Translation And Canonization Of The Ballad Of The Sad Café In China

This study is a description of the process of canonization of Li Wenjun's translation of The Ballad of the Sad Café in China after the late 1970 s and an analysis of the factors that have worked in its canonization.Since there is no consensus of “what is canon” with researchers holding different opinions abroad and at home,the author of this thesis introduces into this study the propositions put forward by Itama Even-Zohar in his polysystem theory to analyze the process of its canonization.As for the factors in canonization,there are contentions in manipulation theory proposed by Andre Levefere and the agents of translation by John Milton and Paul Bandia.After research,the author chose the manipulation theory by Levefere as a complement to the construction of factors affecting its canonization.The Ballad of the Sad Café gained a wide readership immediately after translation into Chinese.It was selected into anthologies,series,extra-curriculum reading,teaching materials,as well as American literary history and Chinese translated literary history.Apart from that,the novella provided new forms,language and motifs for “Avant-garde novels” and “Root-seeking novels” which were cutting-edge trends at the time.It also brought here repertoires for writers as Mo Yan and Su Tong,whose influence on Su Tong was evident in novels of “Feng Yang Shu Town” and “Xiang Chun Shu Street” series.Therefore,it was recognized by the mainstream literary circle and exerted influence on the literary system,through which its canonization was initially established.After the new century,scholarship of the novella has grown evidently.Feminist study showed particular interest,which examined the novella with diverse perspectives and extended the boundary of study.In 2017 and 2018,there was a boom of retranslation of McCullers with four new translations of The Ballad of the Sad Café coming into the market.This could be a prelude to the future of a more dynamic activity of the novella and to a closer connection with Chinese literature.Among all the factors in its canonization,individuals as the translator,researchers,critics,editors and teaching material editors and institutions as publishing houses,educational institutions and academic circle were the key as they manipulated the image of the novella.In addition to that,the translated literature were at the center of literary system when the translation was released.The motif,genre,literary devices,artistic features accorded with the need of the literary system for diversified forms and heterogeneity.In addition to that,the themes answering to expectations of the social system also contributed to its canonization.