On September 16, Professor Shi Yanling and Professor Shi Juhong from the Institute of English Language and Literature of the School delivered lectures on the subject of foreign literature for the “AcademicMonth of the School of Foreign Languages and Literatures” in Mingdao Building, East Chengguan Campus. The lectures were hosted by Professor Jiang Hongxia, Director of the Institute of English Language and attended by teachers and students both online and in person.

In the lecture entitled “Four Dimensions of Interdisciplinary Research on Literature and Medicine”,Professor Shi Yanling first elaborated the two essential attributes of literature: literariness and interdisciplinarity, and pointed out the feasibility of interdisciplinary research on literature. Based on the interpretation of Decameron, La Peste, Hamlet, A Dream of Red Mansionsand other classical literary works, she explained the interdisciplinarity between literature and medicine, and demonstrated the rationality and legitimacy of interdisciplinary research on the two disciplines. On the basis, Professor Shi discussed in detail the interdisciplinary research on literature and medicine from four dimensions of “research on the relationship between literature and medicine”, “research on narrative medicine (cognition and methodology)”, “research on the writing of diseases in literature” and “the healing function of literature”. She added that interdisciplinary research is an important way to achieve academic innovation in literary studies, but literary standpoint cannot be lost.

Revolving around the subject “Is Coetzee a Cosmopolitan? – Discussion on John Maxwell Coetzee's Identity”, Professor ShiJuhong first sortedout the evolution of the concept “cosmopolitanism” in different historical periods. According to Professor Shi, "cosmopolitanism", which is opposed to nationalism, as both a political concept and an ethical concept, features de-centering, non-standpoint and the cognitive perspective beyond nationalism or regionalism, and appeals for ethical responsibility of “hospitality”. Professor Shi pointed out that although many critics in academia consider Coetzee a cosmopolitan, Coetzee's sense of personal identity and his discussion of the relationship between region and world in his works deviate from the epistemology of “cosmopolitanism”, which weakens the sense of regionalism and stresses rootlessness.

After the lectures, the two professors had a discussion with the students and teacherspresent.