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Wang Shuo (王朔) | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 王朔 |
| Born | (1958-08-23)August 23, 1958 (age 66) Nanjing, China |
| Occupation | novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, columnist, voice actor |
| Period | 1980s–present |
| Genre | novel, satire,romance,comedydetective fiction |
| Literary movement | Post 70s Generation, "Hooligan Literature" |
| Notable works | Don't Call Me Human,Playing for Thrills |
Wang Shuo (Chinese:王朔;pinyin:Wáng Shuò, born August 23, 1958) is a Chinese writer. A leading figure in “hooligan literature” (痞子文学) and the New Beijing School of Chinese literature, he was influential in the 1980s and 1990s, known for his cynical, irreverent style and use of Beijing colloquialisms.
Wang grew up in an army compound inBeijing. His family was ofManchu ancestry. When he was an adolescent, his parents were sent to the countryside as part of theCultural Revolution, leaving him and his brother alone in Beijing among other children whose parents were also away. He joined thenavy as a medical assistant where he spent four years, before pursuing a career as a writer.
Despite the frequent controversies surrounding him, Wang is widely considered to be one of China's most popular and easily recognizable authors, and has been applauded by literary critics.[1][2]
The New York Times Book Review contributor Sheryl WuDunn compares Wang to Western literary figures such asJoseph Heller, andKurt Vonnegut, going so far as to label Wang "China'sKerouac." Chinese authorDai Qing has been quoted as describing Wang as "one of the finest contemporary writers, someone who can use wit and language to betray several decades of ideology that have been forced upon us, but the Government doesn't fear him because while he destroys, he doesn't create or build. And he is willing to compromise with the Government."[3] Historian Christopher Rea argues that Wang's devil-may-care persona and advocacy ofwan'r (playing, messing around) echoes the playful, and at times cynical, tone of some early twentieth-century Chinese literature.[4]
Wang is described by some traditional Chinese critics as a 'spiritual pollutant' for hishooligan style of writing. His work describes the culturally confused generation after theCultural Revolution, marked by rebellious behavior. During the 90's Wang was the most popular and famous writer in China. Despite his hooligan style, his collected works were never banned and only one film based on his novels was not allowed to be shown in China until 2004, not because of his political stance, but rather due to his style. Wang is a nationalbestseller in China and has influenced generations of Chinese readers. With over 20 novels and 10 million copies in print, Wang's influence ranges from students to workers, and from drifters to intellectuals. His works mark the beginning of a new writing style in China, influencing many new authors. Hissatire is less of a direct confrontation with theCommunist autocracy than it is a mockery of their lack of cool and a statement of utter indifference to any political or nationalistic correctness.[5]
Many of Wang's works have been officially banned within the People's Republic of China. Chinese authorities have labelled Wang's works as being "vulgar" and "reactionary" culminating in a four volume collection being officially censored, and removed two TV series which he wrote.[6]
In his writing style, Wang has focused on the "living language" which is spoken by ordinary people in the street. He has also used a lot of the Beijing dialect, which makes his works very vivid and attractive.
