Explored the challenges of studying world literature, particularly the issue of a large number of unread works. Frank Moretti proposed that traditional reading methods are insufficient to address this challenge and new analytical methods are needed. He proposed the concept of 'distance reading' with the aim of understanding world literature through large-scale data analysis. The article also discusses the position of this method in theoretical innovation and its relationship with Western Marxism. At the same time, the author points out that the exploration of "distance reading" in the domestic academic community still needs to be deepened to correct some misunderstandings.

The birth of long-distance reading

Deeply explored the importance of distance reading in digital humanities and world literary theory. Moletti proposed that distance reading is to address the complexity of world literature and grasp its diversity through graphical methods. His methodology challenges traditional comparative literature, relying on publication data from other scholars, although this may lead to literary history becoming a secondary study. Moletti's theoretical foundation was influenced by the Yearbook School, and his works "Charts, Maps, and Trees: Abstract Models of Literary History" and "Fiction" demonstrated cooperative logic. Remote reading was initially proposed as a temporary concept, but over time, it has become a serious research method. Moletti's quantitative literary history does not emphasize the uniqueness of the text, but focuses on repetitive elements, transforming the object into a series. Distance reading is opposite to series reading, emphasizing maintaining distance from the text to gain a broader perspective. Moletti believes that distance reading allows researchers to focus on smaller or larger units than the text, such as techniques, themes, or genres, in order to understand the literary system as a whole. His methodology has sparked widespread discussion in the academic community, enriching the content of distance reading.

Theoretical Position of Distance Reading

In recent years, the academic community has proposed various new forms of reading methods, such as "compensatory reading" and "paranoid reading", as well as "surface reading". These methods reflect a shift in literary criticism, from the global influence of French theory, to the identity politics of Anglo Saxon critics, and to a reflection on the paradigm of close reading. Moretti advocates for distance reading to process large amounts of data, describe literary genres and developmental patterns, which requires abandoning traditional hermeneutics and critical practices. His research integrates multiple disciplinary methods, relying on statistical data and computer-aided approaches to achieve larger scale knowledge production. Distance reading focuses on the system of literary genres rather than individual texts, attempting to eliminate the boundary between non classical and classical. Although distance reading and close reading complement each other, Moretti's goal is to make close reading serve the abstract model of distance reading.

The Triple Model of Distance Reading

In the book "Charts, Maps, and Trees," the author proposes a triple model of literary history: charts, maps, and trees, drawing inspiration from bibliometric history, geography, and evolutionary theory, respectively. The goal of distance reading is to convert text into numbers, and then visualize the numbers into patterns, in order to explore new relationships between literature and society. Moretti analyzed the history of literary genres by quantitatively counting the number of novels published, focusing on the characteristics of large-scale forms and ideological trends, rather than internal analysis of small-scale works. He compiled a chart of British novels and their subtypes from the 18th to the 20th century, exploring the reasons for their survival and forgetfulness, as well as the impact of political changes on novel reading and writing. Moretti also analyzed the diversity of novel forms and explained the success or failure of narrative techniques. Through quantitative analysis of 7000 novel titles and analysis of classic novel plot networks, the differences between a large number of unread archives and the classic world have been revealed. Literary maps indicate the things that need to be explained between story description and narrative discourse. Geographic space has an impact on stories, and literary creation is defined by a sense of location. Moletti uses Darwin's genealogy tree to explain the evolution of literary techniques, but points out that world literary history is more like a wave shape. He emphasized the constraints of geographic space on the dissemination of form, as well as the binary opposition between ethnic literature and world literature. Moletti's theory of evolution is compatible with Marxist cultural analysis and formal analysis, and his research cases have experimental nature and conceptual compromise.

The Source of Marxism in Distance Reading

Moletti is regarded by Western scholars as a Marxist literary critic, and his works are deeply influenced by the Marxist paradigm of Dela Walpe, dedicated to the spirit of science. He regards literary form as a manifestation of social power, while also believing that the concept of form itself is a material force. Moretti's literary sociology explores the relationship between novels and capitalism, responding to the debate between scientism Marxism and Hegelian Marxism in the 1960s and 1970s. His theory integrates formalism, structuralism, and psychoanalysis, but differs from Althusser's structuralist Marxism. Moletti's academic background was influenced by Colletti, who combined the deduction of general assumptions with the induction of empirical materials to criticize Gramsci's new Marxism and support a more rigorous path of materialism, empiricism, and anti dialectics. Moretti's falsifiability criticism advocates using empirical data to falsify literary interpretations, pursuing clarity and coherence in literary criticism. His concept of distance reading and computational criticism are at the core of world literary methodology, emphasizing the compromise between sample and normative claims, including non classical works. Moretti refuses to categorize himself as part of digital humanities and instead emphasizes the importance of computational criticism. His research methodology aims to design more suitable methods for literary history, confront the reality of the confrontation between texts and other cultural products, accept the disharmony of literary theory, rather than seeking solutions.