Zhang Ming, the central character of “Hot and Cold, Measure for Measure,” is the medium through which the author, Wang Shuo, can idealize and defend the idea of liumang culture – a broadly defined but notoriously known term that symbolizes hooliganism, eroticism, crime, and anti-social / against-the-norm behavior.
Zhang Ming displays a contradictory, dual behavior. He has many vices as a blackmailer, pimp, deceiver, and seducer. The business he runs involves pimping prostitutes, then blackmailing the male clients as he storms into the room disguised as a police officer, forcing the men to pay him large sums of money. He seduces Wu Di with his confidence and wit, and closes the deal with lies of love for her—but he seems to care nothing for her. In this sense, he is a liumang.
Yet he also has a sense of morality. He displays kindness and generosity towards certain individuals – he gives up a seat on the bus to a woman and her child, and he freely gives away a concert ticket to strangers, even after they have offered him double the listed price. His other ‘admirable’ qualities: he has the wisdom of a cynic and realist – a wisdom directly implanted by Wang, who grew up dismissing the ideas of the Cultural Revolution, refusing to enlist to its call. Zhang has a mind that does not listen to the regimented commands of the education system, and for this he seems to be above everyone else.
Throughout his seduction of Wu Di, Zhang seems so cool and clever. He is dangerous but charming, insulting yet flirtatious, and seems to have a wisdom that has ascended above that of the well known educators, speakers, and students. This attitude of his wins over Wu Di and, according to him, he ‘gets her into the sack’ after lying to her with words of love. For the readers, he shows us how it’s done.
With all these qualities, he seems to be a hero with flaws, but he faces no consequences for having them. His vices are justified and even glorified by his confidence and wit. His lifestyle is freestyle – making a living off the vices of men, unbound by the structured labor force, and seeking pleasures anytime he wants. This glorification calls out to the youth of China to follow suit.
But this story makes a larger statement than how to be cool, how to seduce women, or how to pull off a crime. It tells the people to not accept how they are told to think, live, and love.
This review was very thoughtfully written and I enjoyed reading it. The observation that he does have some sense of morality is astute.
ReplyDeleteContrary to the review, though, I believe Zhang does experience consequences of his actions. He tells Wu Di that he would prefer to live life without knowing what will happen next. This implies an awareness that his attitude and actions will, in fact, bring about something else, a "consequence." For example, Zhang acknowledges that his irregular lifestyle has made him constantly tired and lethargic; he also eventually goes to jail (as we infer) as a consequence of prostituting Wu Di.
The impression that his actions have no consequences stem from his calm dismissal in face of them. That only few people in a collectivistic culture such as China’s can do this is perhaps what glorifies him.
This last point is particularly interesting to me because, as I read Wang’s piece, it didn’t strike me as radical or socially incorrect. Zhang didn't seem to be especially glorious to me. Perhaps it is
taken for granted in a more individualistic society such as the United States’ that no one is supposed to tell you how to think, live and love.
That the reviewer succinctly points out this “moral” from an otherwise “immoral” story is perhaps one that only a person that has experienced an individual-oriented culture can easily make. I wonder how many people who read Wang's piece at publication also came to this same conclusion?
This is a pretty awesome character that Ming produces because it is a slight depiction of himself. First off, the guy is a total rebel, doing whatever he wants and when he wants, which is a well off depiction of himself. At the same time, he is somewhat a sweet heart too, which is the anti-thesis of himself. This serves as a good twist to his macho-man style he tries to give himself. I think I can compare him to modern day Eminem because he acts like a strung out bad boy,but at the same time, he embodies notions of morality.
ReplyDeleteWang Shuo is such an amazing writer in that he really captures the realism of the characters persona and speech. Although his work are deemed as liumang culture with a multitude of negative connotations, his work really captures the tainted image of society that know one wants to accept. He shows the perplexity of people, this dual persona of the being menacing yet to still have kind of morality. I think that because his work is so real and undeniable, it so popular.
ReplyDeleteI think this work is relatable because everyone has a little "liumang" inside of them that they want to unleash. Wang Shuo successfully creates a character that is able to unleash is rebellious side, but makes it relatable to the rest of us because he still shows some of the good nature of his character so he doesn't seem completely unreal to us. I appreciate Wang Shuo's work not only because of this, but because it's a good but easy read. I don't feel dumbed down reading it, but I don't have to struggle to understand or search for the meaning.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree when people say that this character is realistic. I have not met many people like this. The "genius criminal" kind of people are very rare, but I suppose there are a few that do exist and perhaps that's why this character is so desirable in the book.