Hello Gentle Reader
Up until this point, I have been very ambivalent on the choice to award the Chinese author Mo Yan with the Nobel Prize in Literature. Though it has always been leaning slightly toward disappointment. Upon reading and hearing that the Chinese State approved author had won the Nobel Prize in Literature, there were no butterflies in my stomach or a sense of “I must go and do some research on this author!” Quite the opposite – there was a lack of joy in the announcement and suspicion. My hopes of other authors like the South Korean Poet Ko Un or the Syrian Poet Adunis, or the Irish short story writer and novelist William Trevor or Canadian short story writer Alice Munro or Japans Haruki Murakami – instead however it ended up in a political author, whose lack of politics make him political. It doesn’t matter what anyone says if you are a Chinese author, you will have political ties in some form or another. Whether or not one actively makes their political beliefs known or keeps quiet, if you are Chinese author you have a certain obligation to either stand up to political tyranny or you have the obligation to be the kitty cat purring in the governments lap. Mo Yan has chosen the later. When such authors like Bei Dao, Liao Yiwu and fellow Nobel Laureate Gao Xingjian have stood up to the political repression of the Communist Party of China, authors like Mo Yan have sat idly by.
Herta Müller a fellow Nobel Laureate in Literature has said that Mo Yan glorifies censorship, and has called Mo Yan win a “Catastrophe.”
Though Mo Yan has stated that he wishes for Liu Xiaobo Nobel Laureate in Peace 2010 to be released from prison – Herta Müller has stated that: “He should have said that four years ago, or at least two weeks before receiving the prize.” – Herta Müller further pointed out her objection of Mo Yan and his don’t speak attitude regarding politics when she mentions the Chines government’s view of Mo Yan: “The Chinese themselves say that Mo Yan is an official of the same rung as a (government) minister.”
In the end I am forced to agree with Herta Müller, because as of late, my opinions of whether or not Mo Yan is deserving of the Prize, has been influenced by a greater feeling of disappointment and adequate decision not to read the authors work because of the political stance or lack thereof and his coziness with the political regime.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
