●祖丁遠(yuǎn)
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著名女作家王安憶教授的新收獲
●祖丁遠(yuǎn)
我知道的只是,當(dāng)我們?cè)诘厣闲凶叩臅r(shí)候,能夠援行我們、在黑夜來(lái)臨時(shí)照耀我們的,只有精神的光芒。
——王安憶
2016年新春,王安憶的長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)新作《匿名》在上海、北京、杭州等城市新華書(shū)店與讀者見(jiàn)面,很快引發(fā)人們熱議。
2015年1月15日,著名作家王安憶代表作《長(zhǎng)恨歌》再次搬上話(huà)劇舞臺(tái)。歷時(shí)3個(gè)小時(shí)的《長(zhǎng)恨歌》謝幕之時(shí),王安憶成為全場(chǎng)焦點(diǎn)。人們對(duì)她的到來(lái),報(bào)以經(jīng)久不息的掌聲。她表示,《長(zhǎng)恨歌》能再次回到舞臺(tái),實(shí)在是件非常讓人高興的事,“雖然這已不是我第一遍看她,但看到自己筆下的人物能活在舞臺(tái)上,心里依然非常激動(dòng)”。她認(rèn)為“好作品必須經(jīng)得起時(shí)間的慢慢沉淀。”
如今,王安憶既是文學(xué)創(chuàng)作成果豐盛的著名作家,又是復(fù)旦大學(xué)中文系“創(chuàng)意寫(xiě)作專(zhuān)業(yè)碩士(MFA)”導(dǎo)師。作為鮮為人知的復(fù)旦大學(xué)中文系在編教授,她率先設(shè)立文學(xué)寫(xiě)作專(zhuān)業(yè)碩士點(diǎn),專(zhuān)業(yè)培養(yǎng)作家。
王安憶的最新長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)《匿名》,近日由人民文學(xué)出版社出版。在此之前,它在《收獲》雜志分上下兩部連載完已有一段時(shí)間。作者寫(xiě)作這本書(shū),整整用了兩年零五個(gè)月,“是自己所有長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)中寫(xiě)作時(shí)間花得最久的一部,《匿名》是我寫(xiě)得最用力的故事,但寫(xiě)完后隱隱有點(diǎn)不安,有種不放心的感覺(jué)?!倍鴰缀跛锌赐辍赌涿返淖x者,給出的評(píng)價(jià)都是“不好讀”,有人甚至把它評(píng)為“2016年開(kāi)年最燒腦的小說(shuō)”。
王安憶的寫(xiě)作一向以現(xiàn)實(shí)主義的文學(xué)創(chuàng)作方法為主,她的文字被公認(rèn)為爐火純青,夾敘夾議一直是她寫(xiě)作常用的手法。小說(shuō)主要表現(xiàn)在對(duì)故事的敘述,作品內(nèi)容偏重于寫(xiě)實(shí)。而《匿名》卻顛覆了王安憶以往的創(chuàng)作風(fēng)格,構(gòu)成了讀者對(duì)作品閱讀的挑戰(zhàn)。
《匿名》是一部處于作者創(chuàng)作風(fēng)格轉(zhuǎn)變嘗試中的作品,帶有強(qiáng)烈的象征意味,議論和說(shuō)明要遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)多于對(duì)故事的講述。作家在這部作品里“通過(guò)對(duì)日常材料賦予更多的意義,引出一段段隱喻和警語(yǔ)”。作者在《匿名》里已不再像以往那樣是一個(gè)故事的敘述者,她試圖闡釋的是語(yǔ)言、教育、文明、時(shí)間這些抽象的概念,在虛寫(xiě)與實(shí)寫(xiě)之間表達(dá)對(duì)于文明進(jìn)化的獨(dú)特理解。
新書(shū)《匿名》講了個(gè)什么樣的故事?這回的主角變成了一個(gè)退休人物,他遭遇陰差陽(yáng)錯(cuò)的綁架后,被丟在野山里,失去了名字,失去了記憶,遇到形形色色奇怪的人和事。失蹤者踏上漫漫飄零路后,與深山的啞巴、麻和尚等人相遇,后被養(yǎng)老院收留。他照顧患先天性心臟病的孩子,尋機(jī)聯(lián)系上福利院,總算輾轉(zhuǎn)要返回時(shí),卻失足墜入江中,仿佛落入永恒的時(shí)間里。一樁樁隱秘背后,是無(wú)數(shù)的人的邂逅和離別。
整部作品35萬(wàn)字,沒(méi)有一個(gè)字的前言和后記,連最基本的內(nèi)容概括、章節(jié)標(biāo)題都沒(méi)有,似乎執(zhí)意想要留給讀者最大的思考空間。
之所以會(huì)有這樣的設(shè)定,因?yàn)閹啄昵?,王安憶整理母親茹志鵑的日記時(shí),根據(jù)母親劇本里提到的地點(diǎn),去了趟浙江括蒼山。她逢人便問(wèn)“林窟在哪”,結(jié)果所有人都回答“沒(méi)有了”。這讓她非常驚訝,在母親的筆下,林窟曾是個(gè)異常鬧猛的小山村,地處三縣交界之處。然而等到她親自尋去,曾經(jīng)如此繁華的地方,已經(jīng)消失。道路也被雜草給吞沒(méi)了,越往山中走,越?jīng)]有路。這給了王安憶極大的靈感,“我這本書(shū)想表達(dá)的東西太多了。我們生活的世界,你眼中看到的就是它原本或真實(shí)的樣子嗎?不一定?!蓖醢矐淈c(diǎn)到即止。
寫(xiě)了37年小說(shuō)、共出版12部小說(shuō)的作家王安憶坦言:“可能是年齡的關(guān)系,也可能是寫(xiě)得太多的關(guān)系,我現(xiàn)在寫(xiě)小說(shuō)的話(huà),就會(huì)變得很挑剔,變得特別挑。挑的時(shí)候就會(huì)需要抉擇,就不會(huì)像以前寫(xiě)得那么舒服、那么順利了。其實(shí)寫(xiě)作是自我滿(mǎn)足,如果那種方式不能滿(mǎn)足我的話(huà),那就不那樣寫(xiě)了?!?/p>
王安憶自認(rèn)是“后發(fā)式選手”,“這是我一貫的慢熱風(fēng)格。我曾跟朋友說(shuō)笑,請(qǐng)他們耐心點(diǎn),堅(jiān)持看完下半部。實(shí)際上真正的精華都在下半部。”
撇開(kāi)表面化沖突,小說(shuō)設(shè)置了更大懸念。王安憶的這部長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)越來(lái)越抽象,幾乎擺脫了文學(xué)故事的元素,與其說(shuō)是講述故事還不如說(shuō)是在議論故事。
看來(lái)王安憶要進(jìn)行的是一場(chǎng)先鋒文學(xué)的試驗(yàn)。
左圖為王安憶早年在紹興茹家蔞尋根;右圖為王安憶1994年在杭州采訪(fǎng)。Left: Wang Anyi seeks ancestral roots in her home village in Shaoxing in Eastern Zhejiang. Right: Wang Anyi in Hangzhou
2012年的最后一期《收獲》雜志,發(fā)表了王安憶的中篇小說(shuō)《眾聲喧嘩》,這期雜志一度脫銷(xiāo)。翌年,上海文藝出版社以《眾聲喧嘩》為主另收入了六篇王安憶近年創(chuàng)作的短篇小說(shuō)出版,想不到這部《眾聲喧嘩》出版當(dāng)月,加印到23000冊(cè)。這在當(dāng)代純文學(xué)作家的作品中,十分罕見(jiàn)!
王安憶是中國(guó)當(dāng)代作家中的代表性人物。2013年8月王安憶榮獲法國(guó)文學(xué)藝術(shù)騎士勛章。女作家方方說(shuō):“就綜合實(shí)力,我認(rèn)為中國(guó)當(dāng)今女作家中王安憶是排在第一位的?!本推渥髌窋?shù)量之多、質(zhì)量之高、風(fēng)格之多變,王安憶在中國(guó)當(dāng)代作家中的地位也是毋庸置疑的。
1994年9月,王安憶應(yīng)邀在復(fù)旦大學(xué)中文系開(kāi)了一門(mén)《小說(shuō)研究》課程,講授她對(duì)《悲慘世界》等世界文學(xué)經(jīng)典名著的解讀心得。當(dāng)時(shí)的中文系主任鄭重地把聘書(shū)交給王安憶,聘書(shū)上的職位是“小說(shuō)研究課程專(zhuān)任教授”。那個(gè)學(xué)期,王安憶每周去一次復(fù)旦大學(xué),給學(xué)生們上課。
2004年2月,王安憶正式調(diào)到復(fù)旦大學(xué),從那時(shí)到現(xiàn)在,她已經(jīng)在復(fù)旦大學(xué)工作了十多年,和許多作家的兼職、掛職不同,她的編制正式到了復(fù)旦大學(xué),擔(dān)任中文系現(xiàn)當(dāng)代文學(xué)方向的教授和碩士研究生導(dǎo)師。
過(guò)去大學(xué)中文系是不直接培養(yǎng)作家的,王安憶到復(fù)旦大學(xué)率先設(shè)立了文學(xué)寫(xiě)作的專(zhuān)業(yè)碩士點(diǎn)。2007年,復(fù)旦的“文學(xué)寫(xiě)作碩士”對(duì)外招生三名。“復(fù)旦培養(yǎng)作家啦!”一時(shí)間成為社會(huì)熱點(diǎn)話(huà)題。蒲躍輝是王安憶帶的第一個(gè)“文學(xué)寫(xiě)作碩士”,現(xiàn)在已在《上海文學(xué)》雜志社一邊當(dāng)編輯,一邊寫(xiě)小說(shuō)。
王安憶長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)新作《匿名》Wang Anyi’s latest novel Anonymous was released in January 2016.
在蒲躍輝之后,葉兆言的女兒葉子來(lái)了復(fù)旦大學(xué),和另一位青年寫(xiě)作者陶磊一起,師從王安憶。同時(shí),王安憶還邀請(qǐng)美國(guó)哥倫比亞大學(xué)“創(chuàng)意寫(xiě)作”創(chuàng)始人舒爾茨來(lái)到復(fù)旦大學(xué)開(kāi)設(shè)“西方文學(xué)創(chuàng)意寫(xiě)作”課程。舒爾茨向復(fù)旦大學(xué)推薦了哥倫比亞大學(xué)培養(yǎng)作家模式—文學(xué)寫(xiě)作專(zhuān)業(yè)碩士(MFA)。中國(guó)作家白先勇、嚴(yán)歌苓、哈金都讀過(guò)這個(gè)專(zhuān)業(yè),并獲得MFA學(xué)位。
2009年經(jīng)教育部、國(guó)家學(xué)位辦同意復(fù)旦大學(xué)開(kāi)辦兩年制“創(chuàng)意寫(xiě)作MFA”專(zhuān)業(yè),畢業(yè)時(shí)主要以文學(xué)作品的質(zhì)量作為評(píng)判依據(jù),畢業(yè)可獲得MFA學(xué)位。2014年北京大學(xué)中文系也招收創(chuàng)意碩士研究生,還有更多大學(xué)加入進(jìn)來(lái)。我國(guó)高校有了文學(xué)創(chuàng)作專(zhuān)業(yè)后,和國(guó)際接軌了,中文系不僅培養(yǎng)學(xué)者和報(bào)刊、網(wǎng)絡(luò)編輯,也可以培養(yǎng)作家。
已故的著名女作家、王安憶的母親茹志鵑,祖籍浙江紹興,出生于上海。她生前接受我專(zhuān)訪(fǎng)時(shí)曾經(jīng)坦誠(chéng)地說(shuō):“我沒(méi)有想要把安憶培養(yǎng)成作家。我倒希望安憶長(zhǎng)大以后做個(gè)醫(yī)生,靠一技之長(zhǎng)安分地治病救人。”然而王安憶卻走上了艱辛的文學(xué)創(chuàng)作的漫長(zhǎng)道路。
王安憶自1979年開(kāi)始發(fā)表文學(xué)作品以來(lái),共創(chuàng)作短中長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)以及散文、文藝評(píng)論等500多萬(wàn)字,其作品獲全國(guó)短篇小說(shuō)獎(jiǎng)、全國(guó)中篇小說(shuō)獎(jiǎng),成為當(dāng)代海派文學(xué)的代表作家。她的代表作《長(zhǎng)恨歌》,細(xì)致描寫(xiě)上世紀(jì)40年代上海女人王琦瑤。當(dāng)時(shí)還是中學(xué)生的王琦瑤被選為“上海小姐”,從此開(kāi)始命運(yùn)多舛的一生。這一文學(xué)作品被王安憶一支細(xì)膩而絢爛的筆,寫(xiě)得哀婉動(dòng)人,跌宕起伏,2000年終獲第五屆茅盾文學(xué)獎(jiǎng)。2005年王安憶又獲魯迅文學(xué)獎(jiǎng)。
王安憶部分著作Some of books by Wang Anyi
王安憶與母親茹志鵑(左)在一起。Wang Anyi and her writer mother Ru Zhijuan
王安憶(右)與張抗抗(中)、陳祖芬(左)在全國(guó)政協(xié)大會(huì)上。Wang Anyi (right), Zhang Kangkang (center), Chen Zufen (left) attend an annual session of the CPPCC in Beijing.
1983年,受愛(ài)荷華大學(xué)的邀請(qǐng),茹志鵑攜王安憶赴美參加國(guó)際“寫(xiě)作計(jì)劃”,與德國(guó)、波蘭、阿根廷、南非、土耳其、印度等國(guó)家的作家結(jié)識(shí)和交流。回來(lái)之后,視野大為開(kāi)闊的王安憶開(kāi)始以犀利的眼光來(lái)歷史地、哲學(xué)地思考問(wèn)題、關(guān)注社會(huì)。她于1984年秋天寫(xiě)出了揭示人的命運(yùn)與情感變化的尋根文化小說(shuō)《小鮑莊》,一舉獲得全國(guó)中篇小說(shuō)獎(jiǎng)。
王安憶在與年屆花甲的母親茹志鵑合寫(xiě)了散文集《母女同游美利堅(jiān)》之后,開(kāi)始在寫(xiě)作中借鑒西方現(xiàn)代派的表現(xiàn)手法,對(duì)現(xiàn)實(shí)生活的深度和力度進(jìn)行全方位的拓展,比如在篇章結(jié)構(gòu)上,采用“意識(shí)流”的時(shí)序顛倒或者跳躍方式反映時(shí)代,將情節(jié)一步步推向高潮;在語(yǔ)言使用上,嘗試運(yùn)用冷峻、深沉、富于哲理以及辛辣嘲諷的語(yǔ)言,以顯示鞭撻社會(huì)痼疾的力量。
凝望Wang Anyi poses for a photo at a scenic spot.
她的創(chuàng)作不斷地激發(fā)評(píng)論界的深切關(guān)注與熱情點(diǎn)贊。
從知青作家到尋根作家,從海派傳人到著名文學(xué)家,王安憶走過(guò)了30年艱辛漫長(zhǎng)的創(chuàng)作道路。感悟人生,行走世界。窗外的人與窗里的人互為風(fēng)景;書(shū)外的情思與書(shū)里的情思交相輝映。王安憶的散文創(chuàng)作也獲得了令人矚目的成就,題材豐富多彩,形式散淡不拘,志趣高遠(yuǎn),文采華灼?!肚楦械纳贰锻醢矐浬⑽募返仁撬纳⑽木芳瑫?shū)中滲透著作者的生命體驗(yàn)。
(本文圖照由洪晶提供)
Prolific Author Teaches Creative Writing at Fudan
By Zu Dingyuan
Author Wang Anyi has been teaching at Fudan University for more than 20 years. Her teaching career at the university started in September 1994 when she was engaged to teach a course of fiction studies at the Chinese Department of Fudan University, one of the Chinese ivy-league higher education institutions. In her initiative lectures she offered insight into world classics such as Hugo’s Les Misérables. As a guest professor, she gave a lecture once a week.
While teaching at the university, she has kept writing fiction and turning out impressive novels that are critically acclaimed and appear on bestseller lists. In February 2004, she was officially employed by the university as a full-time professor of modern literature and postgraduate supervisor.
Wang Anyi’s employment set an unprecedented example in China. Chinese Departments across the country had never offered any fiction writing course designed to cultivate fiction-writing talents. In 2007, Fudan announced its plan to offer a two-year MFA writing program and enroll three students for the new program. The news caused a big stir across the country. Pu Yuehui is the first graduate from the program under the guidance of Wang Anyi. He now works as a writer and editor with Shanghai Literature.
An innovative educator, Wang has introduced western ideas to the writing program at Fudan. At the invitation of Wang, John Schultz, an American writer and teacher who originated the Story Workshop method of teaching writing in 1965 and practiced the method at Columbia College, came over and taught a course of western literature and creative writing at Fudan. Schultz recommended the Columbia University MFA Writing Program as a model for Fudan’s writing program. Some established writers such as BaiXianyong, Yan Gelin and Ha Jin are graduates from such programs in the USA.
Universities across China have followed suit after the success of the MFA writing program at Fudan under the tutelage of Wang Anyi. In 2014, the Chinese Department of Beijing University started its own MFA writing program. The prestigious Shanghai University, Guangdong Foreign Languages and Foreign Trade University, and Nanjing University are among those that have followed suit.
Wang is highly qualified for the teaching job she does at Fudan. As a writer, she has won Mao Dun Literary Prize in 2000 and Lu Xun Literary Prize in 2005, two top national literary honors. Her literary fame climaxed with her novel The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (長(zhǎng)恨歌) in 1995, which is considered a modern classic. It was translated into English in 2008. She was a nominee of the Man Booker International Prize in 2011. She is now in the third term of chairpersonship of Writers Association of Shanghai.
王安憶手稿《仁者壽》A manuscript page of Wang Anyi’s novel Kind People Live Long
Probably the seed for her teaching work was sowed in 1983 when her fiction writer mother Ru Zhijuan took part in Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. Wang Anyi, a fledgling fiction writer back then, tagged along. During these years, some Chinese writers took part in the prestigious program with the assistance of Hualing Nieh Engle. Her husband Paul Angle was a graduate from the workshop and worked as its director from 1941 to 1965.
左上圖王安憶與前輩作家蕭軍在一起;右上圖與前輩作家金庸在一起;下兩圖為2005年王安憶在臺(tái)北“上海書(shū)展”上。Clockwise from top left: Wang Anyi and Xiao Jun, Wang Anyi and Louis Cha, Wang Anyi attend Shanghai Book Expo in Taipei in 2005
In Iowa, Wang Anyi bonded with writers from Germany, Poland, Argentina, South Africa and India. Back to Shanghai, she began to examine society historically and philosophically more closely. Her novella Baotown came out in 1985 and won a national literary award, which firmly established her as a writer.
In addition to fiction writing, Wang is also a prolific essayist. After her stay in Iowa, she and her mother published a joint collection of essays about their exotic experiences and meditation there. She has published a few books of essays. On January 15, 2015, The Song of Everlasting Sorrow was staged as a drama in Shanghai. This theater version she likes very much. Comparatively speaking, the 35-episode television adaptation in 2006 didn’t appeal to her at all. The film adaptation in 2005 was directed by Hong Kong-based Stanley Kwan.
After teaching so many years at Fudan, Wang Anyi might have gained something special herself. In January 2016, she launched a new novel titled Anonymous, which is a breakaway from her past 11 novels in a realist style. The new novel turns to symbolism, discussion, and exposition. She tries to get interpretations in the evolution of civilization and life itself.