UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSNATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINESE SCIENCE FICTION

Abstract [English]

Chinese science fiction, a subset of the fastest-growing global science fiction, has been largely overlooked by mainstream literature in China. Despite facing socio-political and economic turmoil, it has slowly made a mark in contemporary literature. As society changes, science and technology advance, and the shadow of history remains, new generations of Chinese science fiction writers have successfully triggered its development. Currently, the number of Chinese sci-fi writings has increased rapidly, and some great paradigms are even included in textbooks. However, the emergence of globalization has played a significant role in popularizing Chinese science fiction overseas. Science fiction films and television works that focus on Chinese themes and show Chinese imagination and culture are increasingly recognized, injecting new ideas into China's science fiction industry. Chinese science fiction has always had a transnational nature due to the global presence of overseas Chinese literati and the growing country's stature. A lot has been talked and researched on the development of Chinese science fiction within China, however little has been talked regarding the genre’s potential to become a global phenomenon. Through this paper the researcher has tried to examine the inherent potential of Chinese science fiction as transnational cultural tool for becoming a key contributor to global science fiction.