Out Of The Crucible: Literary Works About The Rusticated Youth Literary Works About The Rusticated Youth Zhi Qing Wen Xue

Out of the Crucible offers an informative and inviting study of the novels and short stories of the lives of the zhiqing, the Chinese urban youth who were sent to rural areas during the "rustication" movement in the second phase of the Cultural Revolution. Author Zuoya Cao, a former zhiqing herself, covers the works, authors, themes, characters, and plots of zhiqing literary writing from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. She teases out the significant themes of zhiqing literature: heroism and idealism, suffering and internal transformation, moral dilemmas and the loss of innocence, love and cultural difference, sexual and spiritual oppression, zhiqing/peasant relations, the relationship between man and nature, and the conflict between the desire to leave the countryside and the attachment to it. Through a perceptive analysis of the treatment of these themes, drawing on her extensive knowledge of Chinese literary and social history in addition to her own experiences, Cao reveals the emotional aspects of the rustication movement and the humanistic significance of the zhiqing experience and enriches our understanding of modern Chinese literature and history. Literary Works about the Rusticated Youth Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Zhiqing and the Rustication Movement 2. The Argument among Zhiqing 3. Zhiqing—The Third Generation of the PRC 4. Zhiqing Culture 5. Zhiqing Literature Notes Chapter I I Tragic Heroism and Idealism 1. Blind Heroism 2. Illusory Idealism 3. The Yonthfnl Idealism 4. Tragic Idealism Notes II Suffering and Internal Transformation 1. Political Persecution 2. Physical Suffering 3. The Negation of the Zhlqing’s Suffering and Enlightenment through Suffering Notes III The Zhiqing’s Relationships with Peasants 1. Harmonious Relation 2. Dynamic Relations 3. Worshiping the Rural People 4. Observing the Peasants Critically 5. The Peasants’ Hatred of the Zhiqing Notes IV The Loss of Innocence 1. The Victims of Evil 2. The Collaborator in Corruption 3. Moral Degeneration Notes V The Three Types of Zhiqing 1. The Role Model 2. The Misfit and the Negative Characters 3. The Striver Notes VI The Description of Love 1. To Love or to Leave 2. Love and Cultural Differences 3. Love between Women 4. The Generation Deprived of Amorous Love Notes VII The Theme of Sex 1. The Prohibition of Sex 2. Sexual Awakening 3. Sexual Indulgence 4. Sex Triumphs over Spiritual Oppression Notes VIII The Human/ Environment Interface 1. The Awakening of People’s Relationship with Nature 2. The Defender of the Natural World Notes IX The Escape and Nostalgia 1. The Escape 2. Nostalgia Notes Conclusion Notes Bibliography Literary Works Memoirs Reportage Letters, Diaries & Poems of Zhiqing Historical & Social Studies Literary Criticism on Zhiqing Literature Index About the Author Out Of The Crucible Offers An Informative And Inviting Study Of The Novels And Short Stories Of The Lives Of The Zhiqing - The Chinese Urban Youths Sent To Rural Areas During The Rustication Movement In The Second Phase Of The Cultural Revolution. Zuoya Cao, A Former Zhiqing Herself, Covers The Works, Authors, Themes, Characters, And Plots Of Zhiqing Literary Writing From The Late 1970's To The Late 1990's. She Draws Out The Significant Themes Of Zhiqing Literature: Heroism And Idealism, Suffering And Internal Transformation, Moral Dilemmas And The Loss Of Innocence, Love And Cultural Difference, Sexual And Spiritual Oppression, Zhiqing-peasant Relations, The Relationship Between Man And Nature, And The Conflict Between The Desire To Leave The Countryside And The Attachment To It. Through A Perceptive Analysis Of The Treatment Of These Themes, Drawing On Her Extensive Of Knowledge Of Chinese Literary And Social History In Addition To Her Own Experiences, Cao Reveals The Emotional Aspects Of The Rustication Movement And The Humanistic Significance Of The Zhiqing Experience, And She Enriches Our Understanding Of Modern Chinese Literature And History.--book Jacket. Tragic Heroism And Idealism -- Suffering And Internal Transformation -- The Zhiqing's Relationships With Peasants -- The Loss Of Innocence -- The Three Types Of Zhiqing -- The Description Of Love -- The Theme Of Sex -- The Human/environment Interface -- The Escape And Nostalgia. Zuoya Cao. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [213]-235) And Index. This work provides a study of the novels and short stories about the lives of zhiqing, Chinese urban youth who were dispatched to the backward rural area to live the peasants' life during the second phase of the Cultural Revolution. It overs zhiqing writing from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.