Wang Shuo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wang.
| Born: | August 23, 1958 Nanjing, China |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, columnist |
| Genres: | novel, satire |
Wang Shuo (born in August 23, 1958) (Chinese:王朔, pinyin: wángshuò) is a Chinese author, director, actor, and cultural icon. He has written over 20 novels, television series and movies. His work has been translated into Japanese, French, English, Italian, and many other languages. He has enormous cultural status in China and has become a nationally celebrated author.
[edit] Background
He grew up in an army district in Beijing. When he was an adolescent, his parents were sent to the countryside as part of the Cultural Revolution. He and his brother lived alone in Beijing along with other children of similar background. This period of time is marked by rebellion, fighting and jail. He joined the navy as a medical assistant where he spent four years. He later pursued a career as a writer. Many lines of his works have become the popular slang of the time. Stephen King said of him "Every word Wang says will become the hit on the street tomorrow. He is the most influential icon in China." Recently, Wang has turned down an offer from the Francis Ford Coppola's production company.
[edit] Controversy
Wang Shuo is described by some traditional Chinese as a 'spiritual pollutant' for his hooligan style of writing. His work describes the culturally confused generation after the Cultural Revolution, marked by rebellious behavior. During the 90's Wang Shuo was the most popular and famous writer in China. Despite his hooligan style, his collected works were never banned and only one film based on his novels did not get permission to be shown in China until 2004, not due to his politics, but rather due to his style. Wang Shuo is a national best seller in China and has influenced a whole generation of Chinese readers. With over 20 novels and 10 million copies in print, Wang Shuo's influence goes from students to workers, from drifters to intellectuals. His works mark the beginning of a new writing style in China. He influences many new authors in China. His satire is less of a direct confrontation with the Communist autocracy than it is a mockery of their lack of cool and a statement of utter indifference to any political or nationalistic correctness. [1] In his writing style, wang shuo has focused on the "living language" which is spoken by normal people in the street. He has also used a lot of the beijing dialect, which makes his works very vivid and attractive. His style has learned a lot of from another literature master Lao She from Beijing. His family background(military family) means Wang Shuo does not fight against the communist party, which leads the military forces. As a result, Wang Shuo's works were never banned in the PRC.
[edit] Works
- Meng xiang zhao jin xian shi (2006) screenplay
- Dreams May Come (English title)
- Kan shang qu hen mei (2006) screenplay, based on novel "Could be Beautiful"
- Guerra dei fiori rossi, La (Italy)
- Little Red Flowers (English title)
- Wo ai ni (2003) screenplay
- I Love You (English title)
- Love the Hard Way (2001) screenplay
- (based on novel "Yi Ban Shi Huo Yan, Yi Ban Shi Hai Shui")
- Baba (2000) director/screenplay, based on novel Wo shi ni baba
- Father/Papa (English title)
- Yi sheng tan xi (2000) novel/author
- A Sigh (English title)
- Yangguang Canlan de Rizi (1994) (based on novel Wild Beast) screenplay
- In the Heat of the Sun (English Title)
- Yong shi wo ai (1994) novel/author
- Gone Forever with My Love (English title)
- Xiao shi de nu ren (1993) novel/author
- The Vanished Woman (English title)
- Qingchun wu hui (1991) novel/auhor, screenplay
- No Regrets About Youth (English title)
- Lun hui (1988) novel/author, screenplay
- Samsara (English title)
- Wan zhu (1988) screenplay, based on novel
- The Troubleshooters (English title)
