Date: Nov. 15, 2021

Source: College of Liberal Arts of Jinan University

Author: Gu Gefei

The New Century Literature Research Summit Forum, sponsored by Chinese Association of Contemporary Literature and co-organized by JNU's College of Liberal Arts and the Guangdong Literary and Artistic Critics Association, was held in Guangzhou on Nov. 6.  Participating in this online + offline forum were nearly 60 experts, scholars and graduate students from JNU, Peking University, Nankai University, East China Normal University, Sun Yat-sen University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and other universities and institutions. 

(Prof. Cheng Guofu giving the opening speech)

In the opening speech, Cheng Guofu, dean of JNU's College of Liberal Arts, summarized the new literary landscape presented in the new century. He proposed that this forum provided an open and shared platform for the discovery, method development and overall development of excellent works of literature in the new century. 

Prof. Song Jianhua of the College of Liberal Arts mentioned in his welcome speech that in this era, the literature of the new century should be viewed with a new perspective. He also said he expected experts and scholars to discuss major issues, such as the diversity of literary creation in the new century; the legitimacy of online literature; aesthetic value; the reading psychology and aesthetic needs of young readers; correct guidance on the creation of new media; compatibility between pure literature and popular literature,; and self-adjustment and theoretical reconstruction of literary criticism. He also made suggestions for the future developing trend of literature in the new century.

(Prof. Song Jianhua giving the welcome speech)

In a blessing video, Li Jingze, vice president of the China Writers Association, described New Century Literature as a concept produced from the natural and objective rule of time. He said, in the context of the new century and era, that critics would discuss and analyze new-era literature and new-century literature in depth with the perspective of history.

Yang Zao of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Literature mentioned the phenomenon of literary categories and cross-media in the network era. In the new era, he said, it is necessary to understand the transformation of the literary environment, target readers and writing mechanisms, and consider online media’s impact on the literary atmosphere and writing.

(Li Jingze's blessing video)

In the new era and cultural context of new century, the forum featured four keynote speeches. Participants discussed writers’ works, topics and genres, focusing on urban, popular, internet and other literary categories, as well as the new direction of women's writing, grassroots writing, nonfiction writing and post-1970s writing. The forum also discussed the creation of poetry and films in the new century.

(Online participants)

The forum provided new opportunities for the study of new-century literature and the development of literature in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.