论新加坡怀旧书写中的身份建构 : 以《联合早报・文艺城之岛屿书写》为个案硏究 = A CASE-STUDY OF IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION IN SINGAPORE'S LITERARY NOSTALGIA : LIANHE ZAOBAO -- ISLAND LITERARY WRITING SERIES

Abstract

This paper aims to study the case of identity construct in Lianhe Zaobao: Island Literary Writing Series through the analysis of literary nostalgia in Singapore's context. This identity construct will be used in reference to the cultural sense of belonging one feels for Singapore through nostalgia evoked in literary texts. In nostalgia writing, there is a tendency for one to dwell upon one's own memories of past historical events and provide a deviating narration from the officially acclaimed history. This paper attempts to bring to focus the historical narrative difference written by the locals and the complexity of the concept of reminiscence where cultural imagination and memory selection play a role in unsettling the complete recollection of the past. By giving a brief overview Lianhe Zaobao's functions and principles and drawing upon past academic research of nostalgia writing beyond and within Singapore, this paper seeks to show the significance of identity construct in the Island Literary Writing Series. This paper divides into four main chapters and explores the differing backgrounds of the authors in the Island Literary Writing Series and the influence in their writing. The second and third chapters use the concept of space and time respectively to show how memories are selective and discuss how these authors reflect a commonality in their search for a stable cultural identity. In addition, this paper also explores the readership of Lianhe Zaobao and uncovers the contentious issue of the intended participants in the Island Literary Writing Series not corresponding to the age group of the authors. Through the detailed analysis of this series of writing, this paper concludes eventually that the common cultural sense of identity is formed on the grounds of a culture of disappearance and that the relationship of the Island Literary Writing Series with the official record of history is of a paradoxical nature.This paper aims to study the case of identity construct in Lianhe Zaobao: Island Literary Writing Series through the analysis of literary nostalgia in Singapore's context. This identity construct will be used in reference to the cultural sense of belonging one feels for Singapore through nostalgia evoked in literary texts. In nostalgia writing, there is a tendency for one to dwell upon one's own memories of past historical events and provide a deviating narration from the officially acclaimed history. This paper attempts to bring to focus the historical narrative difference written by the locals and the complexity of the concept of reminiscence where cultural imagination and memory selection play a role in unsettling the complete recollection of the past. By giving a brief overview Lianhe Zaobao's functions and principles and drawing upon past academic research of nostalgia writing beyond and within Singapore, this paper seeks to show the significance of identity construct in the Island Literary Writing Series. This paper divides into four main chapters and explores the differing backgrounds of the authors in the Island Literary Writing Series and the influence in their writing. The second and third chapters use the concept of space and time respectively to show how memories are selective and discuss how these authors reflect a commonality in their search for a stable cultural identity. In addition, this paper also explores the readership of Lianhe Zaobao and uncovers the contentious issue of the intended participants in the Island Literary Writing Series not corresponding to the age group of the authors. Through the detailed analysis of this series of writing, this paper concludes eventually that the common cultural sense of identity is formed on the grounds of a culture of disappearance and that the relationship of the Island Literary Writing Series with the official record of history is of a paradoxical nature.This paper aims to study the case of identity construct in Lianhe Zaobao: Island Literary Writing Series through the analysis of literary nostalgia in Singapore's context. This identity construct will be used in reference to the cultural sense of belonging one feels for Singapore through nostalgia evoked in literary texts. In nostalgia writing, there is a tendency for one to dwell upon one's own memories of past historical events and provide a deviating narration from the officially acclaimed history. This paper attempts to bring to focus the historical narrative difference written by the locals and the complexity of the concept of reminiscence where cultural imagination and memory selection play a role in unsettling the complete recollection of the past. By giving a brief overview Lianhe Zaobao's functions and principles and drawing upon past academic research of nostalgia writing beyond and within Singapore, this paper seeks to show the significance of identity construct in the Island Literary Writing Series. This paper divides into four main chapters and explores the differing backgrounds of the authors in the Island Literary Writing Series and the influence in their writing. The second and third chapters use the concept of space and time respectively to show how memories are selective and discuss how these authors reflect a commonality in their search for a stable cultural identity. In addition, this paper also explores the readership of Lianhe Zaobao and uncovers the contentious issue of the intended participants in the Island Literary Writing Series not corresponding to the age group of the authors. Through the detailed analysis of this series of writing, this paper concludes eventually that the common cultural sense of identity is formed on the grounds of a culture of disappearance and that the relationship of the Island Literary Writing Series with the official record of history is of a paradoxical nature.