The Significance of the Variation Theory in Cross-Cultural Communication

In her article "The Significance of the Variation Theory in Cross-Cultural Communication" Yi Wan analyzes some problems that East-West Comparative Literature, as a discipline, has encountered and discusses the significance of the development of the Variation Theory, proposed by Shunqing Cao. The author aims to explore two important points of this new platform, namely, heterogeneity and variation, and compares this new perspective to the French School, which is based on "influences" and the American School which is based on "analogies." By investigating the variations of literary texts or theories during the course of cross-civilization communication from the perspectives of imagology of Variation Theory and sinicization of western literary theory, this article posits that more attention should be given to this new paradigm of comparative literature studies. Variation Theory is based on maintaining and developing the uniqueness of different literature and cultures. It strives to see literature in the light of the culture it was created in, free of the paradigms of the culture it is being shared