Rebuilding a Community: Shanghai Imaginary of Post-80s Writers

Abstract

Previous research regarding the post-80s Chinese young writers might suggest that they are urgently chasing after commercial profits, but this popular viewpoint is too simplistic when facing up to the complex historical energies of their work. This article, through close reading the writings of two representative post-80s writers Han Han and Guo Jingming, historically analyzes how the post-80s Writers crowd, by virtue of the “New Concept Composition Contest” platform, have gathered in Shanghai, and points out the core of their writing. Guo Jingming identifies himself with the logic of commercial society, gets dunk of the prosperous of Shanghai, then devoices the young generation from the real Chinese status. Han Han uses the ironic method to deconstruct state propaganda and cultural symbols of Shanghai, while all his heroes or heroines are on cruising the way, do not willing to belong to any value system. The article argues that post-80s writing is ultimately a narrative about the “Chinese Dream,” and on how to rebuild relationships between individuals and their communities.

Keywords

post-80s writers / Guo Jingming / Han Han / the New Concept Composition Contest

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2020 Higher Education Press and Brill