A two-day seminar on Chinese literature of the 1990s closed in Shanghai Monday, with critics pointing to great achievements, the general trend of pluralism and lingering problems.
Many influential writers rose to prominence during the period and some of their works incurred great social repercussions. But no masterpieces showed up.
Due to the relaxing of literary and art policies, and writer's increasing freedom to literary creation, the literature in the period showed the distinct trend of pluralism, according to He Zhenbang, a critic from Beijing.
Writers and works during the period generally falls into three categories.
First is theme literature in accordance with government policy. Zhang Ping and Zhou Shusen are representatives of this style with works like "Choice" and "Made In China".
Second is pop literature, which accounts for 70 to 80 percent of the works in this period.
Third is the works featuring writers' individuality and personal aesthetic pursuit.
About 60 experts and critics from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Shanxi, Yunnan and Tianjin attended the seminar sponsored by the Shanghai Writers' Association and the East China Normal University. Most thought Chinese essays reached new heights in the first half of the 1990s, and novels enjoyed prosperity.
(Xinhua 11/06/2000)
