The Lure of the Modern Writing: Modernism in Semicolonial China, 1917-1937
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Author Description
Quite apart from her contributions as a literary critic, Shu-mei Shih is able to historicize literary developments of the period most persuasively. Her analysis of Shanghai, the city, and the literary movement it spawned, is crafted with great sensitivity to both history and literature. In many ways, it is the most inclusive historical study of modern Chinese literature in its formative period.—Prasenjit Duara, author of Rescuing History from the Nation "Tracing the spectral production of 'Chinese' identity as it is disseminated globally, Shih boldly moves away from using place (ethnicity) and the body (race) to anchor Chinese identity, to argue that the visual (film) and the verbal (language and linguistics) are the most salient ones in the modern and contemporary historical formation. She succeeds brilliantly."—David Palumbo-Liu, author of Asian/American: Historical Crossings of a Racial Frontier "This is the most thoroughly researched study of Chinese modernism published to date. The author's theoretical interventions greatly enrich our understanding of colonial modernity and the stakes of comparison in cross-cultural studies. The book is a major contribution to modern Chinese literary studies and comparative literature."—Lydia Liu, editor of Tokens of Exchange
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the complex interplay between literary modernism and the formation of Chinese identity in the semicolonial context of Shanghai between 1917 and 1937. Shumei Shi, drawing on extensive research, analyzes how Shanghai's unique urban environment and the literary movements it fostered critically shaped modern Chinese literature. The book moves beyond traditional understandings of identity rooted in ethnicity or race, arguing instead for the primacy of visual culture (film) and language in the construction of modern and contemporary Chinese identity. It offers a deeply researched examination of colonial modernity and the comparative methodologies essential for cross-cultural studies.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Analysis of Shanghai as a crucible for literary modernism.
- Exploration of the period 1917-1937, a formative era for modern Chinese literature.
- Focus on the visual (film) and the verbal (language) as key determinants of Chinese identity.
- Critique of place (ethnicity) and body (race) as anchors for Chinese identity.
- Theoretical interventions on colonial modernity and comparative literature.
- Inclusion of literary criticism and historical development of the period.
- Examination of the spectral production of 'Chinese' identity globally.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The book is highly regarded for its persuasive historicization of literary developments and its sensitive analysis of Shanghai and its spawned literary movement, with Prasenjit Duara calling it the most inclusive historical study of modern Chinese literature's formative period. David Palumbo-Liu commends the author's bold departure from traditional anchors of identity, highlighting the significance of visual and verbal elements in shaping modern Chinese identity. Lydia Liu praises the thorough research and theoretical contributions, deeming it a major contribution to modern Chinese literary studies and comparative literature.
Page Count:
427
Publication Date:
2001-04-20
Publisher:
University of California Press
ISBN-10:
0520220641
ISBN-13:
9780520220645
Literary Fiction
History
Non-Fiction
Modernism
Chinese
Literary Criticism
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