Chinese-Australian Fiction: a Hybrid
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Chinese-Australian Fiction: A Hybrid Narrative of the Chinese Diaspora in Australia by Xi Rang Liu Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania May, 2007 Chinese-Australian Fiction Declaration of Originality I declare that the material is original, except where due acknowledgment is given, and has not been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma. In other words, the thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by the University or any other institution, except by way of background information and duly acknowledged in the thesis, and to the best of my knowledge and belief no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgment is made in the text of the thesis. Xi Rang Liu t • Signature: Lt tA ~ \ Statement of Authority of Access This thesis may be made available for loan. Copying of any part of this thesis is prohibited for two years from the date this statement was signed; after that time limited copying is permitted in accordance with the Copyright Act J968. Xi Rang Liu Signature: llu r::A ~ ~ Date: -1lA1"I e 4, 2. 007 Chinese-Australian Fiction Abstract This thesis seeks to discover the diasporic themes and hybrid values in the cross cultural and transnational experiences of the Chinese diaspora as embodied in Chinese-Australia fiction. The thesis uses the concept of hybridity to balance the tension between Chinese and Anglo-centric perspectives. It offers insights of someone who is both an academic researcher and a diasporic novelist. Although it refers to Chinese-Australian works written in English or translated from Chinese, its main focus is on Chinese Australian fiction in Chinese. Through my bilingual skills, it overcomes a major limitation in previous research in English in Australia-the absence of critiques of works in Chinese that remain untranslated. Also, it uses a multi cultural method to address the limitation of censorship or China-centric vision that characterises existing critiques in Chinese. This thesis is the first study in English to focus totally on Chinese-Australian fiction, and fills a gap of existing knowledge in Chinese critical circles as well. In my findings, Chinese-Australian fiction, especially in Chinese, not only makes an original contribution to Chinese diasporic literature but also to the Australian migrant literature. Through its multiculturar stance, it comprises a valued addition to the voices of Australian literature, presenting Australia's social conditions and customs in a hybrid narrative. Also, the works extend the scope of overseas Chinese diasporic stories. My three published novels have been regarded as a 'trilogy' in their representation of diasporic and cultural themes, representative of different periods of 2 Chinese-Australian Fiction 3 development in contemporary Chinese-Australian literature. One focus of the thesis is what my novels have done differently from other Chinese-Australian fiction. This thesis illustrates Western theories of exile, diasporic experience and the concept of hybridity through detailed analysis on Chinese-Australian fiction. Chinese Australian fiction articulates the Chinese diasporic experience from the gold rush to modem times in Australia using metaphors for push-pull factors in migration. The outstanding works overcome the limitations of traditional Chinese fiction which is characterised by obsession with China. Moreover, Chinese-Australian fiction creates modem and historical images of Chinese. Active Chinese figures of gold diggers and their descendants replace the passive stereotypes of Australian English fiction. Moving beyond the identity anxiety of Who am 1, the characters go beyond cultural differences and form a hybrid culture with the cultural confidence of 1 like who 1 am, and 1 like what 1 do. Chinese Australian fiction illuminates cross-cultural interaction during the 150 year-long Chinese diaspora in Australia. 3 Chinese-Australian Fiction 4 Acknowledgments It has been a long march to finalise this thesis since I started this research on July 200!. I would like to acknowledge the help I have received. A Mid-Year Tasmania Postgraduate Research Scholarship has enabled me to complete this thesis. I am grateful to University of Tasmania for this support. I would like to thank my PhD supervisors Professor Mobo Gao and Professor Barbara Hatley. They showed great foresight to offer a lot of valuable supervision and directions for this thesis. Their dedicated encouragement and guidance has helped me to get my thesis off the ground and complete it. Professor Gao helped me get the ideas of what thesis writing is about, such as migrant theory of push-pull factors and the concept of hybridity. He showed me appropriate procedures, from teaching me how to develop themes and theories in depth, to how to coherently connect and logically draw together all the chapters. My supervisors not only suggested how to demonstrate that specific Chinese-Australian works that have made a substantial and original contribution through an integrated exegesis, but also how to offer a fuller idea of the whole field. When I got lost sometimes, they showed me how to focus on the basic themes with evidence, analysis and arguments. In particular, their bilingual expertise offered useful and insightful judgements for this thesis. I learned a lot from their rigorous approach to scholarly research. As the then Head of School, Professor Hatley supported me to get over my financial difficulty. And Professor Gao and his wife Adrienne even gave me kindly help in my personal difficulties, such as accommodation in their house and transport assistance, just like good friends. They both continually supported my application for the scholarship and 4 Chinese-Australian Fiction 5 its extension. Without their supervision and support, it is difficult to imagine completing it. I would like to take this opportunity to show my respect for them . I also thank Professor Pam Allen, the current Head of School, for her kind support, and the staff members of School of Asian Languages and Studies for their friendly help. Also, my thanks go to the Dean of Graduate Research, Professor Carey Denholm, and the administrative staff of Graduate Research Unit, the staff in the Workshops and library. I also would like to thank my best friend and collaborating translator Robert Apedaile. We have worked together as one to translate two of my novels from Chinese into English, which has enabled me to quote them in this thesis. Moreover, Bobby spent a lot of time correcting the typing and grammatical errors in the draft. I am really appreciative of his friendly and voluntary help. Finally, I like to acknowledge the support of my family. 5 Chinese-Australian Fiction 6 Table of Contents Declaration of Originality ....................................................................................................................... I Statement of Authority of Access ........................................................................................................... I Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter One Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Aims and Reasons ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 16 1.3 Scope and Outline ...................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter Two Literature Review ........................................................................................................... 22 2.1 A Review of Existing Critiques ................................................................................................. 22 2.1.1 Existing Research in English ............................................................................................. 22 2.1.2 Existing Research in Chinese ............................................................................................. 28 2.2 A Review of Chinese-Australian Fiction ................................................................................... 39 2.2.1 Diasporic Themes .............................................................................................................. 39 2.2.2 A Hybrid Identity ............................................................................................................... 55 2.2.3 Creating Diasporic Images of Chinese ............................................................................... 64 Chapter Three Migrant Push-pull Factors in Chinese-Australian Fiction ............................................. 72 3.1 Push Factors for Migration ........................................................................................................ 77 3.1.1 Leaving China to Escape Poverty ...................................................................................... 77 3.1.2 Pursuit of Freedom in a Democratic Country ...................................................................