| A controversy about traditional opera occurred in"New Youth"magazine during May Fourth times. One side in the argument was a Beijing University student Zhang Houzai. The other side were some famous editors of"New Youth"magazine, for example Hu Shi, Qian Xuantong, Chen Duxiu, Liu Bannong, Zhou Zuoren, and some students such as Fu Sinian. They argued fiercely around the evaluation of Chinese modern opera which is represented by Beijing opera. Their notion and evaluation produced far-reaching effects to the 20th century Chinese drama and opera. This important argument contains complex connotations, not only the editorial policy but also the integration of purposes of national salvation, cultural anxiety, self-conscious of arts in the transition times. The drama reform during late Qing dynasty is the historical background of the controversy during May Fourth movement. And the ideological revolutionary notion that we should use literature to transform our spirit is the notion background of"New Youth"magazine's critique of traditional opera. The focus of the controversy was the evaluation about the form of traditional opera. In the literature revolutionist′s opinion, Chinese modern opera which is represented by Beijing opera, whose content and form have been the representation and carriers of old ideas, so they criticized it fiercely in the vision of evolutionism. But guardians represented by Zhang Houzai, who were familiar with Beijing opera and loved it so deeply, defended the unique artistic style of traditional opera. Although the literature revolutionist′s opinion was a little inartistic and radical, they reveal a important problem of traditional opera's formalization, that is it lays too much stress on sensibility and aesthetic, but lays so little stress on the spirit improvement. Introspecting both sides rationally is good for us to explore the way that can make Chinese drama develop better. |
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