On Gefei's Literary Concept Of Invitation

Gefei has a dual identity of both writer and theorist.He has made remarkable achievements and been an important figure in Contemporary Chinese Literature.He has written a series of works on literature theory,which are of great significance and influence in representing distinctive literary concepts.Gefei's works have seen the transformation in Pioneer Literature where he has a clear understanding of the its advantages and disadvantages.He manages to overcome the anxiety in the transformation and finds a new way out of the dilemma,during which he explores the literary concept of “Invitation Theory” through his reflections on modern literary concepts and traditional ones.This theory not only comes from his experience of writing as a writer,but it is also the fruit of his in-depth thinking as a theorist.A deep study into Gefei's “Invitation Theory” can offer us great enlightenments.This dissertation is a monographic study of Gefei's “Invitation Theory” aiming to make it a theoretical proposition for systematical research and interpretation.The main body of this dissertation can be divided into three chapters.The first chapter mainly discusses the connection between the “Invitation Theory” and the transformation and development of Gefei's Pioneer Literature writing.“Invitation Theory” has its pertinence in certain theoretical contexts.On the one hand,it provides a new understanding in the Pioneer Literature,especially about its deficiencies.On the other hand,“ Invitation Theory ” reflects on Modern Chinese Literature,including reflections on the so-called declarations like “The end of literature” and “Literature is dead”.On this basis,he reexamined the traditional literary concepts from the perspective of modernity,including the reconstruction of “Lyrical Tradition”,“Grand Narrative” and “Literary Authenticity”,all of which laid a solid foundation for putting forward “Invitation Theory”.The second chapter mainly explains the “Invitation Theory” in a comprehensive way from three dimensions.Firstly,from the aspect of writing,the writer uses “holistic experience in writing” to send out “invitation”.It is necessary for writers to deal with the relationship between their experience and otherness so to avoid “homogenization” in experience and “automation” in writing.Secondly,from the perspective of text,it is of great importance to achieve “invitation” through narrative strategies.Special ways of arranging words,phrases and sentences;various narrative techniques and skills;and the settings in time and space – they all serve to attract readers with the artistic charm of the text itself.Thirdly,from the perspective of acceptance,literature could be a “feast” to readers when readers are willing to “accept” the “invitation”.This kind of relationship requires reconsideration between writers(their works)and readers.By regarding readers “confidants” and stimulating readers' enthusiasm for accepting and participating in the “feast”,writers can realize the significance of literature.The third chapter mainly discusses the literary value and the practice of Invitation Theory.This theory represents Gefei's deep understanding of literary value,and it has become a literary concept for him to pursue.The theory has a profound influence on his writing.Through the interpretations and analyses of his recent representative works,we can obtain a deeper understanding of his Invitation Theory.