Introduction

Christophe Lansmayer is a representative of Austrian postmodern literature, whose works often combine travel experiences and historical narratives to explore the imagination and perception of "unfamiliar things". His work "Cox or the Process of Time" fictionalizes the interaction between Emperor Qianlong and British clockmakers, exploring people's perception of time in different contexts through the "subjective clock". In the novel, the clock is not only the background, but also the core of the narrative, reflecting the theory of "turn of things", emphasizing the agency of things and challenging anthropocentrism. Lansmayer showcases the control of industrial products over humans through clocks, warning of the impact of machines on humans in modern society.

The Narrative of Two Clocks and Watches

Explored the narrative role of clocks in Reimmayer's novel 'The Process of Time'. Ian Woodward emphasizes that the significance of understanding objects requires attention to their narrative process. Clocks in novels are not only tools for measuring time, but also key drivers of plot development and thematic interpretation. The title of the novel is closely related to clocks, depicting the passage of time through devices such as wind clocks and fire clocks. Clocks serve as narrative drivers, connecting the protagonists Qianlong and Cox to drive the development of the story. Qianlong's love for clocks and Cox's clock making skills form the core of the story, adding suspense to the clock making process and attracting readers' attention. Clocks are also a medium for conveying character information, and Cox's career success, family tragedy, and life turning points are closely related to clocks, deepening readers' understanding of the characters. The novel depicts Qianlong's collection of clocks and his in-depth research on clocks, as well as Cox and his assistants' astonishment at clocks, revealing the origin between Qianlong and Cox and adding depth to the story.

Triple Charm in Things: The Bell of the Fusion of Things and Me

This paper explores the opposition between subject and object under the principles of Descartes' philosophy, and uses the character Cox in the novel as an example to demonstrate how he creates special clocks to depict human perception of time in different contexts, thereby transforming clocks into intertwined entities of matter and imagination, subjectivity and objectivity. The plot of the messenger mistaking Cox's daughter for a mechanical angel reveals the perspective of equality between things and people, eliminating the opposition between subject and object. Clocks are imbued with spirituality, blending with tombstones and plants, blurring the boundary between life and non life. The tombstone clock created by Cox for his daughter is driven by geothermal and decomposition processes, symbolizing the continuation of life and the deconstruction and reconstruction of material elements. The homogeneity between humans and nature is emphasized, and the unity between humans and things embodies the concept of interdependence. The death of Baldur Brashev and the construction of the solar clock further demonstrate the aggregation of things, overcome subjectivism, and prompt people to rethink the relationship between things and people.

Four charms on people: activating emotions and depriving rationality of the clock

Explored the symbolic significance and role of clocks in Reimmayer's "The Process of Time". The silver sailboat clock made by Cox for missing his daughter showcases the agency and vitality of objects, as well as the emotional connection and interaction between objects and people. The Silver Sail Ship Bell is not only Cox's spiritual sustenance, but also a bridge between him and his daughter, reflecting the subjectivity of objects. At the same time, the chapter also discusses the control and influence of things on people, such as the "Eternal Bell" created by Qianlong and Cox's dream, which eventually became an independent entity and posed a threat to people. The autonomy of things has developed into a 'rebellion of things', causing people to lose control of time and fall into anxiety and panic. The fear and rejection of the "Eternal Bell" by officials reflects the deprivation of human reason by things. Cox and his assistant were also trapped by objects, and Qianlong felt the terrifying power of objects when he came into contact with the "Eternal Bell". The novel uses the clock as a metaphor for the profound impact and control of technological objects on human life, revealing the modern society's machines' coercion, control, and even enslavement of humans.

Five concluding remarks

The Forbidden City in the 18th century served as the backdrop for Reimmayer's literary imagination and creation. Clocks and watches were used as narrative subjects in the novel to drive the narrative process, symbolizing modern technology, demonstrating the power of agency, bridging the gap between subject and object, and dissolving binary opposition. As a symbol of machines, clocks reflect the control of technology over human life, reminding us to reflect on technological attitudes and methods, the potential impact of technological development on human life, and not to ignore the control and enslavement of modern objects over humans.