‘인민’과 ‘문학’ 사이에서 — 「산호섬의 죽음의 광선(珊瑚島上的死光)」의 『인민문학』 ‘전국우수단편소설’ 선정을 중심으로

Abstract

This article analyzes the Chinese literary circle’s response to the social changes in the late 1970s by focusing on Death-Ray on The Coral Island which was selected by People’s Literature as one of the best short stories of 1978. As the Chinese authority loosened its grip on writers and scientists during the 1970s, science fiction quickly became a popular genre of literature. Especially, it looked like a leap into the mainstream in 1978 when the high-profile literary magazine People’s Literature picked Death-Ray on The Coral Island as one of the best short stories of the year. Public support was the main reason for this decision, and the literary work was successfully transformed in 1980 into a science fiction film, which was the first such case since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. As such, science fiction emerged as a leading literary form that represented the new cultural needs of the time and reached its “golden age” producing many and various items. But soon the government found the genre might impact the public’s perspective and started cracking down on it. The ups and downs that science fiction experienced in the late 1970s and early 1980s are very likely useful in informing the gap between the literary imagination and the cultural needs of the writers and the public. Further, they can help expand our understanding of the historical development of the Chinese SF industry, which recently became popular again.