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Another Form of "Modern": An Exploration of Left-Wing Literature in the 1930s through Mu Shiying's Writing

Author(s)

Caibo Zhou*

Affiliation(s)

School of Humanities, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

This paper adopts a socio-historical criticism approach to thoroughly analyze the 1930s works of Mu Shiying, a notable author of the New Sensation School, and explores their relationship with contemporary Left-wing literature. Critical discourse from the leftist camp towards Mu Shiying upon his literary debut produced a complex performative effect that influenced his psychological alignment with Left-wing literature. This genre became a significant aspect of his dual writing endeavors, representing an alternative form of "Modern" in his literary technique. Mu Shiying's Left-wing writings and his debates with the leftist camp highlight the strengths and weaknesses of 1930s Left-wing literature, suggesting that Left-wing literature itself might embody another form of "Modern" within 1930s literary history, both in terms of form and rhetoric.

Keywords

Mu Shiying; Proletarian Novels; Left-Wing Literature; Modern

References

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