Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2020

The Readers’ Response to Cyberliterature with Realist Themes: Take the Exchanges within the Readers’ Community of The Heavy Industry of a Great Nation as an Example

(Abstract)

Zhou Xingjie

Through the in-depth description of China’s industrial development, The Heavy Industry of a Great Nation shows the arduous efforts made by talented people of the state-owned heavy industry to promote the nation’s economic progress. The novel has attracted many readers for its dense description of technology, and the use of narrative methods such as “elements for excitement”, “elements for crying” and “elements for laughing”. From the perspective of the readers’ communication and reaction, their pleasure in reading real-life cyberliterature is based on the fact that the narrative corresponds to the logic of history, to laws of life, and to the normal state of emotions. This reflects a deep concern for the reality of the literary works. Cyberliterature with realist themes is not only useful for entertainment and education, but also helps with the readers’ self-education.