Lin Xiaoguang originally thought that the first person to ask questions would be Infield, after all, he was the defending professor.
Unexpectedly, on the contrary, Professor Zhang, who had always had no sense of presence, knocked on the table in front of him and did not get up. He was still sitting as before, looking down at Lin Xiaoguang, and looking at the rest of the people around him expressionlessly.
The three of them spoke with Infield's approval.
He asked: "You have said so much, let me ask you, among the many literary works, which white writers' works clearly stated, showed or praised the nobility and purity of 'white', and expressed the superiority of the white group
Agree?"
Lin Xiaoguang stood on the podium, looked up slightly at the four people, and answered directly without thinking.
"William Bradford wrote in "The Plymouth Chronicle" that what they saw was a part of the vast and uninhabited continent of America. The land here was fertile and very suitable for human habitation. But there were no civilized humans here, only
Savage and cruel people are out there, they (the Indians) are more like a group of wild beasts."
Hearing this, Hall showed no other expression and seemed not to care much.
Lin Xiaoguang continued: "In "Magnola", Cotton Marseille compared the Anglo-Saxons to cute lambs and the North American Indians to the ubiquitous jackals."
Professor Zhang nodded from time to time when he heard this.
"Benjamin Franklin believed that the number of pure white people in the New World was relatively small. All African Americans were black or tan, and most Asians were tan. The same is true for most North American immigrants." Lin Xiaoguang said in fluent English.
, staring at Infield.
"In Europe, the Spanish, Italians, French, Russians, and Swedes are colored people, as are the Germans. The only exception is the Saxons, who together with the English form the main white race on the earth.
I hope their numbers increase."
Evan would take a pen and write in his notebook from time to time.
Lin Xiaoguang paused briefly, waiting for the professors to digest his answer before continuing: "In "The Chronicle of Virginia," Thomas Jefferson elaborated on his views on blacks."
"He believed that blacks' kidneys secrete less and their skin glands secrete more, and the secretions of the latter give them a very strong, unpleasant smell.' In terms of rational thinking, blacks are better than whites.
Far inferior... they are dull, unappreciative and perverse in their imagination."
"Jefferson insisted, 'Negroes, whether they are originally a distinct race or have become a distinct race due to time and environment, are inferior to whites in physical and mental endowments. He believes that different species under the same genus, or
Different categories under the same species can have different qualifications, which does not violate experience.'"
Lin Xiaoguang recited skillfully, word for word, which made Professor Hall's face turn blue and white.
He pointed out a lot, but in the end Evan couldn't stand it and had to interrupt and asked: "So besides these, how do white writers praise white images? You can point it out in detail and speak slowly. You have plenty of time."
The questions were asked from easy to difficult, and their questions were very simple. Lin Xiaoguang could feel the kindness of some people, and of course he would not let it go and answer again.
"James Fenimore Cooper's novels are among the most iconic."
Hearing this name, Evan couldn't help but nodded.
Lin Xiaoguang still stared at Professor Infield and said calmly: "In the novel, he praised himself as a 'pure white man' many times. He not only praised the white male image represented by Nattie Bambo, but also
Created many unforgettable images of white women."
"Most of the white women in his works are from the pure Anglo-Saxon race. Like Morrison's Brady rag dolls, they have 'beautiful blond hair' and 'bright blue eyes' and are innocent.
, kind, honest, with typical Victorian female charm.”
"Alice Munro is the embodiment of a white woman who embodies almost all the best qualities."
Professor Zhang is also taking notes with a pen.
Lin Xiaoguang glanced at Hall, who was slightly proud, and continued: "In the novel, Cooper also described French trappers, businessmen, soldiers and other characters, but the most unforgettable characters in his works are those with white blood.
"
"At the end of The Last of the Mohicans, Cooper predicted: 'White faces will be the masters of the earth.'"
Hearing this sentence seemed to scratch Hall's itch, and the other party was very proud. Even Evan, who had always been relatively peaceful, nodded from time to time. Professor Zhang said nothing, lowered his head and wrote, stopping every now and then.
After Infield listened, he frowned slightly and had no intention of speaking. At this time, Hall asked: "Do you think that the white whale in "Moby Dick" heralds the arrival of white Europeans? Why do you think so? What reasons do you have?"
This question was a bit difficult. Lin Xiaoguang thought about it for a moment before answering: "The whaling process provided McIver with an opportunity to deeply explore and analyze the meaning of whiteness in American literature and culture. Through the "Panquid" whaling
With his account of the ship's encounter with the great white whale and his reflections on philosophy, history, art, and cetology, McIver dismantles the connotations of 'whiteness' and notions of white supremacy that have existed in European and American thought for centuries."
Infield also listened to his story, noncommittal, pondered, and after a long time asked: "How to reconstruct the symbolism of 'white'?"
This is a big question, and the answer is very simple. Just ask him to read the entire paper, but that is not possible right now. He has to summarize the main point of the paper and answer it in short words.
This is the hardest part.
Organizing the language, he replied: "McIver's reconstruction of the symbolism of 'white' is carried out at the same time as trying to destroy and dismember the 'symbolism of white' and the theoretical basis of 'white' hegemony. He is trying to tell everyone
, the symbolic interpretation of whiteness, whether mythological, theological, or material, is influenced by a variety of assumptions and circumstances. People have managed to attach a variety of racial meanings to whiteness for their own benefit."
After a pause, he continued: "In addition, McIver also believes that what the United States urgently needs is not only the reconstruction of 'whiteness' and its symbolism, but also the reconstruction of morality."
Finally, he ended with this sentence.
“In this way, by rethinking and reunderstanding the mystery of ‘whiteness’ and ‘whiteness’ in American literature and culture, McQuay completed the dismemberment and reconstruction of the symbolic meaning of ‘whiteness’.”
After answering, he stood on the podium and looked down quietly.
At this time, Infield looked at the time, then stood up and said: "You have another exam in the afternoon, you can go back now. As for the result of the defense, Professor Laura will inform you then."
Lin Xiaoguang bowed in salute and then left. When he came out, he saw the sun was hanging high above everyone's head, and it was almost noon.