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  • Author:agent Yu Ouyang http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/ouyang-yu
Issue Details: First known date: 2000... 2000 Representing the Other: Chinese in Australian Fiction: 1888-1988
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The first Chinese in Australia are said to have arrived as early as 1818, and since then, many more have made Australia their homeland--the current Chinese population is over half a million. It is therefore not surprising that the Chinese are featured in many Australian literary works. 'This book examines the representation of the Chinese in Australian fiction from 1888 to 1988, with an Author Commentary at the end that provides a brief update on the subsequent fictional representations of the Chinese. It begins with an overview of the Chinese in Australian and Chinese history, followed by a theoretical examination of how the Chinese are made the "Other' by Orientalism, racism, and ethnocentrism. It discusses literary texts written over a period of one hundred years from 1888 to 1988. 'The study is divided into three major periods of 1888-1901, 1902-1949, and 1950- 1988. The first period (1888-1901) deals with the initial attempts to represent the Chinese in fiction as the bad Other by the early Bulletin writers, the Australian responses to the rise of the fear of "the Yellow Peril" in "invasion literature," and the imperialist will to power over the Chinese in writings set in China by Anglo-Australian writers. 'Apart from pursuing the issue of the continued fear and stereotyping of the Chinese in popular writing, the second period (1902-1949) introduces a new phenomenon of literary Sinophilism that dichotomizes the representation of the Chinese and examines the image of Chinese women. 'The third period (1950-1988) focuses on the problem of politicisation that polarizes literary attitudes towards the Chinese, and discusses Australia's "Asian writing" as an extension of colonial writing that continues to "Other" the Chinese and explores multicultural writing as an alternative means of representation. 'This is an important book that illustrates how the "Other" is represented and will be a valuable book for those in Australian studies, Asian studies, and literary studies.' (Publisher's blurb)

Notes

  • Alternative translation of the title: Distinguishing Themselves: Chinese Portrayal in Australian Fiction 1888 - 1988

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Alternative title: Biao Xian Ta Zhe : Aodaliya Xiao Shuo Zhong de Zhongguo Ren, 1888-1988
Alternative title: biaoxian tazhe: aodaliya xiaoshuo zhong de zhongguo ren: 1888-1988
Language: Chinese

Works about this Work

Where are you from? : New Imaginings of Identity in Chinese-Australian Writing Peta Stephenson , 2005 single work essay
— Appears in: Culture, Identity, Commodity : Diasporic Chinese Literature in English 2005; (p. 107-128)
Untitled 2000 single work review
— Appears in: Asia Society AustralAsia Centre Newsletter , Winter 2000; (p. 6)

— Review of Swallowing Clouds Lillian Ng , 1997 single work novel ; On the Goddess Rock Arlene J. Chai , 1998 single work novel ; The Australian Fiance Simone Lazaroo , 2000 single work novel ; If the Moon Smiled Chandani Lokuge , 2000 single work novel ; Wind and Water Ang Chin Geok , 1997 single work novel ; Representing the Other: Chinese in Australian Fiction: 1888-1988 Yu Ouyang , 2000 single work criticism
Untitled 2000 single work review
— Appears in: Asia Society AustralAsia Centre Newsletter , Winter 2000; (p. 6)

— Review of Swallowing Clouds Lillian Ng , 1997 single work novel ; On the Goddess Rock Arlene J. Chai , 1998 single work novel ; The Australian Fiance Simone Lazaroo , 2000 single work novel ; If the Moon Smiled Chandani Lokuge , 2000 single work novel ; Wind and Water Ang Chin Geok , 1997 single work novel ; Representing the Other: Chinese in Australian Fiction: 1888-1988 Yu Ouyang , 2000 single work criticism
Where are you from? : New Imaginings of Identity in Chinese-Australian Writing Peta Stephenson , 2005 single work essay
— Appears in: Culture, Identity, Commodity : Diasporic Chinese Literature in English 2005; (p. 107-128)
Last amended 9 Sep 2008 15:42:14
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