战后五年新马文学理论硏究 (1945-1949) = CHINESE LITERARY THEORIES IN POST-WAR SINGAPORE AND MALAYA (1945-1949)

Abstract

Chinese literary theories during post-war Singapore and Malaya displayed a marked difference from those of the pre-war period. The objective of this dissertation is to study the relationship between Chinese literary theories and social, economic and political changes during the first five years ofthe post-war period. It also attempts to establish a framework for Chinese literary theories during this period (1945-1949). This dissertation comprises five chapters. Chapter One defined the scope and features ofthis study and explainedthe research method adopted. An extensive and in-depth examination of original articles published in newspaper supplements during this period formed the basis of this study. The social and political background of this period were examined in this chapter. The study revealed that the Chinese in both Singapore and Malaya during the post-war period were able to identify with their respective place of residence instead of ancestral origins in China. The Chinese of the pre-war period and those of the post-war period differed greatly in terms of political and national identification. As a result, it caused a controversy which divided Chinese writers into two camps towards the end of the forties. While one group ofwriters sought to establish a new identity for Malayan-Chinese literature, the other group, which comprisedmainly immigrants from China, attempted to maintain some form oflink with the mainland in their so-called "Immigrant Literature". Chapter Two described the statistical approach to analyzing all the articles in connection with Chinese literary theories of the chosen period. It also examined the distribution of authors and articles amongst various literary supplements of newspapers. Issues and theories about literature published in such supplements were examined and discussed as well. Chapter Three developed and expanded on the results of the analysis in Chapter Two. It dealt with various issues that concern the nature and functions of literature. An in-depth study of each issue raised by various authors was carried out in this chapter. Chapter Four analyzed the major controversies of this period which included the call to establish certain uniqueness in Singapore and Malaya's Chinese literature. Chapter Five is an evaluation and conclusion of the research findings. The study shows that there existed a direct relationship between social and political changes and the establishment of Chinese literary theories during the first five years of the post-war period (1945-1949), especially the call for recognition ofthe uniqueness ofChinese literature in Singapore andMalaya. The study also revealed that influence from China on Chinese literature during the said period was weaker than that of the pre-war period when Chinese literature in Singapore and Malaya was being regarded as a reprint of Chinese literature in China. The development of a local identity for Chinese literature affected deeply Chinese literary theories of the fifties as the struggle for independence from colonial rule in Singapore and Malaya reached its peak.