When a Westerner studies Chinese history or a Chinese language, an understanding of culture is essential to every lesson as Chinese culture differs significantly from any Western culture. Therefore, it must be studied more, in order to gain mastery in social situations and to fully understand China. In my studies, one of the more noteworthy things I have come across in Chinese culture is how inextricable the concept of face is from nearly every quirk and nuance of Chinese culture. Face is the concept of prestige and reputation outwardly (Upton-McLaughlin). Everything from dining etiquette, to addressing someone is linked to a sense of face. While researching Shakespeare in China, I could clearly see that, the attitude toward Shakespeare followed
…show more content…
Chairman Mao hoped to create a stronger China using the principles of Marxism and had scholars around China apply Marx and Engels to their fields of study however possible. Marx’s and Engels interest in Shakespearean works in particular inspired Chinese Marxists to interpret the dramatist and his plays” (Sun 21). In the pursuit of becoming a communist country China used the Soviet Union as a model. China followed the Soviet Union “in every aspect ranging from political and economic orders to cultural appreciations,” (Sun 21). With this interest in following Marx and Russia, Chinese scholars took great interest in Shakespeare, and interpreting plays in the light of humanism. Mao encouraged everyone at the Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art “to never forget class struggle” in their work (Sun …show more content…
The new “face” of interpretation in China was for the most part standard interpretations of particular lines, or themes which would promote Marxist ideas such as supporting the proletariat and condemning feudalism. What this says though, is although there is clearly overall advancement in Shakespeare studies in China, they had not yet reached what we expect as standard in the West. This also reflects China’s growth as a nation. The time after the ‘49 revolution was a time of building up to be a more modern society, with a new government. In the same way Shakespeare studies began to grow in a more rapid
Chairman Mao hoped to create a stronger China using the principles of Marxism and had scholars around China apply Marx and Engels to their fields of study however possible. Marx’s and Engels interest in Shakespearean works in particular inspired Chinese Marxists to interpret the dramatist and his plays” (Sun 21). In the pursuit of becoming a communist country China used the Soviet Union as a model. China followed the Soviet Union “in every aspect ranging from political and economic orders to cultural appreciations,” (Sun 21). With this interest in following Marx and Russia, Chinese scholars took great interest in Shakespeare, and interpreting plays in the light of humanism. Mao encouraged everyone at the Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art “to never forget class struggle” in their work (Sun …show more content…
The new “face” of interpretation in China was for the most part standard interpretations of particular lines, or themes which would promote Marxist ideas such as supporting the proletariat and condemning feudalism. What this says though, is although there is clearly overall advancement in Shakespeare studies in China, they had not yet reached what we expect as standard in the West. This also reflects China’s growth as a nation. The time after the ‘49 revolution was a time of building up to be a more modern society, with a new government. In the same way Shakespeare studies began to grow in a more rapid