Study On Cultural Symbols In D.H.Hwang's Plays From The Perspective Of Lotman's Semiosphere

Chinese American playwright David Henry Hwang has always attracted the attention of drama critics for his cross-cultural literary creation.The thesis attempts tostudy on cultural symbols in David Henry Hwang's representative plays in his three creation stages-FOB,Flower Drum Song and Chinglish from the perspective of Russian semiologist Lotman's theory "Semiosphere".To explore Hwang's change of his application of Chinese traditional cultural symbols and his attitude towards cultural identity in his creation process with his further understanding of Chinese culture and the dynamic nature of culture,adding a new perspective for cross-cultural research on Hwang's plays.Firstly,the thesis briefly overviews David Henry Hwang and his achievements,summarizes literature review abroad and at home and states clearly the theoretical basis.Then,by analyzing Hwang's reference of Chinese traditional cultural symbols--Gwan Gung and Fa Mu Lan,two typical characters derived from myths in Beijing Opera and some other Beijing Opera symbols in mythological thinking in FOB,the thesis explores the approach of "periphery"(Chinese culture)and "center"(American culture)to the "boundary" in American semiosphere;by elaborating Hwang's innovative combination of visual and auditory symbols in Beijing Opera and American Musical in historical thinking in Flower Drum Song,.the thesis manifests the dynamic balance of Chinese and American cultures in America through the interaction of "periphery"(Chinese culture)and "center"(American culture)in American semiosphere;by expounding the translation of the primary modeling system,natural language and the secondary modeling system,cultural texts as well as the misreading in dialogue in Chinglish,the thesis clarifies the integration of"periphery"(Western culture)and "center"(Chinese culture)in Chinese semiosphere.With all the work above,the thesis indicates that Hwang's creation purpose is the same as the pursuit of Lotman's study of "semiosphere".Both of them contribute to the dynamic balance of various cultures.By employing "semiosphere",the thesis explores the universal rule of culture's dynamic change,grasps the holistic cultural view of Hwang's creation,makes people aware of the way how he integrates different cultures step by step in his books and demonstrates Hwang's unique contribution to the transmission of Chinese culture in the West as well as the interaction andintegration of various cultures in dialogue in "semiosphere".