情欲描写移植错位:《金瓶梅》非文士之作

1 与《金瓶梅词话》关系密切的情欲小说,当推《如意君传》,对两书进行比较研究,有助于弄清文学上的传承关系,且能为成书找到新的佐证。《金瓶梅词话》第三十七回,写西门庆与王六儿秽事“犹如武则天遇敖曹”,虽未明指书名,然确为《如意君传》之本事。《如意君传》不仅对《金瓶梅》,对后来的情欲小说影响也大。《肉蒲团》在书中两次直指《如意君传》、《绣榻野史》、《痴婆子传》之书名。《如意君传》为短篇,卷首有华阳散人甲戌秋所作之序。《肉蒲团》今见为日刊本,时当清康熙乙酉(1705年)刊行。初曾疑“如”传华阳散人甲戌序,或伪托“假虚”即子虚乌有也。词话本“犹如武则天遇敖曹”一说,给人们提供了证据,此书确在《金瓶梅》之前。今且以《肉蒲团》刊行之康熙乙酉为终点,将此前的“甲戌”列下:     

淫虽一理意则有别--西门庆与贾宝玉之"淫"的比较研究

明代小说《金瓶梅》中的西门庆与清代《红楼梦》中的贾宝玉 ,在中国古代小说史中乃至整部中国文学史上都是“天下古今第一淫人”的艺术形象 ,但二者的思想与行为表现却有着本质上的区别 :前者为疯狂占有一切的“皮肤滥淫之蠢物耳” ;后者为“天分中生成一段痴情” ,被“推之为‘意淫’”。从明清纲纪不张的时代特点等方面进行考察 ,他们的出现决不是偶然的、孤立的。     

中日性别史视阈下的《源氏物语》新解——评钱澄新著《从西门庆到贾宝玉——〈源氏物语〉探析》

《源氏物语》是11世纪日本女作家紫式部撰写的长篇小说,也是世界上最早的长篇写实小说,被誉为日本古典文学的高峰、日本的《红楼梦》。世界各国学者都曾对之展开深入研究,成果甚为丰硕。中国学者在研究此书时,往往与中国古典文学作品《金瓶梅》与《红楼梦》相映照,或就西门庆、贾宝玉、光源氏分而论述;或从情欲的相悖、伦理的撞击、审美情趣等方面与西门庆、贾宝玉进行比较研究;或从性格特征、情感观念、爱情命运、     

论《金瓶梅》"盐引"的意义和作用

<金瓶梅>是一本政治倾向非常浓厚的小说,书中用大量的笔墨写了以蔡京为首的官员的贪贿、吏治的腐败,甚至直接把矛头了指向皇帝--谩骂皇帝,这一切与晚明万历时期的"非君"思想有关.<金瓶梅>对的政治的书写主要集中在吏治的腐败上,在其中我们看到了官商勾结、买官卖官这类的内容.但是,这类的吏治腐败并不是此书写政治最为主要的内容,还有更为深刻的内容在此书中隐藏而未被揭示,这就是官商勾结在经济上倒买倒卖,而此类勾结对国家的经济基础危害极大,动摇了国之根本.这件事主要表现在<金瓶梅>第48回蔡京所提出的"盐引"之事上,而在54回到57回,理应写的就是西门庆和蔡京的门徒蔡蕴勾结贩卖"私盐",但是这几回却不翼而飞.因这几回的丢失,<金瓶梅>对晚明政治批判的力度没有彻底地显示出来,由此,我们对这部小说的政治目的也感到朦胧.     

一部值得阅读的专著——谈郑庆山的《金瓶梅论稿》

《金瓶梅》是一部奇书。正是因为它的“奇”,自它产生四百年来,版本问题、作者问题、成书过程问题以及如何认识它的思想内容、分析它的人物、无不存在分歧。特别是近代,国内外一些著名学者也参与了对《金瓶梅》的探讨,写了一些专论。但对一般读者来说,往往失之过“专”,特别是没有读过《金瓶梅》的读者,看了这些专论,如坠万里云雾之中,不知所云。而郑庆山同志的《金瓶梅论稿》(以下简称《论稿》)则不然,它是一部深入浅出的专著,一般读者都可读得懂的书。《金瓶梅》由于它本身存在的问题,历代都是被作为禁书的。解放后虽也出过几次,但数量很少,一般读者很难得到。在这种情况下,如何针对读过的和没有读过而又迫切想知道它的读者,写专论《金瓶梅》的文章,不能不是个难题。但《论稿》处理的极为得当。它既着眼于一定的学术性,又着眼于普及性、知识性、资料性。对过去和现在     

古代小说中复制出的第一个家庭环境——《金瓶梅》家庭描写的历史价值

本文从家庭生活结构应有的五个层面去审视,结合作品的实际和对古代小说发展史有关方面的考察,认为《金瓶梅》形象地复制出的时序分时、层次清晰的西门庆家庭环境,在小说史上具有得风气之先、为数第一的里程碑的意义。作品以西门庆家庭为连接点,描写了一系列大大小小的家庭,构成了一个有体系有层次的中国封建社会后期的家庭系统,创作了一幅形象典型、多彩多姿的百家图。作者认为,西门庆家庭的流变形态,蕴含着历史发展的新质和时代精神的新貌,具体而言有三个特点:(1)西门庆的发家史是封建社会后期财产分配新方式的具体体现,即封建官场的特权和商业市场上的经营相结合,带有资本原始积累的历史形态;(2)西门庆家庭日逐成为地方官绅和朝臣大吏交往和政治活动的场所,说明了金钱势力的增强所引起的政治中心在转移和价值观念的变革;(3)西门庆家庭人际关系的流变和生活方式的新态,成为新旧交替,传统与反传统的道德意识撞击与嬗变时代的一个投影。     

人性与兽性的纠结——光源氏与西门庆、贾宝玉比较研究

“皮肤滥淫”、“意淫”是两种相互对立的对于女性和两性关系的态度与方式。皮肤滥淫的本质是动物本能异化,意淫则体现了人文精神。西门庆属典型的“皮肤滥淫”,而贾宝玉则是“意淫”的代表者。《源氏物语》的主人公光源氏的身上却同时兼具“皮肤滥淫”与“意淫”两种特征,呈现出了人性与兽性的纠结：贾宝玉的禀赋,西门庆的行为。这是一对不可调和的矛盾,光源氏自始至终都处于这一对矛盾带来的痛苦、榜徨与困惑之中。促使源氏最终由西门庆向贾宝玉转化的是《源氏物语》的女主人公——紫姬。源氏对紫姬的感情逐渐地向爱情转化、发展,但这个过程非常艰难曲折,紫姬的死让他幡然醒悟,完成了人性的救赎。     

史迁笔法:寓论断于序事

如果说孔子“春秋笔法”主要表现在“一字定褒贬”的修辞层面上,那么史迁笔法则将其扩大为篇章的叙事结构上,人物形象的描写上,乃至《史记》全书的整体布局上。寓论断于序事作为史迁笔法之一,主要表现在三个层面上:述而不作,借史料之取舍传心中之隐曲;据事直书,词不迫切而意独至;侧笔旁议,托他人之口代作者之言。     

试说《儒林外史》为“儒林”、“写实”小说——兼及鲁迅“讽刺之书”说的思考

《儒林外史》在题材上是一部写明代以及清代的“儒林小说”,它源于史家“实录”精神的高度“写实”的文学成就,虽使其有“足称讽刺之书”之誉,但“讽刺”仅其“写实”效果的一面,又系读者“受性”自得,而非作者有意为之.《儒林外史》的总体艺术风格是“写实”,而非“讽刺”.《儒林外史》是我国古代最优秀、最纯粹的“儒林”题材“写实”风格的长篇小说.     

诗苑英华在 常与日月新──学习毛泽东同志《诗词三首》札记

毛泽东同志《诗词三首》,以赠别、吊唁、咏史为内容,分别描述了夫妻之爱情、悲吊了战友之逝世,歌咏了历史之沧桑。诗人健笔纵横,信手挥洒,无不写得言近旨远,理至情深。品之,“诗味”醇浓,沁人心脾;赏之,“特色”奇佳,光彩照人。它们是清算林彪、“四人帮”罪恶言行的锐利思想武器,也是繁荣社会主义诗歌创作的光辉学习典范。 (一) 在毛泽东同志公开发表的诗词中,《贺新郎》一词是迄今为止年代最早的作品。词的题材和主题,是直接描述革命夫妻生活的爱情的颂歌。因此,它从内容到形式,都给人以耳目全新之感,实在弥足珍贵。 这首词写于一九二三年…     

Considering Improvisation: Play,Transitional Space,and Discovery

This article explores the concept of improvisation in the therapeutic setting as a complex construction when elaborated in the idiom of jazz music. A composite clinical case is offered that illustrates an impasse and how improvisational thinking offers a way forward. Improvisation has recently been conceptualized through the metaphor of theater improvisation, dance, and rhythm. The therapeutic hour is considered an improvisational dialogue with the main theme (melody) and counter melodies, and harmonic possibilities that underlie the rhythmic pulse of the hour. Improvisation requires a reflective/interpretive process that draws on patterns, structures, and experiences reformulated in the relational field of the participants. The client initiates the call and response pattern, from which improvisation emerges as a mutual process of discovery. A more relaxed, receptive, and reflective posture extends Winnicott’s 1971 notion of play to integrate classic understanding and relational interaction.     

Objective Tests versus Subjective tests

objective test has only one correct answer, while subjective test has a range of possible answers. Because of this feature, reliability will not be difficult to achieve in the marking of the objective item, while the marking of the subjective items is reliable. On the whole, a good test must contain both subjective and objective test items.     

Comments on the National College English Test

College English Test is an important national test for Chinese college students, this paper introduces the distribution of scores, time of examination, and analyses the four parts in CET ,such as listening comprehension, reading comprehension, integrated testing, and writing based on testing theories.     

Social security reforms in Kenya: Towards a workerist or a citizenship‐based system?

With social security provisions in Kenya remaining under‐reported in the more recent literature, this overview covers recent reforms in key areas of the country's social security system. In the health sector and in old‐age pension provision social security is still mainly workerist (biased toward those in formal employment), and attempts to expand coverage have had limited effect only – cash transfer programmes, for instance, have been expanded but in practice they do not universally cover the entitled categories. Thus, although the Kenyan social security system now has a considerable pro‐poor social assistance component it remains biased toward those in formal employment, to the benefit of the highest income quintile.     

Abstracts of theses: Smith College School for Social Work,July 1954

Abstract

Many clients relate in ways that elicit emotional responses in practitioners and may also feel pressure to intervene when appropriate action is not yet clear. Practitioners must develop sufficient self-awareness so their own reactions do not interfere with the work they do with clients. Educators exhort their students to be self-aware, but locating methods that foster the capacity can be difficult. Infant observation is an elegant training model that helps to develop self-awareness. The method described here makes use of regular observation, supportive small groups, and repeated detailed examination of what is seen in training both generalist and specialized practitioners. It has become a prototype for the observational study of several kinds of specific populations. Because it attends to people in their own environments and demonstrates a flexible, reflective, multi-modal manner of information-gathering, infant observation is particularly useful in the education of social work practitioners.     

India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act: Assessing the quality of access and adequacy of benefits in MGNREGS public works

The extension of social protection to all has become a central policy objective, both nationally and internationally. A considerable number of middle‐ and low‐income countries have undertaken substantial efforts to extend social protection, while the international community reaffirmed its commitment to the extension of social protection through the adoption of the ILO Recommendation concerning National Floors of Social Protection, No. 202 (2012). This article reviews the legal provisions and the implementation of the Indian Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), legislated in 2005, and does so in the light of the more recent provisions of ILO Recommendation No. 202. Since its introduction ten years ago, MGNREGA has provided a source of income to rural workers, increased wage rates, achieved high female participation rates and created durable assets. India's local governance bodies, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), have been empowered and involved in the processes of planning and monitoring. However, despite successes, there have been considerable shortcomings in implementation. This article highlights two central themes: first, the innovative policy framework of the Act, which brings together rights‐based entitlements, demand‐driven employment, and citizen‐centred monitoring. Second, it assesses the accessibility and adequacy of benefits in the implementation of MGNREGA. We conclude that MGNREGA offers potential for South‐South learning, both in terms of policy‐design and implementation.     

From “Either‐Or” to “When and How”: A Context‐Dependent Model of Culture in Action

In this article, I outline a framework for the sociological study of culture that connects three intertwined elements of human culture (cultural motivations, resources, and meanings) and demonstrates the concrete contexts under which each most critically influences actions and their subsequent outcomes. In contrast to models that cast motivations, resources, and meanings as competing explanations of how culture affects action, I argue that these are fundamental constituent elements of culture that are inseparable, interdependent, and simultaneously operative. Which element provides the strongest link to action, and how this link operates, must be understood as a function of the actor's position within wider social contexts. I argue that on average motivations have the most discernable link to action within a social strata, cultural resources provide the strongest link across strata, and meanings have the greatest direct influence when codified and sanctioned. I then offer a reframing and synthesis that reintegrates previously “competing” theories of culture into a more holistic context‐dependent model of culture in action. Finally, I use evidence from prior empirical research, as well as new data from an ongoing ethnographic study of health behaviors among the aged, to show how various elements of culture are concretely linked to action in eight different social contexts. In doing so, I provide a roadmap for the transition out of the “either‐or” logic underlying much of cultural theory and reemphasize the importance of the classical sociological concern for “when” and “how” various aspects of culture influence action and outcomes in concrete social contexts.     

A Man Can be Destroyed but Not Defeated

Santiago,the main hero in the Old Man and the Sea is characterized as someone struggling against defeat. He has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish,the sail of his skiff resembles "the flag of permanent defeat." But the old man refuses defeat at every turn:he resolves to sail out beyond the other fishermen to where the biggest fish promise to be. He lands the marlin,tying his record of eighty-seven days after a brutal three-day fight,and he continues to ward off sharks from stealing his prey,even though he knows the battle is useless. He establishes a great hero:a man can be destroyed but not defeated.     

The gender gap in pensions in Latin America

Lower female lifetime labour market participation rates, greater interruptions during their working lives, and wage gaps contribute to create gender gaps in pensions at the time of retirement. The design of social security systems may reinforce or attenuate these gaps. This article provides new evidence on gender gaps in access to pensions and in pension income in four Southern Cone countries in Latin America and analyses their evolution between 2000 and 2013, showing significant improvements in both gaps, with differential patterns by countries. The decrease in the gender gap in pension income has been particularly significant in Argentina and Brazil. In both cases, the largest increases in pension values during the period correspond to the lowest income percentiles, where women are overrepresented. The application of redistributive policies in these countries, aimed at reducing poverty and inequality but not necessarily focused on gender equity, has had positive and probably unintended consequences in terms of reduction in gender gaps in pensions.