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| Li Shutong as Marguerite in La Dame aux camélias |
Literature and Governance at the Turn of the 20th Century
Feel free to raise your own question and find your unique voice in your response. Carefully edit your writings, always cite sources when you are quoting or paragraphing others to avoid plagiarizing. Cite specific quotes with page numbers from readings to support your argument. Two short but well-written paragraphs will suffice.
Through these four articles, talk about the development of Chinese novel and drama’s history. In the late Qing dynasty，Because of the Qing government corruption, the invasion of foreign countries，Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei began to Hundred Days Reform. Liang Qichao advocated the new literature, opposing the old literature，so this time he was wrote a lot of about the social phenomenon and the western civilization to let the people rose against the Qing government and political reform..And form Liang Qichao,the Chinese fiction entered a new era. Launched on the reform of literature as a carrier of modern literary revolution. His contribution to the literature has affected people view of society, make people thought became more advanced. Later, Sun Zhongshan overthrew the Qing government, it can be seen when the results of Liang Qichao advocate new ideas.
ReplyDeleteIn the early China, we know that Opera is a manifestation of people's lives an entertaining way. There are many kinds of traditional operas such as Peking Opera, Kunqu. In the late Qing dynasty, because of Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei began Hundred Days Reform , introduction of western civilization, makes the Chinese drama also began to gradually change. Especially in the years of the republic of China, Western drama started in China. Chinese opera and western drama is very different, Drama criticism and criticism of western societies of metaphor, the tragic ending of this story and characters. To see Shakespeare's tragedy and tragic figure, end is death, such as ”Romeo and Julie”, Chinese opera is mainly used for entertainment. Although different culture under the background of the drama, but it has affected the people's thinking of the real life.
I am not agree with your opinion that "Chinese opera is mainly used for entertainment." Just like what we saw Tuesday, in the Qunqu Opera, the actor sang about "The Peach Blossom Fan," it is a novel talking about love story but in the deep it talks about the rising and falling of a country, which is a method for novelist, poems, and other scholars to express their spirits.
DeleteI agree with Fei that I do not agree that Chinese opera was mainly used for entertainment. We laughed at the one in class yesterday, but mainly because we did not understand it. Most were not meant to be funny but to tell a story. Dramas reflected political views using other cultures values. For instance, the character Dante was written to contribute considerably to an Italian sense of national unity.
DeleteI agree with Fei I think most of them are in Chinese opera tell people some truth,but also describe certain facts.Chinese drama with foreign drama has a unique places in about different cultures.
DeleteEntertainment is only one of the several reasons why Chinese people like to see Chinese opera. Many famous operas hand down almost thousand years, like "the Peony Pavilion", "the Butterfly Lovers", "the Empty city" and many other operas. They reflect different situations of different period, sometimes the opera represents a spirit.Like "the Butterfly Lovers", people like to watch and pass this, because it stands for free love and against arranged marriage.
DeleteI also agree i think that the Chinese opera is meant to tell a story and get a point across. It is not meant to be funny even though we all thought it was the point is to get a belief seen by a large group of people.
DeleteOperas and such are for entertainment but isn't all they do. There isn't just singing and dancing to them but also a story that the author wanted to tell. For example, in "The Peach Blossom Fan" they were talking about China and comparing it to Rome. How they had been torn apart by other countries and their greed. The writer wanted to talk about the troubles that China were going through and used an opera to tell it. Of course the opera had to be entertaining otherwise it wouldn't be any different from reading a textbook and wouldn't perk anyone's interest.
DeleteI agree with Fei. Chinese opera is not only used for entertainment. They want to tell us what is true or false; what we have to do or not.
DeleteI agree with what Rou wrote. Chinese drama always use a story from life to indicate a deep meaning. In China, we always combine people, family and country together.
DeleteI agree with your opinion to a certain extent that yes, operas are meant for entertaining but they also served for educating. Educating the population and viewers on certain historical events that have happened and recreating them so people are well aware and knowledge on them.
DeleteWhile you're not wrong in saying Chinese Opera was for entertainment, you need to point out how it was used mainly for expressing the culture of China and as a means to tell the story of their nation's extensive history.
DeleteOpera is used for entertaining purposes, but much like today's modern music, there is always underlying meaning and/or ideology the artist is trying to convey as well.
DeleteI am not totally agree with "Chinese opera is mainly used for entertainment." Maybe there are some people enjoy drama just like a hobby but we also can learn a lot of new minds from drama at that time. Even today drama is telling us the ture or false of Chinese history,too.
DeleteFiction and drama are extremely powerful reagents during this culturally-developing time. The power of persuasion and influence, through written, spoken and acted literature, is immensely important; throughout these writings, this is apparent and verified. Liang Qichao's playwright "New Rome" is a prime example of how persons of the time were curious and easily influenceable. It was the time for rebellion and reform, or movement of "Westernization." Traditionalism was a thing of the past, and if it were to stay alive, there would be a battle over it. "New Rome is another example of the way in which playwrights attempted to wed the old with the new." (The Appearance of Western-style Drama, p. 197)
ReplyDelete"…the Japanese, who had so forcefully shown what could be done in the way of military and political renovation, had for a long time previously been busy adopting Western ideas, skills and institutions, and had had also adopted Western-style drama." (p. 202) This statement proves that drama was comparably important as other key aspects that needed reform, such as political and military subjects. With that in mind, reform needed to be handled with extreme caution. I believe this next quote best explains the development of China's culture as a whole. "As, Confucius said, 'To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.' To fall short and apply methods that are no longer fitting to the times is a waste; every day corruption would increase and there would be no way to save the nation. At the same time, to go beyond the present situation and apply methods that are too advanced for the times, to yell and shout and wildly push forward, would not accomplish anything either. Moreover, proceeding in this way could give rise to new problems, and the nation would become unsalvageable. In sum, if the country should be lost, both kinds of people [conservatives and Western-oriented radicals] would be equally responsible." (Liang Qichao, Radical Reform at the End of Qing, p. 301) Upon reading this and knowing the historical background, one could only assume that the key to success is compromise. Providing China with drama based off that of the Italian Renaissance, or Shakespearean principles, China can grow, learn and adopt the positive benefits that come with it.
I was so impressed by your quotation " To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short." Yes the root has not changed, so the general soul of a country cannot be changed. That is to say, too much change of methods cannot be used for saving a country.
DeleteI liked how you incorporated the idea of Confucian from last week. That is a perfect quote for the idea that China had to conform to some of the Western ideas. They were seen as just another Asian continent and it was a waste.
DeleteI agree with your choice of quote to explain China's cultural developments. It makes sense, try too little and fall short, try too hard and nothing is feasible, only through a balanced compromise can societies advance.
Delete'To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.' To fall short and apply methods that are no longer fitting to the times is a waste; I am impressed by your quotation too.
DeleteI agree with Fei, that was a good quote to choose. You cannot be a truly efficient, prosperous, and strong nation by simply throwing out all the values with which your country was founded on and simply imitate those of a more prosperous nation.
DeleteI really enjoy and agree with your comment, "the only key to success is compromise." Compromise is absolutely necessary when making large scale decisions, especially when deciding things for an entire country.
DeleteIn late Qing dynasty, China fell into turmoil because of foreign countries invaded. Since Qing dynasty began to self-isolation, China began to lag behind other nations. In order to make China catch up with the world, some Chinese knowledgeable people started to reform movement. Liang Qichao, who is a famous modern bourgeoisie thinker, a statesman and a scholar. He leaded Hundred Days Reform with Kang Youwei. This reform was far-reaching. Liang Qichao advocated learning from the West with its advanced science and technology. In this reform movement, Literature played a huge role. People learned new thoughts by reading newspaper and books written by active innovators. By learning new thoughts from newspaper and books, people realized the importance of reform. This laid the foundation for the reform of modern China.
ReplyDeleteWhy fiction and drama can change lives? First of all, as we all know, The spread of any new things need medium. Fiction and drama are both very practical mediums to spread new things, especially in the 19th century. Nowadays, people can easily get a lot of information on the net or TV. However, in 19th century, without TV and computer, literature and drama are the most common mediums. Fiction and drama change lives by bring new thoughts to people. Only when people’s consciousness awakening, then the society will develop. For example, as a leader of Literary Revolution, Liang Qichao wrote a lot of dramas, one of the most famous drama is “New Rome”. The main functions of “New Rome” are Revealing the dark side of the society and advocate reform and revolution. At that time, a lot of young people Infected by his work and threw themselves into the cause of revolution.
The first article, introduced Liang Qichao and so called the "Renewing the people," the author claimed that there are two different meanings of "Renewing the people," "one is to improve what is original to the people and so renew it, the other is to adopt what is originally lacking in the people and so make a new people." (Sources of Chinese Tradition, 289) The second one, introduced influence from western towards Chinese drama. The third one is the former reading about the Republican China. The forth reading introduced the Literary Revolution, which "paralleling the attack on Confucianism was the attack on the classical literary language"(Sources of Chinese Tradition, 336).
ReplyDeleteTo talk about my opinion, I want to begin with a person who is also important of the movements on literary, Lu Xun. He was a doctor before, however, after he studied abroad in Japan, he found that only words can save Chinese people's spirit. That is what I thought, the literary represented the culture, to some extent. Zhu Xi and Confucians, who influenced Chinese culture for centuries, in some cases limited people's spirits. And the new cultural movement aimed to free people's souls, included new form of Chinese language, founded new publications, magazine called "New Youth," influenced a large amount of university students. And most of the professors studied abroad, which also became the main part of the movement. In my opinion, only the spirit be freed, the whole nation can be really freed of the thought of the feudal monarchy.
I agree with you. To change a nation, you have to change the people and to change the people, you have to open their eyes to new things.
DeleteI think the example of Lu Xun is very good. He did the same thing as Liang Qichao did. Both of them tried to renew people by educations.
DeleteYou have a good summary of each article. And when you talk about your idea, you make LuXu as a example. I agree with you that LuXu save Chinese people's spirit and thought.
DeleteIn the first article, Liang Qichao is introduced. The Hundred Days Reform with Kang Youwei took place because of the devastating defeat by Japan. Traditionalism was in the past and a new view of world history strongly colored by Darwinism was in the uprising. On page 290 of Liang Qichao it said, “If we wish to make our nation strong, we must investigate extensively the methods followed by other nations in becoming independent.” Liang became fully convinced that popular education and the instilment of Nationalism were China’s greatest needs. He wanted to renovate the imperial system with creating modern schools and introducing Chinese opera such as “New Rome”. China developed their new cultural ideas from Japan by the vast amount of translation of modern western dramas and writing about western theatres and creation of Western-style plays. This was known as the Chinese huaju movement.
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? From the previous paragraph, you see that change of social phenomenon and western civilization cultivated China. China was seen as a culture that did not stand out to the world. There idea was they needed to become a nation with special characteristics that are grand, noble and perfect. Therefore, China learned most of the traditional qualifications and theatrical experience of European and American background. This aspiration and nature of predominant literary and political trends changed China in the eyes of the world. They become a nature of individual culture through drama and fiction.
Fiction and drama will be the cumulative elapsed time, so did not experience the people to understand the culture of that era, the humanities. It is colorful, different people can interpret a different feeling, but the heart of the shock is the same.
DeleteI think the fiction drama can change the life. From the two readings, we know about Liang Qichao is an important to Chinese education reform. He and his professor organized Hundred Day of Reform. But they failed. Cixi could be one of the main factor that they failed in the reform. However, the most important reason is people’s public morality. After he traveled a lot of countries. Liang Qichao considered that he needs to introduce new things to China and adopt what is original lacking in people.
ReplyDeleteLiang Qichao used media to tell people new reform. Drama is one of the important media at that time. Similarly, today, we have a lot of movies about saving country or renewing people. Even though we know that the story is unreal, after we watching the movie, we are inspired and something changed inside. Consequently, I think the fiction drama can change the life.
I agree with you. Today we have many way to renewing people. Make a use of drama to advocate their thoughts is very intelligent.
DeleteI agree with your opinion.The spread of any new things need medium.Drama is a widespread medium at that time. we can always learn something from drama.
DeleteI also agree, this is very well written and i think that today we do have to many people that want to change the beliefs that are currently in place.
DeleteI like your idea，If the novel and drama at the time did not get development, now our thoughts and social development will not be this way. They brought us to life thinking and understanding of the world.
DeleteI agree with you. Your opinion is very well. Media is a good way to spread new mind in the world.
DeleteI'm just like everyone here and agree with your post. Media is the fastest way to spread news therefore during this time period, writing fictions and putting on dramas was the quickest way to communicate an idea (or change) to the people
DeleteYou focus on Liang and write about his story which is good. The idea of drama which you make a connection with movie that is good as well.
DeleteI agree with you. We can learn form the drama of ture or false for our lives. Just like today some movies or books can teach us what should we do. They all change our lives.
DeleteOften times, works of fiction or drama reflect current events. For example, Liang Qichao’s New Rome reflects the state China was in after the Sino-Japanese war and compares it to the Roman Empire. Westernization had a big influence on Sino-Japanese drama. “As early as 1810 a Japanese adaptation of Romeo and Juliet was performed… numerous western dramas were translated into Japanese.” [202, Appearance of Western-style Drama] Around 1900 a so called “Literary Revolution” occurred. It was argued by Hu Shi [357-360, The Literary Revolution] that works of literature had become, in a sense, stale and repetitive. Writers were not writing with feeling nor conviction, their works were cold and destitute. They were writing without using one’s own words, feelings, descriptions, or even proper grammar.
ReplyDeleteWe may not think of it often, but literature indeed has an impact on society. As an example, in the U.S. if one were to write an article demeaning the president and stating their desires to rid the nation of him, others may agree and jump onto a sort of bandwagon and attempt to impeach him. As a counter argument, one could write a thought provoking and emotional work that could cause reforms or national movements. True works of literature come from the soul, they reflect who we are as people. Whether works of drama or fiction, literature is the physical embodiment of our imaginations and creativity, and even our beliefs!
"Writers were not writing with feeling nor conviction, their works were cold and destitute. They were writing without using one’s own words, feelings, descriptions, or even proper grammar. " I think you are right, the writers should have their own viewpoints and new ideas, not just follow the ancients, and they need creative spirit, the Chinese literature needs "fresh blood". Especially the couplets and parallelisms, I think this kinds of writing forms would influence the development of Chinese literature.
DeleteI completely agree with everything you've written. Books we read as children shape our worlds and stimulate our imaginations. Later on as adults, we are exposed to literature that may alter our outlook on the world or solidify preexisting beliefs.
DeleteI agree with your opinion. Real literature come from the soul, It can arouse people's emotional resonance.In my opinion, read books just like talk with author face to face because you can communicate with the thought of the author.
DeleteI agree with both Vincent and Brad. Literal works like dramas and fictions use indirect paths to question the decisions we make. This in turn may do exactly like Vincent said, "shape our world/outlook".
DeleteThat was an interesting point you raised about how literature can affect people opinions. Often times people would never come to these conclusions on their own, their opinions are influenced by what they read or see on TV. Personally,I think this is a problem with today's world. People do not take the time to think logically about issues and form their own educated opinions, they "jump on the bandwagon" as you put it. This can be dangerous.
DeleteWe often see the world as the way we like to see it. Western style of thinking has changed Liang Qichao's view of life and thus he sees China needing change. He wants to China to be the way he would like to see it.
DeleteThroughout China’s history it had been socially constructed under Confucianism. But at the end of the nineteenth century, China changed a lot and declined while other western countries were developing. Some person with lofty ideals thought Confucianism is unpractical for China at that time, and China needs “fresh blood”. Hu Shi is one of them, he advocated to attack on Confucianism and attack on the classical literary language. Hu Shi launched the literary revolution and Chen Duxiu support him, they published the New Youth magazine to direct to the stimulation of new literature and ideas. Hu Shi proposed the radical idea of writing in vernacular Chinese rather than classical. And he put forward eight items: “(1) Write with substance. (2) Do not imitate the ancients. (3) Emphasize grammar. (4) Reject melancholy. (5) Eliminate old clichés. (6) Do not use allusions. (7) Do not use couplets and parallelisms. And (8) Do not avoid popular expressions or popular forms of characters.”(Hu Shi, 1917, “A Preliminary Discussion of Literary Reform”, page 357).
ReplyDeleteFor these eight items. The first, write with substance, in my opinion, I think the feeling and thought both are the soul of literature, not only the feeling. The second, do not imitate the ancients. I absolutely agree with this, because different times have different situation, society circumstance and characteristic merits. The fourth, reject melancholy. Some people liked to write melancholy articles to show their passion, but sadness and tears can’t save the country. The seventh, do not use couplets and parallelisms. I think couplets and parallelisms are very difficult to read and understand. It is also difficult to express the thought oneself clearly. We should not use this kind of expression, it wastes our useful energy in the nonessential of subtlety and delicacy. The last one, do not avoid popular expressions or popular characters. Hu Shi gave examples of literature from Song dynasty to Ming dynasty. And he proved that Yuan period had a high point of literary development. At Yuan period, the literature became “language literature” which is more popular and easy. Hu Shi focused on creative spirit, new ideas and attack on old clichés. I agree with these viewpoints, but I disagree with the sixth one of his eight items. I think that we also can use allusions, because some historical events can inspire people to find a new way.
I agree that these eight items are great criterion to follow for literary works. The sixth point,"Do not use allusions", I agree with your stance in that allusions would be acceptable to use, but I would impose a stipulation to use them sparingly. Allusions are great, but to have a story of nothing but allusions would simply be too difficult to follow.
DeleteChina was at the forefront of almost everything and up until they lost the Sino-Japanese War were confident, but, after everything had settled down afterwards that had to reevaluate. During this time China had actually fallen behind every major country. They had to do something in order to bring themselves back up to par with the rest. They began sending chinese student's abroad in order to study. After they had studied abroad, they would return to China with new information about the European countries as well as the American states. During this period beginning after the Sino-Japense War, the Chinese began writing numerous plays. Wang Xiaonong, a play writer, wrote a plethora of plays. On page 197, it says "Xiaonong wrote plays with a fresh note of patriotism and reform". Around that time began the movement which is now known as the huaju movement (Where China took translations of Japan's information of the western drama and formulated their own central idea of western-drama)
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? I say yes because of how China was before the huaju movement. They were very traditional and was not open minded to the modern ideas of the world especially when it came to the plays that were being performed. Hong Shen broke the tradition of where the female roles were played by male actors. So he put on two plays where one had female actors play the female roles, while in the other play, had males playing them. On page 206, I quote "the public reaction was unanimously that I was deranged" just shows how conservative that the Chinese were about the idea of female actors playing female roles. However, when the audience could compare the two plays side by side, Hong Shen had achieved what he was going for. On page 207, I quote "The audience for the most part found the most part found the mincing affectations and the falsettos if the actors utterly ludicrous after witnessing the actresses' display of natural femininity." Not only did Hong Shen made accomplishments, the students that traveled abroad came back with more of a western-style education ( Europe, America, or even Japan). This made the student's plays more westernized/ foreign rather than the traditional Chinese plays that China was used to. To come back to the question, the answer "yes" will suffice since with the fact that China was not open to anything out of the ordinary or that of which wasn't part of their tradition. With the vast knowledge that the Chinese students brought back as well as the accomplishments of Hong Shen, China was able to move forward with the huaju movement.
I agree with you. The only way to move forward is to learn from others and China tried by sending people abroad.
DeleteFiction and lives interact with each other. The vicissitudes of society stimulate the development of literacy and the content of fiction will become abundant as well as rational while the society was changing. After the Hundred Day of Reform failed, many young people in China realized that the Late Qing cannot control the Chinese in the old way and the regime of Late Qing had exist in namely only. Under the background of this, many scholars eager to change people’s mind from traditions and Confucius thought, many literature showed up. Yan fu translated Tian Yan Lun( theory of natural selection) and many other western literatures. Liang Qichao published Renewing People and this showed great change in his thinking. What I want to say is lives also can change the theme of fiction and stimulate the development of fiction. Then, new generations were affected by these fictions such as Renewing People and they know more about advanced social institution and thinking about changing. This is the effect of fiction to lives. Renewing People have the most widely influence in modern China and many thoughts of Mao Zedong who is the first chairman in PRC was comes from Renewing People.
ReplyDeleteAfter Sino-Japanese War, there are many drama published at that time. It played huge role in advocating the reformist of their thoughts by performance. For example, New Rome, written by Liang Qichao, also affect people’s thought in a more interesting way like today’s television. At that time there is no so many way to influent people’s thought, so fiction and drama are the most important way to let the people know the truth.
I agree with you, Vivian. Individuals voice their emotions and opinions through writing, and in turn affect other individuals, which do the same. Thus it becomes a progressive cycle in development of new ideas.
DeleteIn the article, The Meaning of "Renewing the People", it talks about persevering the special characteristic of the people of China and not letting them be lost. Meaning that even though he believes that China needs to change its way, doesn't mean they should give up everything they already have. They don't need to become just like all the other countries. They should become their own but use what they can to make their own country better.
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change people's lives? Yes, I believe it can and does. If not then there would be very little reason for them except for entertainment purposes. They tell stories and though they be fiction, they are usually based on real feelings and thoughts of the author and can bring about new thoughts and ideas to people. The operas were one way for Reformists to bring out new ideas to the people. Like when Hong Shen used female actors instead of just male actors, broke traditions and was a sign for change. It showed that change wasn't all that bad and harmful to the culture. In fact, it could be positive.
This is a valid point and good argument. One(China as a whole) cannot improve or gain, without recognizing and appreciating one's roots, or where they came from. Great point, that could easily be overlooked.
DeleteThe four articles clearly show how much Chinese novels have developed over the years. When considering the question, yes fiction can change lives. Literature in the time was all that people had so when one form of literature opposed another there would obviously be controversy, the hundred days reform is an example of this. The writings of the time are very powerful towards what is going on, writers in my opinion are the people of the time that had the power to persuade the reforms that were going on. Some might say that reform and change needed to happen, but I think that if the writers had not put out the novels that they did then what happened could have been very different. All of the writings in my opinion have the same Western influence in them, this is partly because of the fading traditionalist beliefs. If the traditional views would have stayed in place I think china would be a lot like the modern day middle east where wars are very apparent because of the traditionalism. Another thing to consider is that if China had not made the moves that they did they would still be stuck behind many countries, instead they are at the forefront of industry and many believe one of the most successful countries economically speaking. When looking back at the question, yes fiction does change lives, almost everything that has happened in Chinese history has been because of fictional writing. Writing is the most powerful weapon of the time and all of the armies in the world could not do what a book can and did. Another way to look at the novels and drama would be from the entertainment aspect in a country that has little to nothing entertainment is very powerful. Most people in the United States base all belief off of what they read in papers and see on TV and in the movies weather it is fictional or not. Our lives when you think about it are very controlled by media and literature, people in our society and those around the world are controlled like little kids by the things that we see and read. This is very sad but it is the world we live in and it “is what it is”.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that the media has a lot of influence. Here in the United States, we tend to base our perceptions of other countries on movies and TV, just as the Chinese people likely based their opinions on Western countries by what they saw in plays.
DeleteIts easy and safe to reform dramas, news papers, and any other kinds of entertainment items at that time to reflect his new ideas. its smart. Its impossible to bring everyone out and see what's happening in western, but its possible to bring his own feelings and vision back to stages and combined them with traditions to show a brand new things to Chinese audience. He tried to make people believe that this mixed new and beautiful improvement in drama could happen to the real life as well.
DeleteIn the late Qing Dynasty due to the Qing government corruption, the invasion of foreign forces on China. Liang Qichao and Kang youwei the Hundred Days Reform Movement. Hundred Days Reform is China's modern history has a significant event .Patriotic Salvation Movement is the first time. It requires the development of a capitalist economy and expanding political power of the bourgeoisie, in line with the historical trend of the development of modern China, it is also a progressive political reform movement. It spread bourgeois culture, new ideas, criticism feudalism old culture, old ideas, but also an ideological enlightenment. The idea to promote the development of Chinese drama, Chinese drama germinated in emerging Reform Movement (1898) to the Revolution (1911) years. Bourgeois-democratic revolution in China under the influence, along with the improvement of traditional opera and the rise of Chinese civilization drama Chinese drama taken from classical to the modern transformation step.
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? We know China drama include traditional Chinese opera and modern drama. Development of drama is closely related to people's daily life to the development of an era, a period drama can often when people think and reflect on hope. I think that theater can change lives, it is the idea of people's hearts, the heart of hope, longing for a better life, dissatisfaction with life on the complaint. So that people will be looked after advancing towards a better life, it would be a part of life, the longing manifested through drama, such a great influence.
sure.The development of novel and drama brought to China a lot of positive on the concept，So that under the feudal rule of the people see hope.
DeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? Absolutely. Liang Qichao's "New Rome" is a perfect example of a drama that calls for the people to push for the reformation of China. Qichao called for a "renewing of the people", which meant to "improve what is original in the people and so renew it; the other is to adopt what is originally lacking in the people and so make a new people." (Sources of Chinese Tradition, 289) Basically, improve/remove the old traditions and adopt new ideas from the successful Western and Japanese cultures. "New Rome" implies that in addition, for a nation to achieve greatness, the "citizens through a thousand hardships and ten thousand sufferings, in exchange for the blood of their tears, the blood of their hearts, and the blood of their necks." (Appearance of Western Style Drama, 199) The imagery he uses in the rest of the play is equally powerful. Some examples include when Dante describes the other European countries slicing up the Roman empire like a melon, or when a backstage voice calls China a "sickly Oriental nation."
ReplyDeleteDramas with powerful messages are very effective in promoting thought and conveying new ideas to the masses. Since viewers did not have to be literate, dramas were a better medium than articles for promoting new ideas to the majority of people. Even so, Hu Shi called for literary reform which rejected the old ways of writing and promoted more creativity and originality. Fresh styles and new ideas are very key to getting people to actually think about their situation and how to change instead of just accepting it as the norm.
In spring 1902, “new-people” magazine founded in Yokohama Japan, with the striking title, it gave full expression to Liang’s steadfast determination of “renewing”. After the “100 days reform” came to nothing, Liang realized that it came more significant to shape people’ s national, ethnic, and racial consciousness and to advocate individual’s right, equality, and freedom of idea rather to only hammer at national spirit reforming. “When a nation can stand up in the world its citizens must have unique character.” (Liang Qi Chao, page 289)
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is the “New-Drama” or the “ literary revolution”, at that time, both reflected Liang’s reform and re-life idea. “There are two meanings of renewing. One is to improve what is original in the people and so renew it; the other is to adopt what is originally lacking in the people and so make a new people.”( Liang Qi Chao, page 289) Drama like “New Rome” derived from the stories of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Darfur at the time of Italy independent, through performing the western bourgeois revolution to promote his improvement or “renewing” idea. In the early 1890s, influenced by western, especially the Japanese culture and education, Liang started concerning the literary revolution. “The literary revolution we are promoting aims merely at the creation of a Chinese literature of national speech.” (The literature revolution, page 362) Starting from the perspective speech or language problems and focusing on style, the improvement of literature and culture, it was consistent with reforming idea.
“There are two meanings of renewing. One is to improve what is original in the people and so renew it; the other is to adopt what is originally lacking in the people and so make a new people.”( Liang Qi Chao, page 289) I like this quote, and I find it challenging. Which kind of renewal did various works facilitate across various parts of China and across centuries? I think that maybe in order to renew a people, literature must do both: it must cultivate a virtue where the virtue was lacking, but it can only do so by supporting and building on what is already good.
DeleteFiction drama has played a huge role in China’s history. From the readings, we saw that many writers have added the idea of westernization into their works. Liang Qichao’s “New Rome” has many European characters and ideas. When Dante wanted to take a trip to China, a backstage voice said, “China is just a sick Oriental nation. Why do you want to go there, might immortal? (Pg. 199 Appearance of Western-style Drama)” Liang Qichao is implying that China needs reform and adopt some of the Western ideas. However, these reforms were not successful not only due to the fact that Cixi opposed it, but also the fact that the society was not ready for reform. Liang Qichao wanted the people to read newspapers and educate the public so that everyone would be literate. His way of westernization was a direct copy of how the Japanese westernized themselves. He failed to adopt and change the style of westernization to fit the direct needs of the Chinese society. The Chinese society at that time was far behind Japan in terms of education and status.
ReplyDeleteIn the first reading, the author writes, “To this end he sees a need for corporate organization, an educational system and communication media, bridging the gap between educated elite and illiterate masses. This involves not just individual self-understanding and self-civilization but one’s own group learning form other peoples and their cultures. Pg.289-“ This quote strongly favors the Chinese in adopting Western ideas and their style of thinking. In order for this to happen, the economy of China must be sufficient enough to support this. The reformers overlooked the fact that the Chinese economy was falling apart and was not able to support a Western education system nor could it allow a free communication media.
I agree with your connections between education and the economy. Liang Qichao also said that all institutions (economy, education, military, etc.) needed to be reformed in order for the reformation to succeed.
DeleteI like how you showed both sides of how they tried to develop and "westernize" and the comparison to Japan at the time. Very interesting.
DeleteThese articles all talk about the development of Chinese Literature history. Such as novel and drama. In the late Qing dynasty, foreign countries start aggress to China because of the government corruption. Some ambitious youth want to change this situation. They start reform. For example, Kang youwei and Liang qichao. However, they failed in the end. Why did they fail in the end? The most important reason is public people do not understand their new minds, and not too much people follow their reform. Small part of people cannot change anything to China. Therefore, Liang qichao found a good way to spread their new minds after he traveled some western countries. The way is drama and novel.
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? My answer is strongly Yes. Chinese drama has a long history in China, public people like watching it very much. And, the story from drama is easier for common people to understandable and acceptable. Developments in twentieth-century Chinese drama have often closely reflected, and strongly influenced, national political and intellectual events and trends.( p197, Appearance of Western-style) Public people can know those things by drama, and realize what happened in China. I think when people finished watching those kinds of drama, they will change their traditional mind in the end.
Yes! There were many play writers who wrote plays against the traditional style which was looked down upon at first. But after further attempts, Hong Shen was able to get through with his two pieces!
DeleteIt was interesting to see how the young chinese who were studying abroad noticed the great sense of nationalism in japan and wanted to bring that to china. I agree that fiction and drama played an important part in the chinese history.
DeleteFiction and drama play an integral part in understanding the evolution of China during and after the fall of the Qing dynasty. Reformers used not only literature, but forms of entertainment such as drama to reach the common populace with their ideology. The Peking Opera for instance, used their plays as propaganda in promoting the need for a national awakening, female emancipation, change in the familial system, and critiques against the Qing. It also fostered interest in Western knowledge and languages among the Chinese leading to a consciousness of other cultures and their own.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most influential reformers leading up to the Revolution of 1911, Liang Qichao, sought a balanced and gradual solution in his journal, Renewing the People. His writings called for concrete change within the population by combining the old with the new in order to be a “nation without shame” (Qichao 295). He argued that the essence of this statement could only be achieved in maintaining public morality, the individual protecting his rights, and national awareness. Qichao calls for the moral empowerment of the individual for the good of the nation, “For a human to be committed to strengthening himself through preserving his rights is an unparalleled method for firmly establishing and improving his group” (294). For Qichao’s message to be applied, he understood the methodology of delivery must be taken into consideration. Fiction and drama embody the reformist ideals, while still allowing the population to think, understand, and relate.
According to “The Appearance of Western-style Drama,” “Developments in twentieth-century Chinese drama have often closely reflected…national, political, and intellectual events and trends.” (p. 197) The best example that this chapter gives of the impact of drama on people’s opinions has comparatively little political significance. Hong Shen wanted women to play the female roles in his plays, a radical idea in early twentieth century China. He put on two performances: in one he cast female actresses and in one he cast male actors. Those who saw both performances “found the mincing affectations and falsettos of the actors utterly ludicrous after witnessing the actress’ natural display of femininity.” (p. 207) The experiment had its desired effect, as “the habit of impersonating females ‘died a natural death’ in the company.” (p. 207) Two plays had enough influence over people to change the public’s perception of female roles in theater.
ReplyDeleteA more significant impact of drama was the spread of Western ideas. Many of the early huaju plays in China were based on novels or plays written by Western authors. This trend continued throughout the early twentieth-century, as there was not a lot of new material by Chinese authors. Many proponents of huaju were “concerned with promoting bold ideas for social change.” (p. 205) A lot of times, their plays had a Western tone as well as themes that went against cultural norms. These dramatists had been influenced by their foreign training and hoped to expose other Chinese people to the same ideas. Obviously, this exposition of Western ideas through plays had an effect on the people’s political ideas, because the government started outlawing huaju in the 1930s.
China was being divided up among the higher powers and territories were formed causing even more tension among an already struggling nation. The westernization of China was definitely a big influence on the Chinese people during that time. This was a complete change from the traditional values and beliefs that had been held in high esteem for so long.
ReplyDeleteSo, is this good or bad for the nation as a whole? Well, what Liang Qichao was aiming for was to improve education (borrowing techniques and ideals from Japan and the West) in an effort to empower the sense of Chinese Nationalism among the people. The thing that really allowed for the Chinese to show off their nation's culture and heritage was through drama and the fine arts. By implementing these western ways in the art of drama, they show how their culture is one with its own unique traditions, etiquette, and beliefs. It was through "New Rome" that the Chinese culture was finally revealed to be interesting and colorful to the rest of the world.
This is a great response, short, sweet, and to the point. Sums up the readings in a descriptive, yet concise method. China needed change, and needed a model for which to base their reform. The altering of drama and fine arts was a great way to introduce the culture to new traditions, ideals, etc.
DeleteYour post touches on the very important issue of keeping the Chinese essence while adopting aspects of western culture. Our readings pointed out that China needed a strong sense of nationalism that probably would not have been achieved if they just became copies of other nations.
DeleteYes, westernization would be a change from the original Chinese values and beliefs. That‘s also the reason that Chinese people could only be able to selectively absorb. Liang aiming to improve education in an effort to broaden people's horizons and also to better understand the outside traditions, etiquette, and beliefs. However, he failed. Maybe thats was too much for that age of China and the society was not ready to accept.
DeleteLives can be affected by many things including both fictions and dramas. For example, Liang Qichao , disciple of Kang Youwei, wanted to utilize the tradition of culture as a way to push for reformation. In “New Rome” Liang Qichao’s ideology of reformation touches on both the culture of the people along with the necessary changes that need to be made so the country can continue to strive and be powerful. On page 289 it states “If we wish the body to live for a long time, we must understand the methods of hygiene. If we wish the nation to be secure, rich, and honored, we must discuss the way for “renewing, the people”” (Sources of Chinese Tradition, 289). This quote is both powerful and moving at the same time. It first indirectly questions the people whether they want the country they are living in to be powerful. After, it states that if the people do intend for their country to be secure, rich, and honored, “the people” must understand the necessary sacrifices and changes they must make to do so. By questioning the people on the nature of the country, it puts it in THEIR HANDS for the country to both grow and prosper. Were people willing to take this huge responsibility and burden? From the quote it can be seen that change needed to be made but by not directly forgetting about their culture and history. Instead, they wanted the people to come together as a nation for a common cause – to better their country.
ReplyDeleteDramas, I believe are the same way as fictions. Both can be conveyed as literally works and pursue a political topic without directly offending the audience. Instead, it can be used as a measure of persuasion by showing people what they may not have seen before. By opening their eyes to new topics and ideas, it may also allow the change or idea that was intended for the audience to be accepted in an easier fashion. Just take a movie (because plays are a little dated for our generation) or a book that you’ve read. Has it in any way made you change your life or certain decisions you wanted to make? I know that I have been changed by many movies and books that I have read because the author is not directly attacking me to change or see a different way. Instead, it takes the more open ended question like “what if”, putting the decision on us and seeing if we are brave enough to make that change.
I really enjoyed your point about dramas being able to "pursue a topic without directly offending the audience." When presented as fiction, dramas create a sort of distance between the audience and the events, making it more likely that the message can influence somebody. If it's not actually happening to you but to characters in a story, you can act as an observer and reflect on the meaning contained in the work rather than become blinded by emotion.
DeleteTwo kinds of literature have had the power to historically change lives: revolutionarily negative literature and its direct opposite. When it comes to negative literature, it can be profoundly moving in a time period when a culture is stagnating, content with the way things are. Liang Qichao is an example of an author who changed lives precisely because he "put forward a new view of world history strongly colored by social Darwinism" (288), a pessimistic take on society compared to the prevalent Confucianist optimism which staved off reform. By doing this, he was able not only to "highlight our own shortcomings" (291) but also to influence people to see the importance of overcoming them.
ReplyDeletePositive literature, on the other hand, is powerful in an era when society is crippled by the ghosts of the past. Hu Shi's advocacy for innovative Chinese thought and literature, for example, was said to be "all the more commanding to attention because its aim was not merely destructive of traditional usage but, ambitiously enough, directed to the stimulation of a new literature and new ideas." ( 256). He wrote constructively about the future instead of focusing on the past. This is what it means to use a proactive voice in literature. Literature which focuses on the future focuses on possibility; it inspires. And it is by calling to action that it changes lives. For example, literature which "rejects melancholy" (358) is literature which does not complain. Complaining and dwelling go hand-in-hand--when you are moaning about something, you are wasting your energy on highlighting the poorness of your situation. Rather than focusing on the problem, energy would be better spent seeing the solutions. In that way, literature which is both passionate and constructive can change lives by inspiring positive action.
You have a really good point on timing and how literature can be especially moving in times when a culture is stagnating. Liang Qichao states, "To fall short and apply methods that are no longer fitting to the times is a waste; every day corruption would increase and there would be no way to save the nation. At the same time, to go beyond the present situation and apply methods that are too advanced for the times, to yell and shout and wildly push forward, would not accomplish anything either. Moreover, proceeding in this way could give rise to new problems and the nation would become unsalvageable" (301). Recognizing a problem and proposing solutions may be in vain unless action accompanies them at the right time. Also great contrast between negative and positive literature's impacts!
Delete" I imagine this young man, having drifted aimlessly in strange and foreign lands, came to turn his glance upon his old homeland, and felt a burning grief for his country, which grief, because he lacked and practical means of restoring his country's might and prestige, he sought, through the trifling skills of the writer, to express the subtle and weighty words that would serve as a stimulus, a bell to call others forward. He is merely someone afflicted by the same '"Malady"' as I myself was of yore,a man of like mind and sympathies." (History of Chinese Drama pg 200)While this quote represents how Liang Quichao felt during this time, I also believe it is how the average common man felt about China. They saw China had lost all of its former glory. China had always been a powerful nation and now it was being carved up and exploited by foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteSome Chinese, such as Liang Qichao, understood that if China was going to survive it would have to westernize, much like Japan had done. They chose to convey this message through the arts of literature and drama. Literature and drama were used as the platform to show the Chinese population that their traditional ways were outdated and China needed to become a progressive nation to reclaim its pride and self identity. So to answer the question, yes drama and literature can change lives. It can be used to unite the people through the same idea of what was best for China. TV and the internet did not exist during this time, so drama and literature were how different ideologies could be spread.
The first thing to note is from "Sources of Chinese Tradition," where we find Hu Shi and Chen Duxiu hinting at what needs to be done to change China’s language and literature into a more practical mechanism, coincidentally around the time of revolution in China. From Hu Shi on page 357 we see the eight items of literary reform that he put forward: writing with substance, disconnection from ancient style, emphasis on grammar, rejection of melancholy, elimination of old clichés, no use of allusions, no use of parallelism and couplets, and avoidance of popular expressions or forms of characters. Following the establishment of his items, we see him reference pieces throughout Chinese history that have flourished because they have, consciously or unconsciously, followed this method, along with him noting that the ancient language is bogging down the common folk, diluting creativity and advancement; Chen backed this idea with his three main points on page 361 that support simplicity, diverging from the ancient style. Furthermore, Hu calls for a reform of national speech, stating on page 362: “If China wants to have a living literature, we must use the plain speech that is the natural speech, and we must devote ourselves to a natural speech.”
ReplyDeleteWe see these ideas begin to take hold when we examine Liang Qichao from the readings, acknowledging that he did change lives during the time of revolution because of his fiction and drama, along with his pamphlets as well. From pages 198 to 201 of "The Appearance of Western-Style Drama," Liang’s excerpt from "New Rome" expresses Liang’s interest in the problems that are occurring now with China, exactly how Hu and Chen had desired; Liang subtly portrays China as the new Roman Empire of sorts, because the political situation and lack of public morality has left China vulnerable to being divided up by the foreign powers; this idea was meant to move the public out of fear towards a stronger sense of nationalism. Along with this, following humiliation from Japan in 1895, we see drama from multiple writers play a critical role in the “reawakening” of Chinese thought as classic forms of entertainment – Kunqu, Peking Opera, etc. – were used as propaganda to suggest reformation (pg 197 of "The Appearance of Western Style Drama"). Therefore, it is plain to see that reformation propaganda in drama and fiction was at the heart of stirring people towards the revolution, and that Hu and Chen’s new formulas for writing and language were the catalysts by which the people so easily understood the new-style drama.
The four articles mainly talks about the differences of literature and governance in the late Qing dynasty. The developments of literature show the drama became general and affect people's life. From the article, " the prologue of this play will serve……rathan than living theatre." It reveals that Liang's result of renewing affected people discovered a new idea from people's life. The performance of the drama showed signs of forming one country's culture. Culture became a part of the country because it related to people's living and value of care.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of governance, it refers to the system and emperor's rights. During the war's explosion, the Chinese suffered foreigner invasion, and the CiXi emperor governed the people.. The appearance of Liang Qichao, who began the hundred days of reform, renewed the people by improving and adopting what is originally from the people. For instance, the study says " we must investigate extending the methods followed by other nations in becoming independent, we should select…….own shortcoming". It shows Liang tried to provoke what people internal original mind and advertised the importance of renewing China's circumstance. Liang began to learn Western's culture that renewed political and educational system. Liang also advocated developing agriculture, industrial and business area.
Overall, the literature and governance revolution set up the China's rights and power. The interaction between people's live and literature represent the sole of China.
The question for these readings was, “Can fiction and drama change lives?” For me the answer is a resounding, yes. On page 288 in “Sources of Chinese Tradition” in reference to Liang QiChao ”“He was now exposed far more to western influences and enormously impressed by Japan’s progress in contrast to China’s repeated failures. Sensing the power of nationalism as the force…Liang became fully convinced that popular education and the instilment of nationalism were China’s greatest needs.”
ReplyDeleteWith the question, and this quote in particular I’m reminded of, “Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics." By Joseph Nye. We can see that Liang is succumbing to soft power in this quote. By seeing the outcome for Japan by becoming more westernized he wants the same outcome for his own country. Through soft power people and even countries are influenced greatly, but gently. No one is forcing change on them, but things like fiction, novels, media etcetera are extremely influential. We see what others have and we want for ourselves and our people, so we are encouraged to take similar steps to get there, and in so changing daily life, traditions, sometimes even morals.
After I read these readings I realized that fiction and drama change lives. From the reading "Ling Qichao", we can know he is a person who study abroad and went to many countries to learn the advanced cultures and ideologies.As an advocate of constitutional monarchy, Liang was not agree with Qing Government and wanted to change the status quo in China. Then Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao launch the Wuxu Reform or the Hundred Days' Reform to influence in the debates on democracy in China.
ReplyDeleteBut because of cixi and qing they failed. However, Liang qichao found a good way advocated reform in both the genres of poem and novel to show people thier new ideas. "New Rome" is a example of a drama change people lives and Liang Qichao called it is a "renewing of the people".Then a lot of literary works and dramas were spread, it had a far-reaching influence of Chiese people cultural thought and made Chiese to accept the new things. Liang Qichao promote poetry and drama development. It changed lives as well as so far.
I agree with you on how he found a different way to basically go about what he has been trying to. But also bringing in the new and changing even more, such as the literature and entertainment at the same time.
DeleteI also agree. Its crazy to think that if things had worked out the way that Liang and Kang wanted them to, originally, then Liang would not have broadened his horizons through experiencing Japan and all those other countries he visited. Maybe more people were influenced in the way he desired because of his writings than any amount that could have been influenced through an unopposed reform plan; from the way he describes the poeple of China at that time, they probably wouldn't have cared about any new reform because noone had pushed them to have a higher sense of public morality and/or national pride, yet.
DeleteI think from the reading we can conclude that Liang Qichao is a very important part of China’s history and impact that he made. From the Hundred Day of Reform with Kang Youwei to the many fictional dramas he showed the importance of educational reform. From the first reading “Renewing the people” it was be shown that Liang Qichao was wanting to keep the ideals that they had and not forget them as the world is starting to modernize. The second reading was about the influence from the western civilizations towards Chinese drama. There last reading was about the change in the literary world, “ DO not imitate the ancients. Literature changes with time.” (The Literary Revolution, 258)
ReplyDeleteCan fiction and drama change lives? Absolutely. Changing lives is just a matter, in my opinion, of changing the perspective of a person and that’s what fiction and drama does. In a sense it shows the could be or the fantasy of the reality. Thinking of the western influence on the drama, as more people are exposed to the dramas and new things that come with it, it changes the minds of more than one person at a time. Bring new thoughts and ideals to a country could change it, and if not change it brings debate and questions. Such as “New Rome” that shows, whether biased or not because of the author, it shows the society and all the different things that could change with reform.
I really do agree with your statement regarding drama and its ability to change one's life by simply changing his or her perspective or outlook. Given a new outlook, one could behave differently in certain situations and his or her life could change as a result of these different actions.
DeleteI see your point! After all, China had already had multiple foreign influences. This was only a matter of time of when China would begin to advance towards western-ideals
DeleteCan fiction and drama change lives?
ReplyDeleteThrough these four readings, you can clearly see the effect literature and plays have had on the lives of Chinese people. In the Appearance of Western-style drama, you can see the effect of the propaganda plays that appeared more after the Boxer uprising and with the occupation of foreign troops (Apperance of Western-style Drama, 197). Huaju is noted to be the spearhead of change, and it was something that was suppressed by the Chinese government, leading actors and playwrights were arrested (Apperance of Western-style Drama, 207)
In the Literary Revolution, there were a lot of attacks on the classic, literary language (The Literary Revolution, 356). The writer of the journal "Renewing the People" that was published between 1902-1905 by Liang Qichao. He talked a lot about the great changes in his thinking because of Western Influence. Also speaking of the Western influence, you could refer to the Concise History of China. There was a great rise in schools and student, going from 35,787 schools and 1,006,743 students in 1907 to 87,272 schools and 2,933,377 in 1912 (Concise History of China, 207-208). Influences of Japan were present, and Chinese students studying there felt a sense of nationalism from the Japanese which reflected on the weakness of China at the time.
So does fiction and drama impact lives? I believe so. Books and plays have always played an influential part in history and it is easy to see its influence, whether good or bad, in the history of China.
Fiction and drama in today’s time can be seen as just a form of entertainment when in reality it can be used as a resource to change the way a society thinks or even acts as a call to action. These four articles all bring up the development of Chinese drama and literature and how many people looked to incorporate westernized ideas into their lives and writing instead of perpetuating Chinese traditionalism.
ReplyDeleteAn example of a call to action for the China and its literary development is the piece “The Literary Revolution.” Page 356 paragraph two states, “Chen Duxiu’s position as head of the department of literature at Beijing National University, and his new political organ, The New Youth, represented strong backing for Hu’s revolutionary program – a program all the more commanding and attention because its aim was not merely destructive of traditional usage but, ambitiously enough, directed to the stimulation of a new literature and new ideas. Instead of dwelling solely upon the past, Hu’s writings were full of concrete and constructive suggestions for the future.” This quote shows that many people were changing the way they thought about their traditional ways as well as the way they wrote. The Chinese incorporated new and more westernized ideas into everything they were doing in order to advance the country and their lives.
I strongly agree that fiction and drama are just entertainment of our time. They both can cause lasting impressions on individuals and societies, causing them to change the way they think. Great input Kyle.
DeleteFiction and drama can absolutely change lives. In any modernized culture today, it's very easy to see how fictions and dramas can affect a person's life. For example, every young boy wanted to be just like the action stars and every little girl wanted to be like the princesses in fiction movies. A lot of these people to try to live their lives like what they see in the movies or read in novels. Liang Qichao's "New Rome" shows just how vulnerable people were to new ideas that they read. During this time period, Westernization was moving into the country as Traditionalism was on its way out. It was very easy for playwrights at this time to introduce new ideas to people and get them on board with the idea of Westernization. "If we wish to make our nation strong, we must investigate extensivel the methods followed by other nations in becoming independent." (Qichao, page 290) I believe that Qichao's goal of writing "New Rome" was to portray China as the new Roman Empire and expressing its issues, while trying to give the citizens pride in their country, increasing nationalism. Qichao knew what had to be done to better the country, and he used his writings to spread his ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhile improvements to China needed to happen, too much change at one time can be a bad thing. Qichao and Kang Youwei began the hundred days reform, and they intended on changing a lot of things. They wanted to change their country's manner of education, military and even literature and drama. But, at the same time, if they push for too much change at one time, it would cause even more chaos for the people of China. By showing China the writings of the Italian Renaissance, it was possible for China to learn the ways of other countries and to see the benefits, and grow as a country.
I agree. I hadn't really thought about how drama changed my own life as a kid. I had originally planned on being a pharmacist until I watched Law and Order and decided I wanted to be a lawyer. Although this is only slightly related to your point about action stars, your comment did certainly get me thinking about the influence that drama and fiction have had on my own life. Thank you for that, Ryan.
DeleteAwesome connection with the culture of today to the culture of that time! Thinking that, I wonder how much I actually do recognize the propaganda in entertainment that actually calls for change in the way we live, and I try to put myself in the shoes of a Chinese native at that time; I wonder how many of them actually cared? In today's culture, I think it can be easy to grow numb to the things out there calling for change and reform, but I think in this time, seeing that it was so new and the evidence that it produced, I believe the people recieved the message of what "New Rome" and other dramas were trying to present; a revolution happened, so they had to have heard.
DeleteI completely agree that fiction has an effect on people, both now and throughout history. I think it was important to show the western cultures to china, however perhaps too abrupt and causing chaos in china, like you noted above.
DeleteI do believe that fiction and drama can change lives, especially when they facilitate the spread of ideas from one culture to another. Fiction and drama cannot only provide a new perspective to those living geographically far away, but can also give people new viewpoints of different time periods; both are the case in New Rome. I believe that this drama was capable of successfully changing lives due primarily to the fact that it put the progress and change made by the Romans that led to their successful expansion in terms that a Chinese audience were more familiar with and could understand and appreciate. In other words, New Rome bridged a cultural gap and expanded the perspective of many individuals within China.
ReplyDelete"And today, my Italy has become once more as of old a powerful, completely sovereign, first-rank European state." Appearance of Western-Style Drama Pg 199
Liang Qichao, through this quote from New Rome, has described the historical context of Rome in its prime and showed its accompanying prosperous expansion and compared it to China. I believe that his intentions were to not only point out what made Rome strong, but also what led to its downfall so that those viewing his play could behave in ways to expand the Chinese empire and maintain its strength.
I don't quite agree with your reasoning that "New Rome" changed lives. "New Rome" did give a gimps into a different culture, but I don't think that it would be enough to change a person's opinion on how Rome was run. I think there was a lot more that played into the literary change than just bridging a cultural gap.
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