On December 17, we broadcasted a lecture on Chinese avant-garde literature, presented by Indrė Balčikonytė-Huang, a translator of avant-garde writers Yu Hua and Can Xue, as well as a researcher of modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
The lecture examined the phenomenon of 1980s Chinese avant-garde literature, which broke traditional literary rules and challenged conventional perceptions. We heard about the works, stylistics, themes, and distinctive features of the main representatives of avant-garde literature.
Additionally, the context of the emergence of avant-garde literature was discussed, including its political and cultural circumstances, challenges, and its transformation after the 1990s.
At the beginning of the lecture, the presenter read excerpts from avant-garde literary works and introduced the experimental, symbolic, and radically diverse style of the texts. Subsequently, the reactions to avant-garde works at the time of their appearance in China were discussed, emphasizing the uniqueness of avant-garde traditions in the history of Chinese literature
Here, the concept of avant-garde was explained, including its origins, its unique characteristics in Chinese literature, and the period from 1984 to 1992 marked by the emergence of the avant-garde movement. Inevitably, there was also mention of the situation of Chinese literature and culture before 1976, the role of didactic literature at the time, and the impact of Mao's cultural policies and socialist realism on literature.
In the second part of the lecture, the focus was on the stylistics of avant-garde literature, the themes explored, and the introduction of the most notable avant-garde writers such as Ma Yuan, Yu Hua, Ge Fei, Su Tong, Hong Feng, and Can Xue. At the end of the lecture, the presenter mentioned the reasons for the end of the avant-garde and raised the question of whether the spirit of the avant-garde can continue in contemporary China.
Chinese avant-garde literature is a rapidly forming and transforming phenomenon that dramatically changed the traditional landscape of Chinese literature. It introduced radical experiments in language and narrative, paving the way for broader philosophical and aesthetic innovations. Although its period of existence was short and followed by authoritarian restrictions and market changes, the spirit of the avant-garde remains significant in literary thought and influences contemporary authors.
The role of translators in presenting such works to foreign audiences is particularly important, as it allows us to appreciate the complex and multifaceted cultural heritage of China. Listen to the lecture recording in Lithuanian at https://youtu.be/jrdzWRLDpvU?si=JOKxs7sGzbydZZjN