Liu Zhenyun: literature and society in contemporary China

Conference and discussion on Literature and society in contemporary China with Liu Zhenyun, one of the most prominent writers in Chinese contemporary literature, Professor at School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China.

Touching upon various issues in contemporary Chinese society, from cultural tradition and economic transformation to political power and bureaucracy, contemporary Chinese literature can be taken as the reflections on the society. Yet as the literature, be it a novel or a movie, usually reveals the most controversial issues in the society and does take sides on one or some of the different perspectives, it equally evokes public debates on such issues, urging the public to re-think the issues and even the whole contemporary society.

Liu Zhenyun is one of the most prominent writers in Chinese contemporary “New Realism” literature.

His novels were hailed as important reflections on the Chinese cultural tradition and its links with historical episodes.

In 2003, the Mobile Phone was released, along with his film adaptation by director Feng Xiaogang.

Another novel adapted shortly after to the screen appears in 2007, My name is Liu Yuejing, before I didn’t kill my husband. As the complement of the masterpiece: One Sentence worth Ten Thousand (published in 2009, received the Mao Dun Prize in 2011), I didn’t kill my husband presented a story that takes place within the transformation of human society to the rule of law in China. The book has been adapted by the film director Feng Xiaogang to the cinema – I am not Madame Bovary, Chinese triumph at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Presenting a gentle satire of the country’s bureaucracy, the film has been widely hailed as Feng Xiaogang’s best work for the last decade.

 

The conference will be delivered in Chinese with translation in English. The question and answer session will welcome participation in both English and Chinese.

An event organised by Sciences Po Direction for International Affairs ; Sciences Po Club Chine and Gallimard-Bleu de Chine

Registration External audience:  fill in the form here

For more details, please contact  mylene.hardy@sciencespo.fr