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The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama

November 05, 2023

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama is a 2010 book edited and introduced by Xiaomei Chen (simplified Chinese: 陈小眉; traditional Chinese: 陳小眉; pinyin: Chén Xiǎoméi)[1] and published by the Columbia University Press.

First edition

There are 22 plays, including huaju and comedies. The time span of the plays ranges from 1919 to 2000.[2] About half of the plays were published before the 1980s, including five plays from the Maoist era and seven from the 1920s. One of the Maoist plays is a Cultural Revolution-era model opera drama.[3] In terms of the political era, 11 are from the Republican Era and the remainder are from after the start of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Of the remainder, eight are from Mainland China, two are from British Hong Kong prior to the 1997 handover, and one is from Taiwan.[2] Four of the plays had previously been published in the 1983 anthology Twentieth-century Chinese Drama: An Anthology by Edward Gunn.[3]

Translators of the plays include Brenda Austin, Amy Dooling,[4] Edward Gunn,[2] Nick Kaldis, Jonathan S. Noble,[4] John Weinstein, and Shiao-ling Yu.[2] Taiwanese author Stan Lai and Hong Kong author Joanne Chan had written and provided the English translations of their respective works.[3] Some translations had originated in earlier works and were modified. Mary Mazzilli of The China Quarterly wrote that "This adds a contemporary flavour to the texts without detracting from the meaning and style from the originals."[4]

Content edit

The introduction, an overview of the genre, places the plays in chronological order and describes the role of huaju in politics and culture. This introduction includes citations and endnotes. Kevin J. Wetmore, Jr. of Loyola Marymount University stated that even though using an individual introduction to each work would have allowed the inclusion of production histories and biographical information of the playwrights, "that is the tradeoff for the bigger picture presented by the comprehensive introduction aimed at general readers and students."[2]

Plays included in the 2010 unabridged version of the anthology:

This book includes the first-ever English versions of A Wasp, Che Guevara, and Geologists.[2] The 2014 paperback version, described as an "Abridged Edition", includes 13 plays: The Main Event in Life, The Night the Tiger Was Caught, After Returning Home, A Wasp, Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda, Thunderstorm, Under Shanghai Eaves, Teahouse, Guan Hanqing, The Young Generation, The Legend of the Red Lantern, Bus Stop, and Sha Yexin's Jiang Qing and Her Husbands (1990).[6]

Reception edit

Wetmore referred to Chen's statement in the introduction, her desire that the book "will inspire other scholars, students, and general readers to explore the richness of Chinese theatre",[7] and wrote himself that he "hopes it will, too, and believes it can."[7] Wetmore added that the English translations "read well and also perform well" and that "speaking as both a teacher and director of Asian theatre these translations are eminently playable in English."[2] Wetmore was unable to read or speak Mandarin or Cantonese, so therefore he chose not to comment on any accuracy of the translations.[2] Wetmore advocated for the release of a softcover version that may be more economical for individual students.[7]

Faye Chunfang Fei, Professor of English and Drama at East China Normal University, referred to the anthology as "by far the most monumental attempt to bring together dramatic texts of China's modern huaju in English translation." Fei said notable works by Guo Shixing and Sha Yexin are excluded, but still stated that "Chen's selection is excellent".[5] Reviewing the abridged edition, Xing Fan of University of Toronto wrote that "the thirteen plays offer the reader a nuanced, rich, and dynamic picture of modern Chinese drama: they [...] embrace both those of enduring popularity and the rarely staged, lesser known, and they comprise a variety of" genres. The reviewer also praised the introduction as highly informative.[6]

References edit

  • Mazzilli, Mary. "The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama" (book review). The China Quarterly, ISSN 0305-7410, 06/2011, Volume 206, Issue 206, start p. 449
  • Wetmore, Kevin J., Jr. (Loyola Marymount University). "The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama" (book review). The Journal of Asian Studies, ISSN 0021-9118, 11/2011, Volume 70, Issue 4, pp. 1114 – 1116.

Notes edit

  1. ^ "《正角登场:当代中国大众戏剧》 (Acting the Right Part: Political Theater and Popular Drama in Post-Mao China, University of Hawaii Press, 2002)" (Chinese language abstract). Xiaomei Chen. Retrieved on May 11, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Wetmore, p. 1115.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mazzilli, p. 450.
  4. ^ a b c Mazzilli, p. 451.
  5. ^ a b c d e Fei, Faye Chunfang (2012). "Review of The Soul of Beijing Opera: Theatrical Creativity and Continuity in the Changing World; The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama". TDR. 56 (3): 187–190. doi:10.1162/DRAM_r_00198. ISSN 1054-2043. JSTOR 23262944. S2CID 190594114.
  6. ^ a b Fan, Xing (2016). "Review of THE COLUMBIA ANTHOLOGY OF MODERN CHINESE DRAMA (ABRIDGED EDITION)". Asian Theatre Journal. 33 (1): 221–223. doi:10.1353/atj.2016.0016. ISSN 0742-5457. JSTOR 24737167. S2CID 163516184.
  7. ^ a b c Wetmore, p. 1116.

External links edit

  • The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama

November 05, 2023
columbia, anthology, modern, chinese, drama, 2010, book, edited, introduced, xiaomei, chen, simplified, chinese, 陈小眉, traditional, chinese, 陳小眉, pinyin, chén, xiǎoméi, published, columbia, university, press, first, editionthere, plays, including, huaju, comedi. The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama is a 2010 book edited and introduced by Xiaomei Chen simplified Chinese 陈小眉 traditional Chinese 陳小眉 pinyin Chen Xiǎomei 1 and published by the Columbia University Press First editionThere are 22 plays including huaju and comedies The time span of the plays ranges from 1919 to 2000 2 About half of the plays were published before the 1980s including five plays from the Maoist era and seven from the 1920s One of the Maoist plays is a Cultural Revolution era model opera drama 3 In terms of the political era 11 are from the Republican Era and the remainder are from after the start of the People s Republic of China in 1949 Of the remainder eight are from Mainland China two are from British Hong Kong prior to the 1997 handover and one is from Taiwan 2 Four of the plays had previously been published in the 1983 anthology Twentieth century Chinese Drama An Anthology by Edward Gunn 3 Translators of the plays include Brenda Austin Amy Dooling 4 Edward Gunn 2 Nick Kaldis Jonathan S Noble 4 John Weinstein and Shiao ling Yu 2 Taiwanese author Stan Lai and Hong Kong author Joanne Chan had written and provided the English translations of their respective works 3 Some translations had originated in earlier works and were modified Mary Mazzilli of The China Quarterly wrote that This adds a contemporary flavour to the texts without detracting from the meaning and style from the originals 4 Contents 1 Content 2 Reception 3 References 4 Notes 5 External linksContent editThe introduction an overview of the genre places the plays in chronological order and describes the role of huaju in politics and culture This introduction includes citations and endnotes Kevin J Wetmore Jr of Loyola Marymount University stated that even though using an individual introduction to each work would have allowed the inclusion of production histories and biographical information of the playwrights that is the tradeoff for the bigger picture presented by the comprehensive introduction aimed at general readers and students 2 Plays included in the 2010 unabridged version of the anthology The Main Event in Life 1919 by Hu Shih 2 Yama Zhao 1922 by Hong Shen 3 The Night the Tiger Was Caught 1922 1923 by Tian Han 3 A Wasp 1923 by Ding Xilin 2 After Returning Home 1923 by Ouyang Yuqian 3 Oppression 1925 by Ding Xilin 5 Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda 1928 by Bai Wei 5 Thunderstorm 1934 by Cao Yu 2 Wetmore stated that this inclusion was I believe for the first time the play Thunderstorm was included in an anthology 2 It s only Spring 1937 by Lin Jianwu 3 Under Shanghai Eaves 1937 by Xia Yan 5 Return on a Snowy Night 1942 by Wu Zuguang 3 Teahouse 1958 by Lao She 2 Guan Hanqing 1958 by Tian Han 3 The Young Generation 1965 by Chen Yun 5 The Legend of the Red Lantern Cultural Revolution era 3 Bus Stop 1983 by Gao Xingjian 2 Metamorphosis 1986 by Anthony Chan Hong Kong play 3 Crown Ourselves with Roses 1988 by Joanne Chan 3 Wilderness and Man 1988 by Li Longyun 3 Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land by Stan Lai Taiwanese work 3 Geologists 1995 by Yang Limin 2 Che Guevara 2000 by Huang Jisu Zhang Guantian and Shen Lin 2 This book includes the first ever English versions of A Wasp Che Guevara and Geologists 2 The 2014 paperback version described as an Abridged Edition includes 13 plays The Main Event in Life The Night the Tiger Was Caught After Returning Home A Wasp Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda Thunderstorm Under Shanghai Eaves Teahouse Guan Hanqing The Young Generation The Legend of the Red Lantern Bus Stop and Sha Yexin s Jiang Qing and Her Husbands 1990 6 Reception editWetmore referred to Chen s statement in the introduction her desire that the book will inspire other scholars students and general readers to explore the richness of Chinese theatre 7 and wrote himself that he hopes it will too and believes it can 7 Wetmore added that the English translations read well and also perform well and that speaking as both a teacher and director of Asian theatre these translations are eminently playable in English 2 Wetmore was unable to read or speak Mandarin or Cantonese so therefore he chose not to comment on any accuracy of the translations 2 Wetmore advocated for the release of a softcover version that may be more economical for individual students 7 Faye Chunfang Fei Professor of English and Drama at East China Normal University referred to the anthology as by far the most monumental attempt to bring together dramatic texts of China s modern huaju in English translation Fei said notable works by Guo Shixing and Sha Yexin are excluded but still stated that Chen s selection is excellent 5 Reviewing the abridged edition Xing Fan of University of Toronto wrote that the thirteen plays offer the reader a nuanced rich and dynamic picture of modern Chinese drama they embrace both those of enduring popularity and the rarely staged lesser known and they comprise a variety of genres The reviewer also praised the introduction as highly informative 6 References editMazzilli Mary The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama book review The China Quarterly ISSN 0305 7410 06 2011 Volume 206 Issue 206 start p 449 Wetmore Kevin J Jr Loyola Marymount University The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama book review The Journal of Asian Studies ISSN 0021 9118 11 2011 Volume 70 Issue 4 pp 1114 1116 Notes edit 正角登场 当代中国大众戏剧 Acting the Right Part Political Theater and Popular Drama in Post Mao China University of Hawaii Press 2002 Chinese language abstract Xiaomei Chen Retrieved on May 11 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Wetmore p 1115 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mazzilli p 450 a b c Mazzilli p 451 a b c d e Fei Faye Chunfang 2012 Review of The Soul of Beijing Opera Theatrical Creativity and Continuity in the Changing World The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama TDR 56 3 187 190 doi 10 1162 DRAM r 00198 ISSN 1054 2043 JSTOR 23262944 S2CID 190594114 a b Fan Xing 2016 Review of THE COLUMBIA ANTHOLOGY OF MODERN CHINESE DRAMA ABRIDGED EDITION Asian Theatre Journal 33 1 221 223 doi 10 1353 atj 2016 0016 ISSN 0742 5457 JSTOR 24737167 S2CID 163516184 a b c Wetmore p 1116 External links editThe Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama amp oldid 1131471955, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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