The 2022 SJTU Summer Seminar on Narratology was successfully held in Shanghai Jiao Tong University from July 11 to 13. The Summer Seminar was jointly organized by SJTU Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Narrative, major project of the National Social Science Fund “Translation and Study of Frontier Theories of Contemporary Western Narratology” , and Frontiers of Narrative Studies (ESCI). Prof. Shang Biwu, Dr. Wu Jie, Dr. Tang Yili, Dr. Zou Li and Dr. Lang Mengchen co-chaired the forum. Prof. Wang An from Sichuan University, Prof. Tang Weisheng from Jiangxi Normal University, Dr. Duan Feng from Fudan University, Dr. Li Wanlin from Peking University and Prof. Shang Biwu, Dr. Lang Mengchen from Shanghai Jiao Tong University were invited to discuss and communicate deeply on the frontier issues in the field of narratology. Prof. Shang Biwu presided over the opening ceremony of the forum.

The first lecture on July 11 came from Prof. Wang An. Prof. Wang looked into Ekphrasis, concerned with the relationship between word and image. Starting from the paradigm shift that occurred in the second half of the 20th century, Prof. Wang elaborated on the historical origin and future of Ekphrasis. 

The second lecture on July 11 came from Prof. Tang Weisheng. Professor Tang expounded on “things” in narratives from the perspectives of theoretical construction and critical practice. Then Prof. Tang illustrated in which sense object narrative helped to re-examine the obscured meanings of literary texts. 

The first lecture held on July 12 came from Dr. Duan Feng. Dr. Duan first detailed the theoretical framework of rhetorical narratology, and then she traced and investigated the theoretical debates between different schools within the topic of fictionality, pivoting on the identification and clarification of important concepts and controversies of different theoretical models.

The second lecture held on July 12 came from Prof. Shang Biwu. Responding to the historicization of narrative theory, Prof. Shang identified three forms of narratology, namely, narratology as “poetics,” narratology as “interpretation,” and narratology as “toolbox.” Prof. Shang suggested that the coexistence, integration and complementation of the three forms show infinite vitality of narratology.

The first lecture held on July 13 came from Dr. Lang Mengchen. Dr. Lang introduced the discussion and debates in the field of fictionality, discussed the complex relationship between fictionality and literary genres, and finally reflected on the current research on fictionality from three aspects: solving the controversy, refining the theory, and exploring the boundary of application. 

The second lecture held on July 13 came from Dr. Li Wanlin. Starting from the dilemma of newcomers to narrative studies, Dr. Li considered the organic integration of historical contexts and narrative theories. From this perspective, Dr. Li drew on concepts in narrative studies to look into the historical evolution of emotional mechanism in Gothic literature. 

The seminar attracted nearly 700 teachers and students from universities around China. The 2022 SJTU Summer Seminar on Narratology was highly evaluated and successfully concluded.