On the Historical Evolution of Literary Taste in the 20th Century

Many changes of literary hierarchy and taste have taken place in the process of history. But individual taste possesses its traditional continuity, which can not be radically abandoned. The style and taste catered by the folk and common people became the center of literary system, taking the advantages of politics in modern times. Mao Zedong put forward the principle of contemporary literature in The Speech in the Yan'an Forum on Literature. He advocated the taste of workers and peasants, while criticized the taste of petty bourgeoisie. Then, new aesthetic features appeared in the 20th century literature.