A Research On Readers Reception Of The Song Of Youth In The 1950s～1960s

This paper mainly focuses on research of acceptance of The Song of Youth in 1950s and 1960s, which belongs to the research of literary life. To be detailed, according to the acceptance of The Song of Youth among readers, which mainly comprises of general readers, some sides of literary lives, aesthetic judgement and values are deeply looked into. In addition, research into reader’s mental mechanism and its temporal rationality is done with a transcendent viewpoint. The entire paper is divided into three chapters based on its logic structure.Chapter one introduces objective condition of acceptance of The Song of Youth in 1950s and 1960s comprehensively. Firstly, via categorize its way of acceptance, this paper not only relates readers’reading behaviors with the two readding movements, uncovering different ways of acceptance such as films and so on, but also depicts temporal readers’literary lives. Secondly, this paper analyzes polarization during acceptance process. Based on the contrast of acceptance during different readers before and after publication, complex relationships between individual and collectivity, privatization and commonality are reflected, and the main theme and structure of this paper are established. Thirdly, this paper compares general readers with professional readers to discuss reader acceptance among various reader groups. On one hand, general readers have their distinct reading characters:in terms of literature views, "authenticity" is treated as their main criteria for literature criticism, literature is even occasionally recognized as reality; in terms of expression, sensitive and fractional expressions related with their own experience are preferable. On the other hand, there is a highly similar focus for both groups, that is, Petty Bourgeoisie, delineation of love and life decision of youth.Chapter two starts with three most concerned problems by the readers, and looks into aesthetic judgement and values in 1950s and 1960s. First problem is about Petty-bourgeois sentiment. Acceptance of the Song of Youth among readers appears with some contradictory behaviors on both political standpoints and aesthetic taste, firm criticism on one hand, cryptical appreciation on the other. Second and third problems are about relationship between love and revolution and life decision of young intellectuals. The same contradictory attitudes are also reflected from readers. All of these contribute to elucidate that the emphasis of readers finally comes down to relationships between individuals and collectivity:for one part, it’s about abandon of personal sentiment, admire and obedience of collectivity and selfless sacrifice to socialist causes, which is obviously in accordance with main theme of temporal aesthetic and values judgement; however, for the other part, individual emphasis on emotion, cryptical appreciation on Petty-bourgeois sentiment and aguish or confusion on future life are not totally worn down in the powerful current of times.Chapter three discusses the temporal rationality of readers’mental mechanisms. The Cold War international situation and left-wing overwhelming temporal background made traditional revolution education as an effective political mobilization means, especially for literature education. Immersed into such temporal atmosphere, readers would be naturally and subtly influenced, and be propelled unintentionally to produce high temporal emotion. More specifically for youth readers, their mental status, spiritual temperament are also impacted by temporal spirit so as to produce some kind of special aesthetic request:on one hand, highly-energetic temporal spirit, power-respected combat aesthetic style appears to be consistent with their mental characteristics, which makes obedience of collectivity voluntary; on the other hand, sentimentality, frustration and throb of love during adolescence rationalize youth readers’expectation on Petty-bourgeois sentiment and romantic love. On basis of the above, through temporal changes on theme of’Youth’, change of relationships between individual and other people, individual and the society can be demonstrated, even thoughts on rationalities of different eras can be inspired.