Beyond “the West/the Rest”: Modernism as Context

Dan Ningjie

Sichuan International Studies University

Abstract：

     The question whether there is modernism outside of the West has been on debate for a long time. To answer this question, this essay argues that it is necessary to introduce a new perspective which is beyond what Stuart Hall called “the West/ the Rest” dichotomy. Based on recent research on modernism, this essay takes modernism as context where the aesthetic innovative practice occurs to respond to radical social change of modernity. Taking modernism in China as an example, this essay attempts to show modernism as dynamic and constructive power rather than the collection of static innovative forms.

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Key words:

modernism; constructive power; aesthetic response; modernity; Chinese modernization

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Fund:

* This essay is sponsored by Chongqing Social Science Foundation (doctoral project) “The Study of Chen Jingrong’s ‘Poetry in Chongqing’ from A Perspective of Feminist Discourse”(2020BS21)（重庆市社科规划博士项目“女性话语建构视角下陈敬容‘重庆时期’诗歌创作研究”编号2020BS21）

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How to cite: 

Ningjie Dan. 2023. Beyond “the West/the Rest”: Modernism as Context, American Journal of Advanced Integrated Science, 5(2): 1-10.

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Export to RIS:

TY - JOUR
AU - Ningjie Dan
TI - Beyond “the West/the Rest”: Modernism as Context
JO - American Journal of Advanced Integrated Science
Y1 - 2023
VL - 5
IS - 2
SP - 1
EP - 14
DO - 
UR - https://www.ajais.org/ajaiscontents/20230201
AB - The question whether there is modernism outside of the West has been on debate for a long time. To answer this question, this essay argues that it is necessary to introduce a new perspective which is beyond what Stuart Hall called “the West/ the Rest” dichotomy. Based on recent research on modernism, this essay takes modernism as context where the aesthetic innovative practice occurs to respond to radical social change of modernity. Taking modernism in China as an example, this essay attempts to show modernism as dynamic and constructive power rather than the collection of static innovative forms.

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