Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 5, 2024

Unique Taste: Ma Shitu’s “Night Tale” Literature and Its Theater Effect

(Abstract)

Bai Hao

Ma Shitu’s dual identity as a revolutionary and literati has given rise to two distinct styles in his works: serious drama and humorous drama. These styles have encountered different levels of acceptance across different eras. The “night tale” series establishes the true artistic consciousness of the literati and reflects its unique literary quality. “Night tale” literature is characterized by a free and open narrative style, which resonates powerfully across three dimensions: the story-the storytelling-the listening, the-narrator-the audience-the characters within the story, and the logic of the story-the logic of the theatrical scene-the logic of social life. These three strands work in concert to create a summoning common language field, generating a “theater effect.” Ma Shitu’s view on popular literature is grounded in three major pillars: the soil of life, the aesthetic principles of the people, and confidence in the continuity of artistic traditions. His “night tale” literature exemplifies his dedication to enriching the national and popular artistic experience. Reassessing Ma’s path to nationalizing literary creation and reconsidering the implications of integrating refined and popular literature will greatly contribute to the exploration of contemporary literary development and expanding the pattern of literary history writing.