On the afternoon of April 24, 2024, a lecture entitled “Literary Register and Cultural Differences”, delivered by Prof. Joël Loehr, a doctoral supervisor at the French Department of Sichuan International Studies University, was successfully organized by the Institute of French Language and Culture of the School of International Studies at Zhejiang University. Prof. Joël Loehr is committed to French language and literature research for about forty years as a renowned expert in French literary studies. The lecture was moderated by Ms. SHI Yetting, deputy director to the Institute of French Language and Culture of the School of International Studies at Zhejiang University, and attended by undergraduate and graduate students in French, as well as other French literature enthusiasts.
First, Professor Joël Loehr discussed how cultural differences affect our understanding of literature with the example of Le Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac, a French literary artist. He highlighted that familiarity with the geography of Paris holds the key to understanding certain plot in this novel, indicating the the specific geographical, social, and cultural contexts can be challenging for Chinese readers in their comprehension. The close tie between literary tone and emotional expression further increases the complexity of cross-cultural understanding. However, readers in the two countries can have similar emotional responses to certain literary works, though there are many differences between Chinese and French cultures.
Next, Professor Joël Loehr analyzed the effects of different tones of writing on readers from different cultural contexts by contrasting different tones in Balzac’s Père Goriot and Beckett’s Molloy. He noted that the tragic tone in Père Goriot draws readers emotionally closer to the tragic characters thus evoking empathy. While readers from both China and France demonstrated the ability to empathize with the characters, their emotional responses stem from distinct cultural foundations: Chinese filial piety and French Christianity, respectively. On the other hand, Beckett’s Molloy employs a tone blending humor and grotesqueness. Readers from both cultures find amusement in the characters’ behaviors, but the humorous elements carry different connotations within Chinese and French cultural contexts.
Finally, the students and teachers engaged in lively discussions with Professor Joël Loehr on related topics, bringing the lecture to a successful conclusion.
Institute of French Language and Culture
Text: YUAN Zhixin
Photos: ZHANG Die
Translated by SUN Fangrui, Proofread by XU Xueying
