Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) recently hosted Prof David Der-wei Wang, Edward C. Henderson Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilisations and of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, for a guest lecture titled The Literary South and Chinese Contemporaneity. The lecture is part of the BNBU 20th Anniversary Celebration--General Education Lecture Series.
Prof David Der-wei Wang at BNBU
In his talk, Prof Wang guided students and faculty to reflect on three fundamental questions: What is literature? What is the South? How do we define Chinese contemporaneity?
He walked the audience through the development of literature from the connotation of the Chinese word, "Wen（文）", to see how it gradually evolved from a record of traces to a characteristic, and a civilisation. Then he proceeded to redefine the 'South' as a conceptual framework: a fertile ground of historical potential and a forward-looking perspective that reimagines futurity. Finally, he approached the notion of "contemporaneity" as the current memory, a historical milestone, and a feeling of being out of place.
At the end of his speech, Prof Wang encouraged the audience to reconsider the role of literature in shaping a better future and to take it as a torch to illuminate the dark corners of the world.
The event included a Q&A session with BNBU students and faculty. When dealing with doubts about the future, Prof Wang acknowledged that choosing the humanities and an academic path in today's world is certainly not easy, but there is no need to rush into a decision.
BNBU students exchange thoughts with Prof Wang during the Q&A session
"My advice is to go into the complex worlds created by words. Read a few more novels and delve into poetry. These worlds offer more than historical knowledge or realism. They spark the imagination and show us possibilities beyond our immediate reality," he added.
BNBU students and faculty continue to share with Prof Wang after the speech
Prof Wang and President Prof Chen Zhi at BNBU's Exhibition Hall
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu, Koga Song
Photographer: Owen Li
