On May 26, 2023, at 4:30 PM, Professor Yang Jincai, the editor-in-chief of Contemporary Foreign Literature from Nanjing University, was invited to deliver the 283rd “Hou Wailu Academic Lecture” at our school. He gave an academic lecture titled The Chinese Perspective on the Study of American Literature in the New Century at the Second Lecture Hall of our school for faculty and students. The lecture was chaired by our school’s dean, Professor Cao Ruonan, and was attended by over 150 faculty and students from both inside and outside the university.
Dean Cao Ruonan first delivered a welcoming speech and provided a brief introduction to Professor Yang Jincai’s research direction and his remarkable academic achievements in the field of foreign literature research.
Professor Yang Jincai then began his lecture. Professor Yang elucidated insights we can gain for our current study and reference of foreign literary and cultural works from President Xi Jinping’s important proposition of the “great changes unseen in a century”. He mainly focused on four aspects: the concept of “great changes” in the context of China, the focal points of research on contemporary American literature, the implications of "great changes" for China in the new era, and research strategies and orientations. Professor Yang Jincai pointed out that research on contemporary foreign literature should be “embedded in the presence of the Chinese context”, rooted in China and facing the world, speaking out for Chinese academics. Using the Chinese context (perspective, position andviewpoint) as a prism, scholars should understand and familiarize themselves with international academic frontiers, identify blind spots in American academia, and allow American counterparts to view their literature and culture from a different perspective, thereby showcasing the cross-cultural perspective of foreign literature research. He also emphasized the importance of delving into American social history, respecting historical facts, and gaining a deeper understanding of the more authentic aspects behind superficial culture.
In the end, Professor Yang Jincai engaged in warm interaction with the faculty and students. The lecture left a profound impact on all attendees. Dean Cao Ruonan also shared her thoughts, highly praised the lecture and expressed sincere gratitude to Professor Yang Jincai for taking the time to visit our school.
Photo: Qu Yuanjun
Text: Xu Na
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