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A (Meta)commentary on Western Literary Theories in China: The Case of Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kang, L
Published in: Modern Language Quarterly
September 1, 2018

This essay takes Fredric Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism as a case in point to illustrate the Chinese anxiety of influence with Western theory and the battle between (Western) universalism and Chinese exceptionalism. Chinese Jamesonism shows how an eclectic American neo-Marxist academic discourse has been invented in China on selected themes of postmodernism and Third World “national allegory.” However, as a “shadowy but central presence” in Jameson and other Western left theories, Maoism is nearly absent from China’s appropriation of Western theories. A vigorous critique of the relationship between Maoism and Western left theories sheds light on the issues of politics and ideology underlying the Chinese anxiety of influence.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Modern Language Quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1527-1943

ISSN

0026-7929

Publication Date

September 1, 2018

Volume

79

Issue

3

Start / End Page

323 / 340

Publisher

Duke University Press

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 4705 Literary studies
  • 4703 Language studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies
  • 2004 Linguistics
 

Citation

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Kang, L. (2018). A (Meta)commentary on Western Literary Theories in China: The Case of Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism. Modern Language Quarterly, 79(3), 323–340. https://doi.org/10.1215/00267929-6910785
Kang, Liu. “A (Meta)commentary on Western Literary Theories in China: The Case of Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism.” Modern Language Quarterly 79, no. 3 (September 1, 2018): 323–40. https://doi.org/10.1215/00267929-6910785.
Kang, Liu. “A (Meta)commentary on Western Literary Theories in China: The Case of Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism.” Modern Language Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 3, Duke University Press, Sept. 2018, pp. 323–40. Crossref, doi:10.1215/00267929-6910785.
Kang L. A (Meta)commentary on Western Literary Theories in China: The Case of Jameson and Chinese Jamesonism. Modern Language Quarterly. Duke University Press; 2018 Sep 1;79(3):323–340.
Journal cover image

Published In

Modern Language Quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1527-1943

ISSN

0026-7929

Publication Date

September 1, 2018

Volume

79

Issue

3

Start / End Page

323 / 340

Publisher

Duke University Press

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 4705 Literary studies
  • 4703 Language studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies
  • 2004 Linguistics