On Aesthetic Elements In Typical Works Of Chinese American Science Fiction Writer Ted Chiang

Ted Chiang, one of the most excellent writers of contemporary science fiction. His first work has won the Nebula Award(Nebula Award and Hugo Award, the two most important awards in this genre). His works are filled with restrained narration, amazing ideas, fantastic imagination and strong emotion. Behind all of those are his deep humanistic concerns and his philosophical thinking. It is regretful that little academic attention has been paid to this pioneer of Chinese American science fiction writer.This thesis will make an aesthetic elements study on his science fiction since aesthetic value is one of the major literary elements and it can reflect the author’s literary distinctive characteristics and uniqueness. Besides, it also helps us obtain aesthetic experience in science fiction literary style from a new perspective by breaking traditional utilitarian thoughts, and has great significance in reconstruction of human spiritual world in the post- modern society.Besides the introduction and conclusion, there are three chapters, and each one explores one aesthetic element of Ted Chiang’s works: Time and Space, Paradox and Fantasy. Of the three aesthetic elements, Time and Space is an aspect of under influence of new time-spatial conception and narrative structure of time cycle through the exploration of them, Ted Chiang shows his introspection to human fate. Paradox is an aspect of Ted Chiang’s philosophical thinking between cause and effect, free will and precognition through unique narrative perspectives, showing his introspection to ourselves. After the exploring of time and space as well as the internal cause and effect world of human society, Ted Chiang’s aesthetic element on fantasy is studied.Chapter one focuses on time and space aesthetic element in his works, explores unique characteristics on time and space narration by two modes “Present”�' “Past”,“Present”�' “Future” under the influence of new space-time theory. Through expositing the specific narrative structures, his introspection to human fate can be enlightened by us finally. In this chapter, through analyzing interviews of Ted Chiang and employing the theory of defamiliarization, conclusion can be made that whether it is back to the past, or come to the future, the starting and ending points of Ted Chiang’s science fiction lie at the present, all in order to make the recipient think, and act for the reality when in the entertainment.Chapter two analyzes paradox aesthetic element in his fictions, discussing his philosophical thinking on cause and effect as well as free will and precognition.Through making a close reading to his works and using related theory of free will and determinism, the author finds that in his fiction, Ted Chiang attempts to make a fictional compatibility of cause and effect, free will and precognition. He provides readers the possibility to remain free will in the deterministic world. This is particularly important in this modern world since science and technology seem to prove everything in this world determined.Chapter three is about fantasy aesthetic element in Ted Chiang’s works. Through the analysis of image beauty and fuzzy beauty in his stories by reality and imaginary scenes as well as science and non-science, it can be concluded that ted Chiang has amazing imagination, by the shell of science, Ted goes beyond the science fiction. He provides a general solution to the spiritual dilemma for human today.Finally, through close reading of his main works, conclusion can be made that as a science fiction writer, Ted Chiang concerns much about human beings. No matter what topic he is writing and element expressed in his writing, he would always go back to the real issues in our own world. His works have some realistic meanings to some universal issues in contemporary world: his science fiction could enlighten readers by the temporal and spatial conversion, to discover in the non fixed point when reading, to stimulate readers to reflect; to reassure readers with his depiction attempts to the compatibility of cause and effect, free will and precognition; to attract people to explore,with the possibility to understand and accept through fantasy, thus forming the incomparable beauty of the science fiction literary nature.