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A Lecture by Xu Zidong: The Three Dilemmas Facing Lu Xun｜许子东：鲁迅面临的三个矛盾
May 23, 2026
Saturday, 2:00-4:00 PM
Location:
SVA Theatre
333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
Lu Xun is widely regarded as the most influential writer of modern Chinese literature and one of the most important intellectual figures in twentieth-century China. Beneath the sharp clarity of his writings, however, lies a profound set of tensions and contradictions that shaped both his thought and his literary work.
In this lecture, renowned literary scholar Xu Zidong revisits Lu Xun from a fresh perspective, exploring the three major dilemmas that defined his intellectual life: enlightenment and skepticism, revolution and individuality, hope and despair. Through close readings of Lu Xun’s writings and historical context, Xu will illuminate the complexity of Lu Xun’s thought and his enduring significance in modern Chinese cultural history.
Xu Zidong is Honorary Professor at the School of Chinese, The University of Hong Kong and former Chair Professor of the Chinese Department at Lingnan University. He is the author of numerous influential works on modern Chinese literature, including Reading Eileen Chang, Rereading 20th-Century Chinese Fiction, and The Literary Significance of Eileen Chang. Xu is also widely known for his appearances on popular cultural programs such as Behind the Headlines with Wen Tao, Roundtable, and Letters Alive.
This event is open to anyone interested in modern Chinese literature, intellectual history, and the works of Lu Xun.
鲁迅被普遍认为是中国现代文学最重要的作家之一，也是20世纪中国思想史上最具影响力的人物之一。然而，在他尖锐而清醒的文字背后，始终存在着深刻的思想张力与内在矛盾。
本次讲座中，著名文学评论家、香港大学中文学院荣誉教授许子东将从新的视角重新解读鲁迅，探讨他一生所面对的三个重要矛盾：启蒙与怀疑、革命与个人、希望与绝望。通过细读鲁迅的作品与思想背景，许子东将带领观众重新理解鲁迅在中国现代文学与思想史中的独特位置。
许子东长期致力于中国现代文学研究，著有《细读张爱玲》《重读20世纪中国小说》《张爱玲的文学史意义》等，并曾参与《锵锵三人行》《圆桌派》《见字如面》等文化节目，以深入浅出的文学解读广受读者与观众欢迎。
本场讲座适合对中国文学、思想史以及鲁迅作品感兴趣的读者与公众参加。