Blurred lines of influence in world of letters_其他

Blurred lines of influence in world of letters

I once asked a prominent scholar about two extremely high-profile writers in the same field - American studies. He gave me a quizzical look. "I've never heard of them," he admitted, without a hint of embarrassment.

When Xiamen University hired Xie Yong as a professor, it made waves. Xie, a freelance scholar who had published a dozen books on the subject of intellectuals, is arguably much more accomplished than many inside the ivory tower. People interpreted the move as a positive sign that the establishment was finally recognizing talent from the grassroots.

Han Han is the most dramatic case. The best-selling writer flatly rejected an invitation to join the Writers' Association. To add insult to injury, the 20-something laughs off the organization as being "superfluous and ridiculous".

Outsiders who do not know the intricacies and dynamics tend to see only a small part of the elephant, or through a preset prism. Grassroots players are often anti-establishment, so they must be dissidents. Not true. Many of them, unlike Han Han, are ready to rush into the embrace of the establishment, as testified by the actions of most of Han's young peers.

Moreover, most of those with voices hefty enough to make an impact have roots in the establishment. They have managed to maintain their independent thinking and use styles of mass appeal to talk to the public. And they may shift their positions to suit different occasions.