For the translation of the title of Yan Lianke’s *Tamen* (她們, *They* [feminine]), an invented term, *Shes*, is used here, as the gender-marked Chinese character *ta* (她, "she") is a relatively modern invention. This work, which has not yet been translated into English, raises three key questions for exploration: (1) What is the main purpose of this work, and how does it differ from other writings by the same author? (2) Can this be considered a "gap-filler" in the writing of a her-story, complementing history? and (3) What, if any, is the political significance of this book? To answer these questions, I will closely examine the text, identifying the main themes and ideas expressed by the author, and cross-examining these with other relevant texts. In doing so, I will not only engage with the gender-study framework suggested by the author himself, but also incorporate Gayatri Spivak’s categories from subaltern studies. Specifically, Spivak’s foundational question, “Can the subaltern speak?” will serve as a lens through which to analyze the male voice that speaks for the women so vividly portrayed in this literary work.

Reconstructing the Self Through {HerStory}

Sabrina Ardizzoni
2022-01-01

Abstract

For the translation of the title of Yan Lianke’s *Tamen* (她們, *They* [feminine]), an invented term, *Shes*, is used here, as the gender-marked Chinese character *ta* (她, "she") is a relatively modern invention. This work, which has not yet been translated into English, raises three key questions for exploration: (1) What is the main purpose of this work, and how does it differ from other writings by the same author? (2) Can this be considered a "gap-filler" in the writing of a her-story, complementing history? and (3) What, if any, is the political significance of this book? To answer these questions, I will closely examine the text, identifying the main themes and ideas expressed by the author, and cross-examining these with other relevant texts. In doing so, I will not only engage with the gender-study framework suggested by the author himself, but also incorporate Gayatri Spivak’s categories from subaltern studies. Specifically, Spivak’s foundational question, “Can the subaltern speak?” will serve as a lens through which to analyze the male voice that speaks for the women so vividly portrayed in this literary work.
2022
9781003144564
Yan Lianke, gender studies, Chinese literature, Chinese translation, Chinese women, subaltern studies
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14091/15141
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