Professor Jiang Shuqin Delivered a Lecture on the Evolution of British Fantasy Novels at the School of Foreign Languages

On September 25th, Professor Jiang Shuqin delivered a captivating lectureon the century-long evolution of British Fantasy Novels at Lecture Hall 160. The lecture attracted over 130 attendees, including faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students majoring in foreign languages. 

The event was chaired by Professor Wang Lisong.  

During the lecture, Professor Jiang Shuqin provided an overview of fantasy novels, tracing their historical context and highlighting the three major development phases: the Victorian era, the mid-20th century, and the 30-year period at the turn of the 21st century. With vivid and humorous language, Professor Jiang described the key characteristics of fantasy novels and discussed their representative authors and writing background etc. To enhance the audience's understanding of each period’s distinctive features, Professor Jiang played the video clips of “falling down the rabbit hole” and “tea party” from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  

One of the main points emphasized by Professor Jiang Shuqin was the intricate connection between the evolution of British fantasy novels and changes in social, historical, and cultural contexts. She further highlighted the significance of studying their content and forms, as it allows for the contemplation and understanding of society, psychology, and the meaning of life. The essence of fantasy novels, according to Professor Jiang, lies in their resistance to the encroachment of industrial civilization, offering humanity a chance to rediscover the spiritual wholeness. She emphasized that their value lies in their ability to reflect reality and rebuild faith, particularly in an age of rapid technological advancement where literature can combat the detachment from reality through the imaginative power.

 During the Q&A session, the faculty and students engaged in warm and enthusiastic discussions with Professor Jiang Shuqin. The topics included creative techniques and forms of fantasy novels, the meaning of “Shuttle” in fantasy literature, the relationship between fantasy novels and works like Twilight and Gulliver’s Travels, the counteractive and escapist functions of literature, narrative perspectives in fairy tales and fantasy novels, and the development trends of 21st-century fantasy novels etc. 

About the Lecturer

Professor Jiang Shuqin, a doctoral supervisor at Sichuan International Studies University, is a highly accomplished lecturer. She leads the Multilingual Children’s Literature Translation and Research Innovation Team and is recognized as one of the outstanding young teachers in Chongqing. Professor Jiang also holds key positions in various academic associations, including the Foreign Children’s Literature Research Association of the Comparative Study of Chinese and Foreign Languages and Cultures, where she serves as the Executive Director, and the Cognitive Poetics Branch of the Chinese Comparative Literature Association, where she holds the position as the Director. She has conducted research as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in the United States and as a visiting scholar at renowned institutions such as the University of Melbourne in Australia and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Her research primarily focuses on English novels, as well as the translation and research of children’s literature in Chinese and Western contexts. She has successfully led multiple research projects, published monographs, translated books, and contributed numerous research papers to her field.