Involutionary Narrative In Modern Chinese Fiction And The Pursuit Of Aesthetic Modernity

The connotation of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction is twofold.First,from the aspect of the text,involutionary narrative denotes the repetition of certain elements within works,such as images,plots,themes and literary forms.Second,from the aspect of culture,"involution" implies a repetitive way of changing with the core elements kept,which is different from "evolution" and "revolution."Based on "involution" involutionary narrative indicates an introverted tendency,a spirit opposite to a linear viewpoint on development,as well as the pursuit of aesthetic modernity.This dissertation researches on involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction and its pursuit of aesthetic modernity.The study adopts narratology,keywords criticism,influence study as methodology to elaborate the generative mechanism,internal system,value system and rhetoric philosophy of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction.Through above-mentioned analysis,the study demonstrates the connection between involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction and the pursuit of aesthetic modernity.The dissertation consists of four chapters:The first chapter focuses on the generative background and generative methods of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction.From the perspective of generative background,involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction stems from the interaction of enlightening modernity and aesthetic modernity.The former brings"involution," whereas the latter brings "evolution" and "revolution." Although"involution" is repressed by "evolution" and "revolution," it is hidden in "evolution"and "revolution," even assists them to generate.The generative methods of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction includes the bond between repetition and "involution," as well as the inner correspondence between the logic of involutionary narrative and aesthetic modernity.On the one hand,repetition is bond with "involution," which reflects the inheritance of aesthetic innovation.On the other hand,repetition presents involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction with"fragment" aesthetics,"changing" principle and "erasing boundary" concern,which reflects the inner correspondence between the logic of involutionary narrative and aesthetic modernity.The second chapter explores three forms of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction from the perspective of aesthetic innovation:textual elements involutionary narrative,memory and dream involutionary narrative,intertextual involutionary narrative.Textual elements involutionary narrative of modern Chinese fiction refers to the repetition of words,sentences,images,characters,plots,themes in one work.It contributes to the production of exponents,the building of narrative process,and the generation of narrative content.Thereby,it facilitates the aesthetic innovation of narrative clue.Memory and dream involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction builds up a space by the means of memory or dream writing,which contributes to the "internal turning" of modern Chinese fiction.Intertextual involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction means the repetition between different works of an author or different works of different authors.It contributes to the creative transformation of Chinese literature traditions and shows two ways of aesthetic innovation:inheritance and subversion.The third chapter focuses on aesthetic modernity’s reflection on modernity.Involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction resists linear viewpoint on development,as well as deconstructs the era theme.As the resister of linear viewpoint on development,involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction reveals the cycle of time as well as the vanishment of evolutional faith.As the subverter of the era theme,involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction replaces historical development with ordinary life as the era theme.The fourth chapter focuses on aesthetic modernity’s pursuit of subjectivity to discuss the rhetoric philosophy of involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction.On the one hand,involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction not only digs personal experience with self-repetition,but also constructs a mental world through memory and dream involutionary narrative.Both of them reflect aesthetic modernity’s pursuit of personal right.On the other hand,involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction estimates instinct through memory and dream involutionary narrative,as well as constructs Utopia for release.Both of them show aesthetic modernity’s demand for sensibility.Aesthetic modernity’s pursuit of subjectivity needs to be restricted.If it over-expands in involutionary narrative in modern Chinese fiction,hidden troubles would be produced,such as value nihilism and moral nihilism.