Zhou Yang Literary Thought

Zhou Yang?s literary theory is essential to the understanding of Chinese Contemporary Literary Theory. However, Zhou Yang has long been a sensitive topic restricted to politics. No one has successfully had his theory studied from the angle oftheory. Therefore, this thesis takes the history aspect of Literature & Art as the point of departure to study Zhou Yang?s theory, outlining its basic literary theory, and discovering its abundant historical contents and unique theoretical value. This thesis is divided into the following three parts:Part I Brief introduction to the development of Zhou Yang?s theory, which is respectively interpreted by four stages:Stage One: Young Marxist (1929-1942)During this period, Zhou Yang mainly introduced to China foreign literature, including Russian Literature, and Russian literature theory. He took part in various literary discussions, making great contributions to the development of the literary revolution, which made the Chinese Communist Party the leadership over the Kuornintang occupied area. He also groped for new methods for the construction of Literature & Art in the Liberated area and thus made himself a Marxist.Stage Two: Spokesman for Mao Zedong?s Literature & Art Theory (1942-1957)During this period, Zhou Yang actively played as the role of the propagandist, interpreter and user of Mao Zedong?s Literature & Art Thought. All of his efforts were centered by propagandizing, interpreting, implementing and protecting Mao?s Speech on the Symposium of Literature & Art in Yan?an and he thus became the authoritative representative to interpret and promote Mao Zedong?s Literature & Art Line.Stage Three : Double Roles of a Leader and a Theoretician (19571976)It is the period while Zhou Yang was spending his life both on the critical movement of theory and on the leadership of Literature5& Art, which made his inside world and outside actions seared with dual nature. That means while he had to carry on the developing revolutionary policy of Literature & Art, he, to some extent, also resisted it, which composed the most complicated part in the developing progress of Zhou Yang?s Thought.Stage Four Outstanding Marxism Theoretician (1976-1989)During this period, Zhou Yang, with distinctive personality, seriously reflected on the history and himself, took a broad and long view on his historical experience and selflessly stated his heavy lesson. On taking the above mentioned actions, Zhou Yang?s standpoint was to emancipate the mind and to seek truth from facts, which made up the most glorious part in the developing progress of his thought.Part 11 Comments on the basic theories of Zhou Yang?s Literature & Art ThoughtZhou Yang has a wide sphere of vision on Literature & Art, which can be briefly divided into the following five respects:i)Relationship between politics and Literature & ArtZhou Yang?s understanding of the relationship between politics and Literature & Art is the main factor that decides the maturity of his mind and influences the keynote of his whole mind system. According to Zhou Yang?s theory, the interconnection of politics and Literature & Art takes place consciously, which is not only the formulation of the relationship between politics and Literature & Art, but also one of the political pragmatism concepts of Literature & Art occurred under certain historical Conditions.ii)Realism theoryZhou Yang chose the socialist realism from the former Soviet Union associated with his new understanding and new factors needed for the contemporary politics. He put emphasis on the precondition of socialist world outlook and the necessity of the methods of creation for romanticism, visualization and typification. At heart, he used realism to explain the idea of Literature & Art should be in the service of politics, making the political use become the inside principle of realism, which is the6radical manifestation of politics permeating realism in certain times.iii)Marxism, humanitarianism and alienation.