In an era of deepening globalization and multicultural integration, Chinese-language literature serves not only as a rich carrier of Chinese cultural heritage but also as a vital bridge connecting diverse cultures and ideas. For overseas Chinese writers, the challenge lies in maintaining their cultural identity while balancing literary traditions and innovative ideas in a rapidly changing world.
The Renwen Society at China Institute is pleased to host a lecture by Liu Qian, a young writer based in the U.S., on December. Liu will explore how Chinese-language writing addresses the unique role of contemporary Chinese literature in a globalized, multi-context landscape.
As a Gen Z writer living in the U.S., Liu Qian has embraced Chinese as her language of literary expression, striving to explore, preserve, and enrich the cultural foundations of Chinese literature. Her studies in comparative literature and multilingual learning have broadened her academic horizons and deepened her connection to her cross-cultural identity. For Liu, Chinese is more than just a language—it is a reflection of cultural identity, a bridge to global literary traditions, and a mirror that invites self-reflection.
The lecture will delve into Liu Qian’s writing journey, examining the endless longing and emotional complexity faced by overseas Chinese. Liu will share her personal experiences of studying and living abroad, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities that come with it. Through her story, she aims to reflect the shared struggles and lesser-known emotional journeys of the Chinese diaspora.
Additionally, the lecture will explore how young Chinese writers confront the impact of global cultures, building on the legacy of predecessors like Bai Xianyong and Zhang Ailing, to redefine and enrich the meaning of Chinese-language literature. Liu will discuss how they continue to explore the unique significance and value of Chinese writing within world literature, offering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
在全球化日益加深、多元文化交融的当今社会，华语文学不仅承载着丰富的中华文化遗产，更是连接不同文化与思想的重要桥梁。在这个瞬息万变的时代，如何保持自身的文化身份认同，平衡文学传统与想法创新，是每位海外华语作家必须面对的挑战。
华美人文学会特邀旅美青年作家刘倩于美东时间12月7日晚8时至9时半（北京时间12月8日上午9时至10时半）做专题讲座，讨论上述问题。
作为一名00后旅美作家，刘倩在多元文化的影响下，坚定用中文进行文学创作，致力于探索、传承并丰富中国文学的文化根基。她的多语言学习与比较文学研究，不仅拓宽了她的学术视野，更让她在创作中找到了与自己跨文化、跨语境身份的深刻联系。对她而言，中文不仅是一种语言，更是文化身份的体现，是与世界文学传统对话的桥梁，以及能激发我们自省的明镜。
本次讲座旨在讨论在日益全球化与多语境交织的格局下，当代华语文学所扮演的独特角色。刘倩将分享她如何通过写作，深入探索海外华人的无限乡愁与游子之情，以及在异国求学和生活中的机遇与挑战。通过分享个人经历，她希望能够反映出海外华人群体所面临的普遍困境与不为人知的心路历程。此外，本次讲座还将探讨年轻一代华语作家如何面对全球文化的冲击与影响，结合前辈作家（如白先勇、张爱玲）的积累，重新定义和丰富华语文学的内涵，继续探索华语写作在世界文学中的独特意义与价值，并贡献独一无二的全新视野与想法。
China Institute’s cultural programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Liu Qian is a writer based in the U.S. with a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Master’s in Humanities from the University of Chicago. Her wide-ranging academic interests span Eastern and Western classical opera, dramatic traditions, modern film culture, and fiction. She has won several national writing awards, and her works have been published in numerous literary journals. Her latest collection of fictional prose, At the Turn of Spring, was published in September 2024.
刘倩，旅美作家。哥伦比亚大学巴纳德学院比较文学学士，芝加哥大学人文硕士。学术兴趣广泛，涉及东西方古典戏曲和歌剧、戏剧传统，以及现代电影文化和小说。刘倩曾获得多项国家级写作奖项，例如全国新概念作文大赛。她的作品曾发表于《青年文学家》、《牡丹》、《作家天地》、《作家文摘》、《散文选刊》、《海外文摘》和《文学与现代中国》等期刊。最新虚构散文故事集《别来春半》（作家出版社）已于2024年9月正式出版。
