What should I do if my 17-year-old daughter enjoys reading Mo Yan's books?

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  Hello, original poster.


It's hard to believe that in such a brief statement, you manage to combine believing in rumors, ignorance, arrogance, rudeness, and aiding the wicked—all at once. Truly remarkable.


First, the Writers Association has never expelled Mo Yan. What you "saw online" and chose to believe without further investigation, thinking you had uncovered the truth, is quite alarming.


Secondly, Mo Yan's books do not pander to foreign audiences, but they do express sympathy for the wrongly labeled "old rightists" and marginalized groups, often speaking up for them subtly or openly. "The Garlic Ballads" is written for bankrupt farmers, "Shifu You Nie" for laid-off workers, and "Soaring" criticizes the "exchange marriage" custom prevalent before the 2000s, with the female protagonist ultimately trapped in the sky, unable to return to earth. A dark-skinned, impoverished child appears in "The Transparent Carrot." In "The Red Sorghum Family," Yu Zhan'ao and Jiuniu become anti-Japanese heroes driven by their strong will to survive. In "Frog," the aunt, a gynecologist, enforces the family planning policy by performing over 2000 abortions, and in her later years, she suffers from mental illness due to a shift in her beliefs.


Not watching is your choice, but if you haven't watched, don't criticize. Yet you listen to "many people say" – who are these people? Have you even read one of his articles? You're just repeating others' opinions and following their decisions. Do you have any thoughts of your own?


Many foreigners enjoy revealing the darker aspects of China, finding pleasure in seeing others in difficult situations. However, this does not mean that writers who expose reality have malicious intentions. Historians document events truthfully to record phenomena and offer lessons for future generations. Writers, who create fictional histories, must also depict phenomena and reflect certain realities.


For instance, the part in Mo Yan's book where characters are described as "eating coal lumps," which might seem absurd to those who haven't experienced poverty or read the book.


But please carefully read the first half of Chapter 7 in historian Jonathan Spence's book "The Taiping Kingdom" to see whether it's Mo Yan or the historian who is actually talking nonsense. — Despite the apparent contradiction, there is some truth to it.


The plot of a novel is fictional, but it must not evoke false emotions. Many writers promote positive energy by addressing topics such as national reforms, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, and development. These accomplishments are widely recognized by the Chinese people, who are eager to support them. This is one type of literature that the questioner can explore on their own.


Ultimately, by not watching anything and simply believing the rumor that you "don't want your daughter to watch," you are setting a poor example that could shape your daughter into a vulgar person. Here, vulgarity doesn't mean being uncultured or unread, but rather a mix of arrogance and rudeness. Many of life's setbacks stem from such behavior.


Edited on 2023-03-31 11:52, IP location: Shandong

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