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Chinese Literature and Dissidence

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Literature has to serve as both a medium of social schemes and also affects social conditions. It has altered the course of societies as well as bringing about sweeping change. It is both a catalyst and a tool for social transformation. It has helped to preserve culture and ideas. It has enabled ideas to proliferate and be accessible to much of society. It also serves as a vessel for cultural values and socially acceptable notions. It can be a force for good or a means of evil. It is in some cases, bound by the forces of society, or it may dictate on those forces. It is a tool of expression and a mirror of society’s current state. However, in most cases, especially in restricted societies literature is not seen as a positive element but an element of dissidence. In these cases, it is considered a means of deviance and subversion. This is perhaps the scenario in the People’s Republic of China. Literature that does not serve the state and is inconsistent with ideology of the state is prohibited.

Dissent From Society

Individuals whose ideas are transcendent and revolutionary in most cases are treated as radicals and source of dissent in a particular polity or political community. The establishment and the institutions consider it more pervasive if these ideas are proliferated via a popular medium such as through written materials. Even if the work is a genuine representation of creativity and brilliance it is seen as a social evil. This is truer so if the work is a reevaluation and criticism of society’s current state.

To delve into its realities, magnificence and flaws are nothing short of involvement and awareness. Literature produced in this context tends to be a very good source of social assessment. In fact, the highest honor in the realm of literature, the Nobel Prize, is usually given for such works. The recent recipient of it is a Chinese author that took the courage and had the will to write and deconstruct the society of his time. Unfortunately, the state is not yet fully ready for such acts of expression. Thus he is viewed as a dissident and a subversive.

Trend Setting

Change begins with a catalyst, a first and someone who takes the initiative. Change on the social scale cannot take place without a precursor. An ideological revolution cannot sweep across society, unless there are those who are willing to raise the idea of it. Ironic that China, the birth place of the Cultural Revolution is attempting to hold back a revolution of ideas when it could instigate one in the past.  It is said that these bold actions of this Chinese Nobel Prize Winner will set the stage for the sweeping change in China, especially about ideas. This is something for it to consider in terms of trends in its social scheme.

References:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i3Uc_PNsJ7YyKvpVBXxLMG4LRDDg?docId=CNG.c81a656973793fe072f583c520733516.381

http://marinanemat.com/essay_dissidence.pdf

November 5, 2010 - Posted by TJ Brown | Society | Chinese Literature and Dissidence, Dissent from Society, Literature, Role of Literature, Trend Setting