Communications in Humanities Research

- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences


Communications in Humanities Research

Vol. 21, 07 December 2023


Open Access | Article

The Influence of Existentialism on Chinese Science Fiction Literature

Shuo Ma * 1
1 Chinese University of Hong Kong

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Communications in Humanities Research, Vol. 21, 91-96
Published 07 December 2023. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by EWA Publishing
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation Shuo Ma. The Influence of Existentialism on Chinese Science Fiction Literature. CHR (2023) Vol. 21: 91-96. DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/21/20231427.

Abstract

Existentialist philosophy has exerted a profound and extensive influence on contemporary society, extending its impact beyond the domain of philosophy to significantly shape the arts, including literature and cinema. This paper adopts existentialist theory as its primary analytical framework, employing methodologies such as textual analysis and comparative research to provide a concise examination of how existentialist concepts and perspectives, notably those pertaining to “Absolute Freedom,” “The Others,” “Absurdism,” and “Humanism,” have influenced and integrated with Chinese science fiction novels. The primary objective of this research study is to delve into a selection of recent Chinese science fiction novels that have garnered prestigious awards and exhibited significant international influence. Through a thorough examination of the works authored by these award-winning writers, this research seeks to elucidate the overarching traits and thematic elements within Chinese science fiction that have been influenced by existentialist philosophies. This research endeavor not only offers an avenue for delving into the philosophical underpinnings that inform Chinese science fiction but also provides a scholarly lens through which we may attain a more profound comprehension of the humanitarian essence that permeates these literary works.

Keywords

existentialism, Chinese literature, science fiction, comparative literature

References

1. Langford M K. The Concept of Freedom in Surrealism, Existentialism, and Science Fiction. Extrapolation, 1985, 26(3): 249.

2. Renwei Dong. “Zhongguo Kehuan Dashiji Zhiyi (1891-2017) [One of China’s Science Fiction Chronicles (1891-2017)].” China Writers Network, Chinese Writers Association, 13 Mar. 2017, http://www.chinawriter.com.cn/n1/2017/0313/c404079-29141543.html?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0.

3. Hongwei Li. “Guowang Yu Zanmeishi [The King and the Lyricist].”CITIC Publishing Group ,2017.

4. McGuigan, Jim. “The literary sociology of Sartre.” The Sociological Review,25.1_suppl (1977): 163-180.

5. Sartre, Jean-Paul. “Being and nothingness.” Central Works of Philosophy v4: Twentieth Century: Moore to Popper 4 (2015): 155.

6. Cixin Liu, “Santi: Heian Senlin [The Three Body Problem:Dark Forest], Chongqing Publishing House, 2008.

7. Dahlstrom, Daniel O. The Heidegger Dictionary. London:Bloomsbury Publishing.2013.

8. Sartre, J. P. , A. Cohen-Solal , and A. Elkam-Sartre . “Existentialism is a humanism.” Lexistentialisme Est Un Humanisme (2007).

9. Zhiyan Wang . Kehuan Xiaoshuo “Fusuren” : Xiangxiang 500 Nianhou De Meili Xinshijie [Science fiction novel “The Resuscitator”: Imagining a “Beautiful New World” 500 Years Later] .Xinhuanet . Xinhua Network Co., Ltd. http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2021-11/04/c_1211433215.htm.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
ISBN (Print)
978-1-83558-185-8
ISBN (Online)
978-1-83558-186-5
Published Date
07 December 2023
Series
Communications in Humanities Research
ISSN (Print)
2753-7064
ISSN (Online)
2753-7072
DOI
10.54254/2753-7064/21/20231427
Copyright
07 December 2023
Open Access
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Copyright © 2023 EWA Publishing. Unless Otherwise Stated