Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2018

On the Spirit of Realism

(Abstract)

Zhou Siming

The spirit of realism requires writers to convert the hardships and difficulties of history and reality into idealistic  beliefs, to restore and sublimate the real life with literary works full of “spiritual dialectics”and aesthetic tensions, so to saturate their literary creation with lofty tragedy consciousness and have a strong artistic effect. Writers should have deep insight into Chinese experience and the immanent laws and direction of the development of the times with conscious realistic spirit, broad-mindedness and sharp eyes, and to push contemporary Chinese literature to new heights through making efforts to create masterpieces with Chinese characteristics and styles.