Loss of Self in Lydia Davis’ Stories and Wang Anyi’s Brothers
- Categories
- Article/Artikel
- Magazine Title
- Journal of International Women's Studies
- Magazine Year
- 2017
- Magazine Number
- 4
- Creator
- Wei, Xue
- Creator
- Rose, Kate
- Thesaurus
- literatuur, schrijvers, China, Verenigde Staten, 20e eeuw
- Description
- This paper focuses on how contemporary literary works by women authors in China and the U.S. reverse the individualist West/collectivist China assumption. It mainly compares the works of Lydia Davis and Wang Anyi with regards to urban women’s identities. Under the inspiration of revolutionary ideologies that characterize 20th century China, female characters are striving for meaning in their lives as individuals. In U.S.-American writings, however, the individual is becoming more anonymous and interchangeable, particularly in urban spaces. This article traces possible reasons and implications for this contrast.