title: From a young Bolshevik to a professional writer : A critical study of Wang Meng 's novels with reference to his writing from the 1950s to the 1990s

authors: Wang, Xiaoning

abstract: Wang Meng is one of China's most high profile and prolific writers, having produced a substantial body of fictional work since the 1950s, much of which has surprised readers and critics alike because of its high level of innovation, and because of its challenge to the dominant Chinese traditional literary discourse. Wang Meng is significant for employing new fictional forms and styles as vehicles for examining the contentious issues that arise in Chinese society. His works are often regarded as a mirror to reflect developments in society during different stages, and in different political situations. In recent years, Wang Meng has continued to explore universal themes and unique representational modes, but prefers to locate them within the Chinese tradition in his writing. It would be hard to think of another writer in China that could compare with Wang Meng, in terms of his rich and highly productive literary works; his complex and unusual personal life experiences; his consummate writing skill; his writing techniques; his wellplanned literary structures; his colourful use of narrative voice; his talent in using his own style of fictional language; his ability to appropriate literary styles from a diverse range of sources, both traditional and modem, Chinese and foreign, and synthesise them into something uniquely his own; his courage and his liberal values; his close attention to developments in society; his tumultuous political life; his setbacks and successes as a professional writer. 
This thesis focuses on an analysis of Wang Meng's major literary works from the early 1950s to the 1990s. It utilizes established Western critical theories such as: realism, Socialist Realism, modernism, postmodemism and "stream-of-consciousness". It provides a focused textual analysis of a number of Wang Meng's stories that emerged in the broad context of contemporary Chinese literature. It aims to decode a selection of Wang Meng's major representative works published between the 1950s and the 1990s, and attempts to interpret the characteristics of Wang Meng's writing at different stages. By doing so, the thesis attempts to enrich and develop the established Western theories referred to above by means of an analytical rereading of the selected texts. 
The thesis consists of five chapters, with an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction provides some preliminary remarks, and outlines some general but fundamental issues, as well as a brief note on Wang Meng's life. Chapter one begins with an examination of fictional writing as the main form in contemporary Chinese literature, followed by a further comparative discussion of Wang Meng's novels and short stories, to locate his place in the Chinese literary world. Chapter two applies realism, in particular, Socialist Realism, as one of the literary theories to examine Wang Meng's early works. Chapter three mainly attempts to evaluate the narrative technique in Wang Meng's stories, with special reference to his experimental works which were published in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Chapter four studies the influence of Western stream-of-consciousness in Wang Meng's fiction writing, with detailed reference to his two short stories: Eyes of the Night and Dream of the Sea. Chapter five makes a close reading of Wang Meng's Bolshevik Salute, which revolves around a basic theme-the quest for the self as an individual entity with a degree of coherence and intelligibility. The final chapter draws together some concluding remarks pertaining to the thesis as a whole.

text: From a young Bolshevik to a professional writer : A critical study of Wang Meng 's novels with reference to his writing from the 1950s to the 1990s Wang Meng is one of China's most high profile and prolific writers, having produced a substantial body of fictional work since the 1950s, much of which has surprised readers and critics alike because of its high level of innovation, and because of its challenge to the dominant Chinese traditional literary discourse. Wang Meng is significant for employing new fictional forms and styles as vehicles for examining the contentious issues that arise in Chinese society. His works are often regarded as a mirror to reflect developments in society during different stages, and in different political situations. In recent years, Wang Meng has continued to explore universal themes and unique representational modes, but prefers to locate them within the Chinese tradition in his writing. It would be hard to think of another writer in China that could compare with Wang Meng, in terms of his rich and highly productive literary works; his complex and unusual personal life experiences; his consummate writing skill; his writing techniques; his wellplanned literary structures; his colourful use of narrative voice; his talent in using his own style of fictional language; his ability to appropriate literary styles from a diverse range of sources, both traditional and modem, Chinese and foreign, and synthesise them into something uniquely his own; his courage and his liberal values; his close attention to developments in society; his tumultuous political life; his setbacks and successes as a professional writer. 
This thesis focuses on an analysis of Wang Meng's major literary works from the early 1950s to the 1990s. It utilizes established Western critical theories such as: realism, Socialist Realism, modernism, postmodemism and "stream-of-consciousness". It provides a focused textual analysis of a number of Wang Meng's stories that emerged in the broad context of contemporary Chinese literature. It aims to decode a selection of Wang Meng's major representative works published between the 1950s and the 1990s, and attempts to interpret the characteristics of Wang Meng's writing at different stages. By doing so, the thesis attempts to enrich and develop the established Western theories referred to above by means of an analytical rereading of the selected texts. 
The thesis consists of five chapters, with an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction provides some preliminary remarks, and outlines some general but fundamental issues, as well as a brief note on Wang Meng's life. Chapter one begins with an examination of fictional writing as the main form in contemporary Chinese literature, followed by a further comparative discussion of Wang Meng's novels and short stories, to locate his place in the Chinese literary world. Chapter two applies realism, in particular, Socialist Realism, as one of the literary theories to examine Wang Meng's early works. Chapter three mainly attempts to evaluate the narrative technique in Wang Meng's stories, with special reference to his experimental works which were published in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Chapter four studies the influence of Western stream-of-consciousness in Wang Meng's fiction writing, with detailed reference to his two short stories: Eyes of the Night and Dream of the Sea. Chapter five makes a close reading of Wang Meng's Bolshevik Salute, which revolves around a basic theme-the quest for the self as an individual entity with a degree of coherence and intelligibility. The final chapter draws together some concluding remarks pertaining to the thesis as a whole.

year: 2004

title: Condensation corrosion alters the oxygen and carbon isotope ratios of speleothem and limestone surfaces

authors: White, Jackson H.

abstract: Condensation corrosion is a natural process which enhances the chemical weathering of limestone cave chambers and speleothems. We evaluated the use of carbonate tablets for detecting condensation corrosion in Glowworm Cave, New Zealand, using local limestone and speleothem as experimental substrates (herein tablets). Evidence for condensation corrosion was assessed via three methods: gravimetric (mass wasting), microscopic (surface pitting, recrystallization) and isotopic (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O changes). Our results show little evidence of tablet mass loss throughout a 6-month deployment period. However, SEM imaging and isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) of the upper ∼50 μm layer of the tablets, suggest that condensation corrosion operates in the cave, especially in sectors affected by large diurnal microclimate variations.

Most notably, condensation water altered the tablet surface δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values. Small, positive shifts in surface δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values are considered to reflect pure dissolution (where dissolution favours the removal of lighter isotopologues). In contrast, tablets that exhibited large positive shifts in δ¹³C in tandem with large negative shifts in δ¹⁸O values, are interpreted as showing calcite recrystallization and the inheritance of higher DIC δ¹³C values (¹³C fractionation by CO₂ degassing), lighter water δ¹⁸O values and/or kinetic fractionation of δ¹⁸O. This study therefore demonstrates that stable isotopes could be applied to detect paleoclimatic episodes of condensation corrosion in speleothems.

text: Condensation corrosion alters the oxygen and carbon isotope ratios of speleothem and limestone surfaces Condensation corrosion is a natural process which enhances the chemical weathering of limestone cave chambers and speleothems. We evaluated the use of carbonate tablets for detecting condensation corrosion in Glowworm Cave, New Zealand, using local limestone and speleothem as experimental substrates (herein tablets). Evidence for condensation corrosion was assessed via three methods: gravimetric (mass wasting), microscopic (surface pitting, recrystallization) and isotopic (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O changes). Our results show little evidence of tablet mass loss throughout a 6-month deployment period. However, SEM imaging and isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) of the upper ∼50 μm layer of the tablets, suggest that condensation corrosion operates in the cave, especially in sectors affected by large diurnal microclimate variations.

Most notably, condensation water altered the tablet surface δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values. Small, positive shifts in surface δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values are considered to reflect pure dissolution (where dissolution favours the removal of lighter isotopologues). In contrast, tablets that exhibited large positive shifts in δ¹³C in tandem with large negative shifts in δ¹⁸O values, are interpreted as showing calcite recrystallization and the inheritance of higher DIC δ¹³C values (¹³C fractionation by CO₂ degassing), lighter water δ¹⁸O values and/or kinetic fractionation of δ¹⁸O. This study therefore demonstrates that stable isotopes could be applied to detect paleoclimatic episodes of condensation corrosion in speleothems.

year: 2021

title: Pani me te rawakore: Home-making and Maori homelessness without hope or a home

authors: Groot, Shiloh Ann Maree

subjects: Social Science

abstract: The authors draw from interviews with Maori homeless people and relevant local and international literature to show homemaking practices by Maori for those living on the streets. The proposition is that Maori cultural practices shape a person's efforts to retain a positive sense of self and place, and to engage in home-making while dwelling on the streets. We consider colonialism and societal, developments that have impacted whanau (extended family) economically, culturally and socially, contributing to high rates of homelessness among Maori today. We argue that homelessness is endemic to experiences of colonialism, not only at the personal, but also at the iwi (tribe) level where many Maori have experienced over 150 years of being rendered out of place in their hau kainga (tribal homelands). Finally, we present a case study entitled 'Maia' to show common aspects of various Maori people who are homeless and who access services in Auckland.

text: Pani me te rawakore: Home-making and Maori homelessness without hope or a home The authors draw from interviews with Maori homeless people and relevant local and international literature to show homemaking practices by Maori for those living on the streets. The proposition is that Maori cultural practices shape a person's efforts to retain a positive sense of self and place, and to engage in home-making while dwelling on the streets. We consider colonialism and societal, developments that have impacted whanau (extended family) economically, culturally and socially, contributing to high rates of homelessness among Maori today. We argue that homelessness is endemic to experiences of colonialism, not only at the personal, but also at the iwi (tribe) level where many Maori have experienced over 150 years of being rendered out of place in their hau kainga (tribal homelands). Finally, we present a case study entitled 'Maia' to show common aspects of various Maori people who are homeless and who access services in Auckland.

year: 2015