Professor Wang Jianjiang from Shanghai Normal University has been invited to give an academic lecture to the faculty and students of the School of Literature at Lanzhou Jiaotong University.
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On the evening of April 3, 2023, Professor Wang Jianjiang, a doctoral supervisor at the School of Humanities and the head of the Institute of Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education at Shanghai Normal University, was invited to give an academic lecture entitled “The Thoughts of Life in Postmodernism” at the School of Literature, Lanzhou Jiaotong University. The lecture was hosted by Associate Professor Yang Youqing from the School of Literature, and undergraduate and graduate students, as well as some teachers from the school, attended the lecture together in Room 1506 of Tian Jiabing Teaching Building.
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Professor Wang Jianjiang straightforwardly introduced the definition, characteristics, and impact of postmodernism. Postmodernity summarizes the coexistence of pre-modernity, modernity, and postmodernity in the present context, while postmodernism critically reflects on this reality. He made it clear that the “life” in the thoughts of postmodernity refers to the focus on human life and existence. Professor Wang elaborated on three main points regarding the theme of life, discourse on life, and the realm of life in both Eastern and Western cultures and literature. He also pointed out that aesthetics cannot be separated from the concern and reflection on the conditions of human existence and development in society.
In response to the real problems of technology backlash and unemployment caused by ChatGPT, Professor Wang Jianjiang proposed the theory of life equity aesthetics, which asserts that philosophy and aesthetics of life are primarily concerned with the issue of survival. As a category within postmodern theory, the theory of life equity emphasizes the attention to human survival conditions and basic needs under high-tech conditions. The right to survival and the sense of happiness and aesthetics are intimately connected for each living subject. Professor Wang pointed out that the theory of life equity aesthetics is not only a theoretical innovation in aesthetics, but also a theoretical construction that aligns with the current state of human existence and the demands of human society. It represents an aesthetic choice for humanity to escape from the predicament of survival.
During the interactive session, Professor Wang Jianjiang patiently addressed thought-provoking questions raised by students and faculty members in our institute, such as “How to approach the current era of online influence and the issue of internet violence caused by some marketing accounts taking things out of context for sensationalism”.
Professor Yang Youqing, in his concluding speech, pointed out that the theory of postmodernity and postmodernism advocated by Professor Wang Jianjiang is a theoretical summary of the state of Chinese modernity. The theory of life equity aesthetics embodies the pursuit of constructing a discourse on Chinese aesthetic characteristics. It is rooted in the consideration of various current issues from the perspective of individual survival, demonstrating a strong sense of practicality and concern for reality. (Reprinted from the official website of the School of Literature, Lanzhou Jiaotong University).