for critics,others were trying to preserve some academic reason,and still others were stubborn and strongly opposed the movement.The fourth chapter discusses the implications that the movement "Criticism of Studies on A Dream in Red Mansions" have on modern literary research.These implications can be seen from the changes of researches on discourse style,standards and methods.While the academic research during the Republic of China[1912-1949]is diversified,Marxist literary research paradigm dominates the time after 1954."Criticism of Studies on A Dream in Red Mansions" is a key turning point for "Seventeen-year" literary criticism process and also the first intensive demonstration of Marxist literary criticism after the funding of People's Republic of China.The reason why the criticism articles are worth reading is that they embody distinctive characteristics during the transformation of literary discourse research rather than they have more academic or political attributes.Since the previous chapter is about the internal study on the minds of the intellectuals and literary research paradigm,the fifth chapter deals with the implications of the movement from the external literary system.These implications can be seen from two aspects:literary journals and the readership.The fact that Journal of Literature and Art was severely dealt with acts as a warning role and leads to an even narrower space for speeches on the journal.The movement also shapes and leads the reading taste of the readers,especially the young readers.It turns them into utilitarian readers and causes them to see literature as a tool.Viewed from the above two aspects,"Criticism of Studies on A Dream in Red Mansions" is essential to the formation of literary system during the"Seventeen Years".