Chinese Ecocriticism: A Survey of the Landscape

Abstract

Over the last decade, ecocriticism – defined broadly as the study of the relationship between language or art and the physical environment – has come to the fore in China, particularly in humanities departments, leading to an outpouring of critical articles, books, and specialized studies. Possible reasons for why ecocriticism has gained traction within the university are as follows: (i) the increasing hybridization and cross-disciplinarity within literature departments, where media/film, social science, literature, and philosophy increasingly interact, and (ii) increased anxiety over environmental issues as amplified in the media. By cutting across several disciplines and media platforms, in only a few short years, ecocriticism has developed into a legitimate, and powerful, school of thought. The first section of this paper provides a brief overview of the recent history of the ecocritical “movement” in China – focusing on ways in which literary critics have developed ecocriticism into a vibrant discourse. The second half addresses social ecology, a specific branch of ecocriticism, and its relevance to themes of alienation and modernization active in the work of avant-garde directors and ecological activists. While Chinese academics have been reluctant to address social and political themes through an ecocritical lens, in the coming years, we should find greater attention paid, both on the left and on the right, to issues of environmental justice and ecological community.