Abstract
Red Sorghum, the masterpiece of Mo Yan, the winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, is an exemplar of the Chinese root-seeking literature in the 1980s. Comparing the red sorghum field to an auditory field accommodating diversified species, the article unveils that its multispecies soundscape is characterized by its animated liveliness, tumultuous polyphony, and acoustic harmony between sound and silence. By delving into the historical and cultural context of the novel, as well as Mo’s personal background, this paper concludes that the clamorous multispecies soundscape in the red sorghum field can be attributed to Chinese ancient ecological philosophy, Gaomi people’s egalitarian spirit, and the writer’s animistic view. Moreover, it also contends that the writer gives high praise to Gaomi Township and Gaomi people, and calls for the existence, freedom, and equality of all life forms.
Recommended Citation
Chen, Qianqian and Tan, Joan Qionglin
(2023)
"The Multispecies Soundscape in Mo Yan's Red Sorghum,"
Kritika Kultura:
No.
42, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13185/1656-152x.2064
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk/vol1/iss42/3
