Abstract:

By adopting the philosophical perspective of Event Theory to comprehend image history and reflect on its generative logic, this study highlights the innovative significance that image events bring to the theoretical morphological transformation of Historical Poetics. Derived from historical processes, historical cognition, and historical discourse, Historical Poetics has evolved into three theoretical forms: speculative, critical, and discursive. Traditionally, grounded in the“history-literature”paradigm, its inquiries have focused on historical causality, teleology, and textuality, yet have consistently lacked sufficient attention to the dimensions of image and event. In contrast, the Event Theory that emerged in the 21st century possesses the capacity to synthesize the numerous binary oppositions triggered by traditional historical texts, implying that the

image event also holds the potential to bridge the theoretical dilemmas of Historical Poetics. In light of this, image events can not only expand the research boundaries of Historical Poetics but also offer inspiration for its innovative development at the theoretical level. This facilitates Historical Poetics in breaking free from the constraints of“textualism”and advancing towards an“Event-Oriented Historical Poetics.”

Key words: image event, Historical Poetics, theoretical morphology, speculation, critique, discourse;innovation