| Literature's brilliance has been fading through the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century, the predicament "literature in its final stage " echoes heavily, and "brilliance never come back again" heard everywhere. Karl Marx once said, "Economics was not the only determining factor of literary development, but it is the ultimate power, the fundamental strength." Under the strong impact of market-oriented economy, contemporary literature is facing a severe crisis. The traditional components of literature like novel, poetry & drama are losing their grounds and their prestige. Various factors contribute to the predicament.PredicamentThe theory of human desire:Why does the progress of civilization not make human being any happier?No matter one is a writer or a reader, or a publisher, the economic nature of human being has penetrated into our core and is everywhere.The three layers of a writer's subjects and their environment1. The subsistence layer is the most fundamental one that human being meets the basic needs for survival. Thus it is the basis of the other two layers.2. The being layer, one in which humans satisfy their social needs to interacting and positioning themselves among their peers. This is the layer of self-realization and recognition by fellow human beings.3. The metaphysics layer, in which humans pursue spiritual needs and searching for the meaning of life..A writer's predicament comes from all three layersPerspectives of the reader:We are in an age of readers favoring pop-culture and fast food. On the other hand, some readers are searching hard for "good" literature work, a readership full of contradictions. However, appreciation of literature requires certain qualities of the reader, posing limitations on readership.The modern audio-visual nature of the multimedia pop-culture makes literature a much more difficult subject to enjoy and appreciate by comparison of easiness. The multi-media audio-visual entertainments provide the audience a choice of acceptance or refusal, a multiple choice, not a deeper level of appreciation and enjoyment. Surviving in the gaps ofthe multimedia world makes it the most challenging task for literature. Literature's self-recognition(1) Literature has always being dependentHistorically, literature has never been independent. It always depends on politics, religion, entertainments, and others.(2) The audio-visual media has superceded traditional literature The traditional literature interacts with the audio-visual media verywell. That the question we should ponder is not how literature can supercede modern media, but how to overcome its limitations by leveraging the audio-visual media.(3) The development of marketplace for literature is inevitable The literature marketplace is neutral, it has no preference for "good"or "bad" literature. It is totally market driven.The future of literature(1) There will be a future for literatureWhen the traditional literature is in conflict with the new media and new audience, a revolution is due to happen. Literature will find its way in the new world.(2) A writer should shoulder the responsibility for the future of literatureHowever, revolution will not happen by itself. Writers for a new generation will shoulder the responsibility to bring literature out of its current misery.(3) Tolerance for a diversity of culture and literature is the keyLiterature is more than just symbols and new terminology, the key is to understanding modern audience and their lives, and tolerates the different kind of literatures that satisfy different literature needs for different people.ConclusionsWe can not simply explain the limitations economics pose on literature today. We firmly believe that literature will survive and prosper, but maybe with a different kind of expression and form, just as the Tang and Song Dynasty poetry style is not the dominant literature style following their times, but has evolved into many different but also brilliant forms. This se... |
PDF Full Text Request