Wang Shuo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wang.
Wang Shuo
Born August 23, 1958(1958-08-23)
Nanjing, China
Occupation novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, columnist
Genres novel, satire

Wang Shuo (Chinese: 王朔; pinyin: Wáng Shuò, b. August 23, 1958) 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.

Contents

[edit] Background

Wang Shuo grew up in an army district in Beijing, his family was of Manchu ancestry. 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 turned down an offer from Francis Ford Coppola's production company. In 2007, Wang Shuo became active once again and went on many talk shows. His latest novel sold at three dollars per character, a collective of 3.65 million RMB. This is a record high in Chinese publishing history.

[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 was not allowed to be shown in China until 2004, not because of his political stance, but rather due to his style. Wang Shuo is a national best seller in China and has influenced generations of Chinese readers. With over 20 novels and 10 million copies in print, Wang Shuo's influence ranges from students to workers, and from drifters to intellectuals. His works mark the beginning of a new writing style in China, influencing many new authors. 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 been influenced by another literature master, Lao She from Beijing. Because of his family background, 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 People's Republic of China.

[edit] Works

[edit] Novels

  • Wanzhu (1987)
Masters of Mischief
  • Lun hui (1988)
Samsara (English title)
  • Wanr de jiushi xintiao (1989)
Playing For Thrills (English Title)
  • Qingchun wu hui (1991)
No Regrets About Youth (English title)
  • Xiao shi de nu ren (1993)
The Vanished Woman (English title)
  • Yong shi wo ai (1994)
Gone Forever with My Love (English title)
  • Qianwan bie ba wo dang ren (1989)
Please don't call me human (English title)
  • Yi sheng tan xi (2000)
A Sigh (English title)
  • He women de nver tanhua. 《和我们的女儿谈话》(2008)
"A conversation with our daughter"

[edit] Filmography

[edit] As director

[edit] Screenplays

  • The Troubleshooters (Wan zhu) (1988)
  • Samsara (Lun hui) (1988)
  • No Regrets About Youth (Qingchun wu hui) (1991)
  • In the Heat of the Sun (Yangguang Canlan de Rizi) (1994) - based on the novel Wild Beast
  • Father (2000) - based on the novel Wo shi ni baba
  • Love the Hard Way (2001) - based on the novel Yi Ban Shi Huo Yan, Yi Ban Shi Hai Shui
  • I Love You (Wo ai ni) (2002)
  • Little Red Flowers (Kan shang qu hen mei) (2006) - based on novel "Could be Beautiful"
  • Dreams May Come (Meng xiang zhao jin xian shi) (2006)

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Elite Class Background of Wang Shuo and His Hooligan Characters - Yao 30 (4): 431 - Modern China

[edit] External links