The Treaty of Versailles did not treat China fairly, leading to domestic protests and a sense of national awakening. This resulted in a rally around the flag motivating effect, signaling the development of national consciousness. The failure of the Treaty of Versailles to fulfill Chinese hopes raised questions about accountability, whether it was Woodrow Wilson or internally corrupt Chinese warlords at fault. The discussion highlights the impact on China's narrative around historical events, ultimately shaping its literary history. The speaker's academic trajectory from history to modern Chinese literature is influenced by an interest in examining how historical events are represented in literature, particularly focusing on the modern Chinese and Asian American literary movements. The exploration of literary representations of historical events and cultural imaginaries reflects the speaker's current dissertation research focused on texts that contemplate the Trans-Pacific Imagination and authority on China.
Rebecca F. Kuang just might change the way you think about fantasy and science fiction. Known for her best-selling books Babel and The Poppy War trilogy, Kuang combines a unique blend of historical richness and imaginative storytelling. At just 27, she’s already published five novels, and her compulsion to write has not abated even as she's pursued advanced degrees at Oxford, Cambridge, and now Yale. Her latest book, Yellowface, was one of Tyler’s favorites in 2023.
She sat down with Tyler to discuss Chinese science-fiction, which work of fantasy she hopes will still be read in fifty years, which novels use footnotes well, how she'd change book publishing, what she enjoys about book tours, what to make of which Chinese fiction is read in the West, the differences between the three volumes of The Three Body Problem, what surprised her on her recent Taiwan trip, why novels are rarely co-authored, how debate influences her writing, how she'll balance writing fiction with her academic pursuits, where she'll travel next, and more.
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Recorded September 15th, 2023.
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Image credit: John Packman