Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2019

From “Aesthetic Culture Studies” to “Cultural Studies”: The Revelation of Culture Dimension in Contemporary Literary Theory

(Abstract)

Zhou Xingjie

The proliferation of cultural studies can be attributed to the revelation of the culture dimension in contemporary literary theories from the long-term trajectory, which includes the discussion on mass culture `in the stages of “aesthetic culture studies”, “debate on humane spirits”, “cultural poetics” and “cultural studies” gradually. It has caused a serious challenge toward literary theories when the dimension of “culture” has been pushed to the highest point. It is high time to reconsider “aesthetic qualities” in contemporary literary theory as a rectification of the “anomaly” brought about by the “cultural turn”.