Chinese Media Digest - Monday, October 8

Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2012-10-8 18:56:05

Keywords: Chinese writer favorite for Nobel Lit Prize, Media speculate over the future political landscape in Mideast

Chinese writer favorite for Nobel Lit Prize

Famed Chinese writer Mo Yan and Japan’s Haruki Murakami are the top projected recipients for this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature, according to British and Swedish betting houses.

As a result, Mo’s favored position has kickstarted speculation throughout Chinese media over the reasons behind China’s long absence from the prize list.

Global Times (Chinese edition) carried a commentary on October 8 saying that non-scientific Nobel prizes, including the Nobel Prize in Literature, are permeated with Western values.

The prize also reflects an occidental perception that China is not a mainstream force in the world, the report said.

The commentary went on to say that with China’s rapid expansion, if the Nobel Prize continues to evade Chinese candidates or run counter to Chinese values, it is isolating the most dynamic and creative group of people in the world.

Many Chinese expressed concerns over the absence of Chinese mainland citizens from the list of Nobel Prize recipients, as does the Nobel Prize committee, who should be concerned in the long run, the report said.

China will move on as before even without a Nobel Prize winner, the report said, adding that most Chinese will gradually place less importance on the award.

It is also a stretch to say that the Nobel Prize can remain an “authoritative” prize if no Chinese has ever won, given the talent of these Chinese authors has been widely recognized throughout the mainstream.

The Beijing Youth Daily opined that Mo is a writer who digs straight to the soul with deep and profound mediations on life and time. His work is characterized by erudite reflections on history, acute examinations of reality and penetrating depictions of human nature.

One advantage to celebrating the Prize, if any, is it reminds people to ponder the current importance of literature, which has been increasingly marginalized.

The paper also believes that online criticism of Mo by netizens lies in their high expectations of Chinese writers, who may neglect the tumult of society but should never ignore one’s innermost being.

The comment urged writers to produce works that could re-arouse public confidence in literature.

The Sichuan-based Western Metropolis Daily criticized that the public has paid more attention to the possible nominations rather than the works themselves.
 
Although some films adapted from previously awarded works have earned decent box office numbers, there are few books now that could really leave an indelible impression on generations to come.

Compared with the view that works competing for the prize do not cater to the taste or needs of Chinese readers, there is a feeling that “China’s literature was in its prime,” the commentary held.

Meanwhile, the influence of literary criticism, one of the driving forces behind progress in literature, has also plummeted in recent years.

The report held that real literature should not only include profound historic and human reflection, but also have the courage to touch upon sensitive issues.

Most Chinese are proud to see Mo as a projected winner. However, earning a single prize does not represent Chinese literature as a whole, the report said, while calling on readers to reflect on whether Mo’s projection is mere coincidence or an achievement that can be replicated in the future.

Media speculate over the future political landscape in Mideast

Turkey's military fired artillery into Syria on October 7 in immediate retaliation after a stray shelling landed in the Turkish border town of Akcakale, Dogan news agency reported, the second such incident in five days.

With tensions between Turkey and Syria escalating, Chinese media outlets also sounded off over the future political landscape of the already unrest-torn Middle East.

The Xinhua News Agency commented that the international community urges restraint from Turkey and Syria, as any regional unrest might trigger an entire upheaval in the already conflict-prone Middle East.

However, residents of both nations and the international community are not willing to see conflict no matter how the militaries attack each other, said the report.

Despite widespread government support to retaliate the Syrian bombing, Turks do not actually want to see any large-scale clashes or war with Syria. Similarly, the Syrian government also issued an apology for the bombing and promised no similar incidents in the future.

The commentary also considered that restraint exhibited by both nations would play a vital role in stabilizing the two nations and affect the entire Middle Eastern region.

Nations should respect the sovereignty of others and maintain regional peace through political means rather than violence, the paper urged.

China Youth Daily pointed out that the border clash between Turkey and Syria is in part a result of Syria’s domestic crisis.

Given the domestic unrest in Syria, the government does not wish to tolerate any military pressure from Turkey. At the same time, the Syrian government is currently unable to relieve this pressure since the Turkey has expressed overwhelming support for Syrian rebels.

However, the report held that the border clash does not necessarily mean that Turkey and Syria will go to war, after quoting observers of international politics. 

“The possibility of a war between Turkey and Syria is slim,” the report quoted a Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) broadcaster as saying.

Although Turkey has maintained a good relationship with the West and NATO members, it is heavily dependent on Russian and Iranian oil and gas, a fact that Turkey must take into consideration in the future.

Turkey’s retaliation was only meant to serve as a warning for the Syrian administration, according to TRT.

Separately, People’s Daily also attributed in an opinion piece on October 8 that Turkey’s increasingly firm stance against the Syrian attack is in part a move to maximize their interests amid regional instability.

Ranking first in economic growth among EU and Middle Eastern nations last year, Turkey has become one of the fastest developing nations thanks to its stable administration.

As a result, Turkey is likely to seize the chance to intensify its influence in the region by answering the appeal for reformation of the masses in the Middle East.

 

 



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