| Summary: | 博士 === 輔仁大學 === 比較文學研究所 === 95 === A brand new and strikingly bright aesthetics has emerged and boomed in Taiwanese literature against the backdrop of calls for all kinds of reforms in the post-martial-law era at the end of the 20th century. It does not only deeply reflect the characteristics of the times, but also mirrors the traces of changes of arts themselves. It highlights the diversity and changeableness of the creation of contemporary literature never seen before. It carries a degree of overly richness and luxury in addition to its progression and avant-garde touch. From the subject matters, forms, signifiers, words and languages, the new form of aesthetics marks a sharp distinction from the literary expressions of any previous stages. Therefore, I use the word “luxurious” in this study to describe the artistic characteristics of the novels in the post-martial-law era, as well as the external cultural and social conditions that contribute to the creation of these artistic characteristics. Moreover, the word “luxurious” implies the complexity of the political and economic backgrounds. It goes far beyond the artistic characteristics of contemporary novels in Taiwan. The concept of “luxury” is the key underlying factor along the course of economic and social developments of modern times. It helps us to make an appropriate link to piece together literary aesthetics, cultural outputs and external political, social and economic dynamics.
The “luxurious aesthetics” emerged in the Taiwanese society after the lifting of the martial law is closely related to two historical factors. The first factor is the maturing of the economic environment in the capitalistic, consumption-oriented society. The second factor is the political and cultural atmosphere that is exciting, agitating and restless. The dissolve of authoritarian politics and the relaxation of social constraints dismantle, one by one, all kinds of unreasonable restrictions in the old days. In the metamorphosis after the destruction of old orders and before the establishment of new paradigms, we are excited and euphoric, as well as anxious and restless. The chaos of the social status provides the soil full of nutrients to support the cultural atmosphere of carnivals of certain types, and offers endless streams of realistic dynamics and inspirational catalysts for artistic creations.
Moreover, the maturing of the capitalistic economy after the lifting of the martial law has been speeding up the arrival of a consumer society and consumption-oriented culture and in turn, stimulating all kinds of arts (including literature) to express their charms in forms that are novel and bizarre. The contemporary novels in Taiwan in the post-martial-law era, spurred by these unique conditions in the macro environment, have formulated a luxurious aesthetics that is enriching and eventful. Luxury is by no means the only aesthetic characteristic expressed by the contemporary novels in Taiwan. However, it is very noticeable and distinctive.
In the era of information overflows, the contents of novels are knowledge similar to that of an encyclopedia. This knowledge, accompanied with elegant and affluent literary styles, is transformed into reading pleasure balanced with sensible insights and sensual stimulus. Newly emerged ideas, thoughts, arguments and topical issues permeate all over the texts of novels. This is why contemporary novels come across as part of the elite culture. Writing has also increasingly become a show-off, a flamboyant packaging of artistic nature. In addition, contemporary novelists do not only strive to elaborate their textual expressions, but also seek descriptive models of a completely different kind. Texts have become a pure visual symbol. Or, novels have become a reading of pure symbols. Those sophisticated and elaborate descriptions are strengthened purposefully because they themselves are the purpose and source of meanings. They serve more than just the ends or signifiers of the novels.
This thesis studies the contemporary novels of Taiwan after the lifting of the martial law (1987-2005), in order to observe the contemporary cultural/literary architecture of Taiwan in the post-martial-law era, and review the aesthetic changes within literature. In addition, this thesis goes further by analyzing the interactions among the artistic characteristics, ideological modes of the contemporary culture, and the changes of the culture scene as a whole.
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