Ethnic Experience and Cultural Imagination - A Study of Typical Motifs in Chinese American Fiction

Author: Pu Ruoxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: This book is a research monograph on Chinese American novels. Under the consideration of Chinese American history, culture, and ethnic psychology, it employs psychoanalytic theory, feminist theory, postcolonial and cultural criticism theories, as well as traditional Chinese ethical and moral theories. Through the analysis of three typical motifs, the book systematically explores and demonstrates the unique ethnic experiences in Chinese American literature, the mixed literary traditions, and cultural imagination. It breaks through internal disagreements among researchers, thereby clarifying the definition and identity of Chinese American literature. Based on the specific forms and historical dynamics of the works, the book shows that the expression of motifs varies due to the authors' personal experiences, gender, and social status. Moreover, as historical contexts change and the power discourse between China and the U.S. fluctuates, the same motif also evolves. These variations are not only significant for understanding the colonial discourse within the United States but also provide great insights into the cultural stance and strategies we should adopt in the current "globalization" context. By analyzing typical motifs such as "Chinatown," "mother and son," and "father and son" in Chinese American novels, the author systematically explores and demonstrates the unique ethnic experiences, mixed literary traditions, and cultural imagination in Chinese American literature.