On September 25, Professor Jiang Shuqin delivered a captivating lecture on the century-long evolution of British Fantasy Novels in the School of 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.

Professor Jiang Shuqin emphasized 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.

During the Q&A session, the faculty and students engaged in warm and enthusiastic discussions with Professor Jiang. 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.

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.

By School of Foreign Languages

Editor: Sun Xiaofang