A Study On Aesthetic Criticism In The 1980s

"Aesthetic"as one factor of literary theory has never disappeared in the scholars'eyes since literary theory study has its own conscious. Because of the effects and restrictions of historical situations,"aesthetic"has not been advocated distinctly. Basing on the view above,"aesthetic criticism"does not just belong to 1980s. If"aesthetic criticism"is discussed in general, its connotation will be altered.In 1980s, a new kind of literary thoughts appeared. It does not form a unified theory declaration and theory criterion. It does not form a certain theory organization and institution either. The literary theory scholars see aesthetic, the key word, as a basic point to literary study spontaneously. Or maybe it promotes the position of aesthetic in literary theory, for example, from theory of reflection to theory of aesthetic reflection, from ideology to aesthetic ideology. They emphasis on the study of aesthetic factor in literary theory, at the same time, the connotation of political utility has been changed, and some new connotations, values and meanings are given.This is what we called aesthetic criticism in this paper.This paper does not intend to give a whole analysis of"aesthetic criticism". It attempts to discuss the logical way of aesthetic value in"aesthetic criticism". There are four logical ways which are Aesthetic disinterested theory, Aesthetic subject cultivation theory, Aesthetic social function theory and Aesthetic transcendence theory.The reason why name it as"logical way"is that aesthetic value is a completed system and each way of aesthetic value is not isolate, and aesthetic value is can not be separated unless on pure logical aspect. This thesis divides into four parts. And the four logical ways will be discussed in each part and will be given a systemic analysis in the introduction and conclusion.The first part debates over"Aesthetic disinterested theory". firstly, it analyzes the evolution of this logical way from historical perspective, then discusses the"aesthetic criticism"in the 1980s."Aesthetic disinterested theory"deems that the aesthetic value is"aesthetic"and"art"themselves."Disinterested"implies that aesthetic does not aim at utility in reality society and world. It is represented as "Art for Art's sake","Aesthetic disinterested","Formalism","Pure literature","Pure Poem"and so on in"aesthetic criticism"field. The second part is"Aesthetic subject cultivation". It argues that the most important function and meaning of aesthetics is remodeling the subject in literature and art and making the subject be promoted and perfected in spirit, character, humanity, soul and other factors in real world. This part analyzes the origin of"Aesthetic subject cultivation". Then analyzes the"Aesthetic subject cultivation"in 1980's and takes Liu Zaifu's article on subjective of literary and theory of aesthetic reflection as example. The third part discusses the theory of Aesthetic social function. It differs from pure literary social utility theory, it pay more attention on how aesthetic exert its social function. It reexamines the social function basing on aesthetic when it discovers the connotation of aesthetic. It tries to make aesthetic social function and other functions unity dialectically. In this part the theory of aesthetic social function is discussed firstly then a brief introduction of"aesthetic criticism"in 1980's, takes aesthetic ideology as an example. The fourth chapter discusses the theory of Aesthetic transcendence theory. Place aesthetic value in aesthetic spirit subject. It emphasizes on the instant experience of aesthetic. The subject can transcend the bound and limitation of reality and go into a fully free state. Something which can not be fulfilled in the reality can be fulfilled in ideal world or spirit field through the aesthetic experience. It has the meaning of imagination and religion-like and only exist in human being's spirit field. The quality of Freedom, instant and"the opposite bank"are basic character. The discussion is very simple in this part and sees the academic article of Liu Xiaobo and Tong Qingbing as its discussion object.On value aspect, the"aesthetic criticism"criticizes and dismantles the aesthetic political disinterested basing on these four logical ways above. The appearance of aesthetic criticism in somewhat degree resists and dismantles the theory of aesthetic political utility, and maintains a dominant position in literary theory field in that age. It also exerts positive function to the whole society thoughts in the 1980s.