International Theory and the Transnational Critic: China in the Age of Multiculturalism

Abstract

I begin with the ongoing debate in the field of comparative literature as a point of departure for reflecting on the current state of Chinese literary and cultural studies. There are several reasons for doing this. First, by definition, comparative literature crosses many boundaries-linguistic, national, and cultural, to name only the most obvious ones-therefore, the transnational and transcultural thrust of comparative literature makes it a logical site for discussions on multiculturalism. Second, as a modern Western discipline, comparative literature has exerted a significant influence on Chinese literary studies for decades. Quite a few scholars in the latter field in North America and Europe are trained in comparative literature and play a major role in the introduction of contemporary theory and practice, including multiculturalism, to Chinese audiences. Finally, comparative literature distinguishes itself from other kinds of literary studies by its comparative