Abstract: The movie Tangshan Earthquake is adapted from the novel Aftershock. The two works show many differences in character set, plot and narrative patterns. However, as two works that have gained a good reputation in their respective fields, there are still some commonalities which can be used for reference in disaster literature. A high degree of agreement between self-identity and pursuit of intrinsic value and artistic expression, to a large extent, these agreement has made the reputation of novels and films in their respective fields. At the same time, regardless of Aftershock, from the individual level, or Tangshan Earthquake, from the group level, how to go deeper from reality to a more secretive psychological world, break through the superficial expression of ethics and the simple diagram of ideology, and release its due artistic tension and social efficacy in soul introspection and cultural reflection, is the rational path for the construction of universal value and subjectivity in disaster literature.