Memory, Fluid Identity, and the Politics of Remembering: The Representations of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in English-speaking Countries (Ideas, History, and Modern China, 15)

In this book, Li Li reveals complex connections between memory about the Chinese Cultural Revolution and representations of memory as a means of identity remapping, ideological reconfiguration, and artistic negotiation in a context of cross-cultural environment. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Mnemonic Practices and the Products of Historical Trauma Changing Concepts of Memory: Setting the Analytical Parameters Contested Memories of the Cultural Revolution: A Historica lPerspective Working with Memory: A Survey of Existing Representations Thesis and Chapter Overview Chapter 1 Ideologies, Textualization, and Consumption of Chinese Red Guard Memoirs The Autobiographical Act and the Narrated Identity The Problematic Creation of Trueness Ambivalence in Narrating Authorial Morality Manufacturing Red Guard Memoirs in the English-language Book Market Chapter 2 Alternative Remembrances of the Cultural Revolution in Spider Eaters and Six Chapters of Life at a Cadre School Multiple Voices, Split Personality, and Unreliable Memory in Spider Eaters Remembering Between the Extreme and the Everyday in Six Chapters of Life at a Cadre School Chapter 3 The Politics and Pleasures of Visualizing the Sent-down Youth in the Global Film Market Illusion, Symbolism, and the Problem of “Translation” in King of the Children Body, Perverse Spectator, and the Making of Victimhood in Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl Ethnographic Gaze, Adolescent Fantasy, and the Paradox of Modernity in Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Chapter 4 “Mirrors without Memories”: History, Remembering, and Documentary Truth Though I Was Gone: How Should an Atrocity Be Documented? Morning Sun: Performing History Chapter 5 In Search of Subjectivity: Memory and Inner Narrative in Gao Xingjian’s One Man’s Bible Personal Memory, Self-imposed Exile, and Individual Voices Shifting Pronouns, Split Self, and Mobile Subjectivity Corporeal Memory, Intimacy, and Private Space Chapter 6 Sex, Murder, and Bodily Transgression: The Cultural Revolution in Translational Mass Literature Red Azalea: Female Subjectivity or Political Fantasy? When Red Is Black: Murder and the Hidden Truth of the Cultural Revolution Coda: The Future of Remembering the Past Bibliography Index The Chinese Cultural Revolution Is The Single Most Important Internal Social Event In Contemporary Chinese History. The Plethora Of Historical, Literary, And Artistic Representations Inspired By This Event Are Critical To Our Understanding Of The Diversified, Often Contested, Interpretations Of Contemporary China. Li Li's Critical Examination Of Autobiographic, Filmic And Fictional Presentations In Memory, Fluid Identity, And The Politics Of Remembering : The Representations Of The Chinese Cultural Revolution In English-speaking Countries Demonstrates That 'memory Works' Not Only Reflect Memories Of Those Who Lived Through That Period, But Memories About Their Past, And, More Importantly, About Their Identity Remapping And Artistic Negotiation In A Cross-cultural Environment--provided By Publisher. Introduction: Mnemonic Practices And The Products Of Historical Trauma -- Ideologies, Textualization, And Consumption Of Chinese Red Guard Memoirs -- Alternative Remembrances Of The Cultural Revolution In Spider Eaters And Six Chapters Of Life At A Cadre School -- The Politics And Pleasures Of Visualizing The Sent-down Youth In The Global Film Market -- Mirrors Without Memories : History, Remembering, And Documentary Truth -- In Search Of Subjectivity : Memory And Inner Narrative In Gao Xingjian's One Man's Bible -- Sex, Murder, And Bodily Transgression : The Cultural Revolution In Translational Mass Literature -- Coda: The Future Of Remembering The Past. By Li Li. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 189-201) And Index. The Chinese Cultural Revolution is the single most important internal social event in contemporary Chinese history. The plethora of history, literary, and artistic representations inspired by this event are critical to our understanding of the diversified, often contested, interpretations of contemporary China. Li Li s critical examination of autobiographic, filmic and fictional presentations in Memory, Fluid Identity, and the Politics of Remembering: The Representations of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in English-speaking Countries demonstrates that memory works not only reflect memories of those who lived through that period, but memories about their past, and, more importantly, about their identity remapping and artistic negotiation in a cross-cultural environment."