Lin Yutang's Theory Of Eastern And Western Cultures

As nowadays very present and still growing realities of multicultural diversity, the problem of representation does not only stay in the heart of many human sciences interests, but raises many debated questions about social construction, appropriation, voice and agency. Finding the problem of representation, especially the one between the East and the West, to be in the heart of Lin Yutang's attention, we will try to re-read the representational frame he builds between these two.We will go through Ms. Lin's positioning of the East and the West as separate entities with different and in many ways opposite archetypical constellations. We will also research his stance towards the relation between these opposites in the scheme he builds, as well as trying to find the philosophical ruts he applies when treating the problems of opposition. By analyzing the scheme he builds in analyzing the East and the West, we will try to recognize the frame in which he realizes his agency. Upon the reality of his works of which some are written in English and address the West and others are written in Chinese and address the Chinese audience, we will try to recognize the specific discourses he builds upon his recognition of the interlocutor.In the end, by re-reading Lin Yutang's voice in the intercultural dialogue, we will try to re-actualize the formula he offers for turning the melting pot of today's world's cultures into pure gold.