21st Century Chinese Literature Lacks Theoretical Framework

Two individuals discussed the Mao Dun Literature Prize and Mao Dun's former residence. The discussion involved reviewing manuscripts by Yu Hua, including 'To Live,' and Su Tong, including 'A Flock of Wild Geese on Qixi.' These manuscripts were reportedly brought by screenwriter Chen Weixin. The discussion compared early Mao Dun Prize works, including 'Ancient Tower' and 'Garden Street No. The discussion featured two guests, described as 'fellow disciples,' who arrived early at Mao Dun's former residence. It also referenced the 'first generation' and '10th generation' of Mao Dun Prize winners, contrasting them with the 'pure thinking state of the 80s' in earlier works. A discussion on the Mao Dun Literary Prize highlighted a perceived lack of universally recognized 'great works' or 'great writers' in 21st-century Chinese literature, contrasting it with the established literary giants of the 20th century like Lu Xun, Mao Dun, and Guo Moruo. It suggests that writers need to express these ideas through their literary works, theory, and discourse. The discussion said that 21st-century literary and novel concepts, particularly in theoretical form, are currently considered insufficient and lack clear conclusions. However, some existing novels do reflect the distinct human experience of the 21st century compared to the 20th century. It questions the existence of such works and notes that 21st-century literary and novel concepts are currently 'far from enough' in theoretical forms, though novel creation itself continues to evolve differently from the 20th century. The challenge for Chinese writers in the 21st century involves producing universally recognized works comparable to past literary giants, which should also be distinct from European and American works.