Politische Literatur in China 1991 - 92

Product Description

Documentation of an exemplary confrontation between politics and literature in the People's Republic of China. This dispute captivated the attention of the Chinese public from September 1991 to January 1992 and also made international headlines. Throughout this entire period, the author was able to follow the confrontation on site in Beijing. The dispute unfolds like a bad crime novel: The resignation of Culture Minister Wang Meng on September 4, 1989, is linked to the story "Tough Porridge" from the time of the democracy movement. The story, a political grotesque, is subsequently awarded by a liberal literary magazine. A feigned storm of indignation arises among orthodox Marxists, which vents itself in two planted press articles. Apparently, they want to attack the more liberal literature of the 1980s in general. The former culture minister fears a new political smear campaign and initiates - a novelty in the history of the People's Republic of China - a lawsuit against the authors and their backers. A paper war follows, whose course Chinese intellectuals follow with suspense. This dispute illustrates the tug-of-war between reformers and reform opponents among Chinese politicians and intellectuals in the consolidation phase after June 4, 1989. The debate participants declare themselves in their pleas, not without a wink, as supporters or opponents of the porridge. With this volume, the most important documents of the 'battle of words' are presented in German translation. After the story (p. 4 ff.), the chronology (p. 55 ff.) provides a first overview of the debate, which is documented in the following 17 texts. The background is provided by a biography of Wang Meng (p. 161 ff.), explanations of the tense relationship between politics and literature (p. 184 ff.), and a commentary essay (p. 204 ff.). Source citations, an overview of reception, further literature references, and a character glossary form the appendix.