DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL SCIENCE IN CHINA

Abstract

The author states that description of the complete picture of establishment and development of the modern Chinese humanitaristics does not appear possible due to the great number of authors whose works are published in the modern China. The author has chosen a limited area – the process of developing a branch of humanitarian studies which is new to China – the cultural studies. The Chinese postgraduate students of the FEFU’s Department of Cultural Studies and Art History have so far analyzed about 550–600 Chinese sources that, if necessary, have been translated into Russian by the post-graduate students themselves. The process of developing the cultural studies in China relies on the two category- and concept-related lines: 1) culture, national culture, folk culture, traditional culture; 2) cultural exchange, exchange processes, cultural globalization. Chinese researchers rely on the Marxist ideas and works of well-known foreign authors, primarily American. Extensive use of the original source and its interpretation are the distinguishing features of the Chinese methodological approach. Reference to the original source here is only a stimulus for the reflections of a Chinese author. Chinese researchers greatly rely on the historical context of establishment and development of their national culture. Contacts and intercultural communication with Western countries are of a particular interest to the researchers. They re-evaluate the national history and civilization. Chinese idea of the modern globalization does not involve «high» theoretical generalizations; it allows a technological construction of the cultural and economic policy of China. Evaluations of the Russian history are very contradictory: ranging from admiring the Russian culture to accusing of the Russian nationalism. The author has come to the following conclusions: The fastdeveloping knowledge of culture in China can be qualified as Cultural Studies. However, the existing level of Chinese cultural studies is approximately equal to that of «red-brick universities» in England in 1970s. While relying on the Marxist ideas and concepts, Chinese researchers are gradually expanding the theoretical and methodological bases of their analysis. Nowadays, explanations and partially, forecasts, are the major functions of the Chinese cultural studies.