The Subject in Crisis in Contemporary Chinese Literature
Language: English
Published by University of Hawaii Press, 2004
- Hardcover
- New
Seller: Cloud Runner Books, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.Cloud Runner Books
AbeBooks seller since June 19, 2025
Condition: New
US$ 44.43
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Hardcover. New. All orders shipped securely in a bubble envelope or box/hard mailer.
Seller Inventory # 00024310
- Title
- The Subject in Crisis in Contemporary Chinese Literature
- Author
- Rong Cai
- Publisher
- University of Hawaii Press
- Publication year
- 2004
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0824827619
- ISBN 13
- 9780824827618
Post-Mao China produced two parallel discourses on the human subject in the New Era (1976–1989). One was an autonomous, Enlightenment humanist self aimed at replacing the revolutionary paragon that had dominated under Mao. The other was a more problematic subject suffering from either a symbolic physical deformity or some kind of spiritual paralysis that undermines its apparent normalcy. How do we explain the stubborn presence, in the literature of the 1980s and 1990s, of this crippled agent who fails to realize the humanist autonomy envisioned by post-Mao theorists? What are the anxieties and tensions embedded in this incongruity and what do they reveal?
This illuminating and original critical study of the crippled subject in post-Mao literature offers a detailed textual analysis of the work of five well-known contemporary writers: Han Shaogong, Can Xue, Yu Hua, Mo Yan, and Jia Pingwa. The author investigates not only the literary characters within the texts, but also their creators―real subjects in history, Chinese writers whose own agency was being tested and established in the search for a new subjectivity. She argues that, reenacting the Maoist legacy, the literary search failed to provide a viable model for a postrevolutionary China. In addition, the deficiency and inadequacy of the subject cannot always be contained in the Communist past―a history to be transcended in the design of modernity after Mao. The representation of the problematic subject thus punctured post-Mao optimism and foreshadowed the eventual abandonment of the move to rethink subjectivity in the 1990s.
By diving beneath the euphoria of the 1980s and the confusion and frustration of the 1990s, these critical readings offer a unique perspective with which to gauge the complexity of China’s quest for modernity and a fuller understanding of the self’s multifaceted experience in the post-Mao era.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Cloud Runner Books
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since June 19, 2025
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 5 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 6.00 | US$ 6.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
An independent bookseller located in the Midwest United States.
Specialty
Rare/Collectible/Scholarly-AcademicSeller's business information
MN, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Terms of Sale
We offer a wide variety of books, including textbooks, collectible editions, popular titles, cookbooks, and more. We are committed to accurate descriptions, careful handling, and excellent customer service.
Condition Guarantee
We carefully inspect every item prior to listing it for sale to ensure accuracy in condition and description. All items are guaranteed to match their listed condition. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, we accept returns within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.
Returns & Refunds
To initiate a return, please use the AbeBooks return process. Full refunds are provided for items returned in their original condition. If the item was damaged, defective, or materially misdescribed, return shipping costs will also be reimbursed.
Shipping
All orders are processed and shipped within 1–2 business days. Items are securely packaged in a bubble mailer or sturdy box to ensure safe delivery. Standard and expedited shipping options are available at checkout. Tracking is provided where applicable.
Rates listed apply to books up to 2 lbs / 1 kg in weight. For heavier or oversized books (such as textbooks, art books, or multi-volume sets), we may contact you after checkout to request additional shipping charges. Buyers may request upgraded courier service (FedEx, UPS, DHL) at actual cost. Please contact us if you prefer this option. We pack all books securely and ship promptly.
Cancellations
Orders may be canceled prior to shipment. If you need to cancel, please contact us as soon as possible. Once an item has shipped, it must be returned to receive a refund.
Customer Service
We welcome questions about items for sale and are happy to provide additional details or photographs upon request, especially for collectible or higher-value items. Please contact us through the AbeBooks messaging system for the fastest response.
Thank you for choosing to shop with us—we appreciate your business!