Mo Yan and Xiang Ligang: A literary controversy of rap
Xiang Ligang has recently made another moth! This time, he aimed his cannon at our Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan, causing an uproar in the literary world. This matter is not big or small, but it has caused an uproar on the Internet.
From the Countryside to the World: Mo Yan's Literary Path
Speaking of Mo Yan, it is really a banner of our Chinese literary circle. This writer who came out of Gaomi, Shandong, uses his unique "storyteller" style to write the ups and downs of the Chinese countryside into the novel. In 2012, Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize in Literature for the book "Frog", which made the Chinese people happy. At that time, the streets and alleys were talking about this "Shandong man", as if his success was the success of each of us.
Mo Yan's success did not happen overnight. From "Red Sorghum" to "Fat Breasts and Fat Buttocks", and then to "Fatigue of Life and Death", all the characters in his pen are vivid, and people can't help but be amazed when they read it. His magical writing style blends the reality and fantasy of rural China to create a unique "Mo Yan world".
However, not everyone can get Mo Yan's words. Some say his novels are obscure, others think his stories are too absurd. But in any case, Mo Yan's works have indeed earned a place for Chinese literature in the international literary scene.
Xiang Ligang's "Amazing Words": Literary Criticism or Sensationalism?
Just when everyone thought that Mo Yan had firmly sat on Mount Tai in the literary world, Xiang Ligang, a "spoiler", suddenly jumped out. This "old urchin" who has been active in the cultural criticism circle all year round published an article on his official account, bluntly saying that Mo Yan's works are "outdated", causing an uproar.
Xiang Ligang said in the article: "For the post-80s and post-90s, Mo Yan's novel is like an ancient book, which I can't understand or have any interest in reading. As soon as these words came out, they immediately exploded on the Internet. Proponents believe that Xiang Ligang has spoken the hearts of many people, while opponents see it as disrespectful to the literary master.
Lao Xiang's remarks are not groundless. According to a 2019 survey, nearly 40 percent of respondents said they were "not interested" in Mo Yan's work. This data is indeed a bit surprising, after all, we all thought that Mo Yan was a well-known literary giant.
Generational Divide or Clash of Cultures?
Xiang Ligang's remarks not only sparked a discussion about Mo Yan, but also uncovered a deeper problem: the cultural gap between generations. The environment in which the post-80s and post-90s generations grew up is very different from the era in which Mo Yan wrote, and they are more likely to be attracted by fast-paced and fragmented online literature.
Some people say that this is a crisis of cultural inheritance, and if young people do not read the classics, how can they inherit and carry forward Chinese culture in the future? Others believe that this just reflects the need for literature to keep pace with the times and not rest on its laurels.
Actually, this kind of controversy is not new. I remember that a few years ago, Yu Hua's "Alive" was brought to court because of some "inappropriate" descriptions, and it caused a lot of uproar. According to a study by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, legal proceedings against literary works have been on the rise in recent years. Does this mean that our society's tolerance for literature is declining?
The Future of Literature: How Tradition and Innovation Dance Together?
To be honest, although Xiang Ligang's words are a bit harsh, they also make us have to think: where should contemporary literature go? Do you want to stay true to tradition, or do you want to be bold and innovative?
Some experts pointed out that Mo Yan's success lies in his ability to perfectly combine traditional Chinese culture with modern literary techniques. But in this era of information explosion, readers' reading habits and aesthetic preferences are changing rapidly, should writers also keep pace with the times?
Actually, I don't think there is a contradiction between tradition and innovation. Just like adding a little olive oil to Sichuan cuisine may create a new flavor. The key is to find a balance that does not lose the essence of tradition while also capturing the eye of a new generation of readers.
Mo Yan VS Xiang Ligang: Who is the future of literature?
This "dialogue between Mo Yan and Xiang Ligang" actually reflects a microcosm of the contemporary Chinese literary world. On the one hand, he is a literary giant rooted in tradition and internationally acclaimed, and on the other hand, he is a cultural critic who dares to speak out and keep up with the times. To some extent, their controversy represents the voices of people of different ages and cultural backgrounds.
To be honest, I think this kind of controversy is good. It gives us the opportunity to re-examine our own literary heritage and think about how we can better tell Chinese stories to the world. Whether it is Mo Yan's magical realism or the fast-food reading of online literature, it is a flower in the garden of Chinese literature.
What I would say is that there will be no winners in literary controversy, because literature itself is pluralistic. Whether you prefer the heaviness of Mo Yan or the lightness of online texts, it is important to keep an open mind and let different voices have room to express themselves. After all, that's what a healthy literary ecology should look like, isn't it?