Representation And Deconstruction

The representation and deconstruction of Confucianism is a key motif in Chinese American literature so far. In light of politics of difference in postmodern theories and Stuart Hall's cultural identity theory, this dissertation supports the heterogeneity, hybridity and multiplicity characteristics of Chinese Americans in Chinese American literature. As the Chinese Americans' traditional ethnic culture, Confucianism is both represented and deconstructed in the change of cultural identities of Chinese Americans. On one hand, I contextualize the Chinese American literature and treat it in Terry Eagleton's field of literary production. The background of history and politics is used to reveal the manipulation of powers in the identity politics and the change of Confucianism in Chinese American literature; On the other hand, I analyze some Chinese Americans' realistic problems and emotional confusion in choosing cultural identities in some classic works in Chinese American literature by employing scrutiny and intertexts. These works include Maxine Hong Kingston's the Woman Warrior and China Men; Jade Snow Wong's Fifth Chinese Daughter; C. Y. Lee's the Flower Drum Song; Emmy Tan's Joy Luck Club and the Bone Settler's Daughter; Gus Lee's Honor and Duty; Gish Jen's Typical American; Fae Myenne Ng's Bone and Steer Toward Rock; David Wong Louie's Pangs of Love.Through these discussions and analyses, I try to present the conflicts and negotiations in the reconstruction of Chinese American cultural identity which is a useful reference and lesson for China to deal with the traditional culture in the era of globalization.Confucianism is a system of values, but I just chose the "filial piety", "discourse/speech" and the modesty, diligence, and tolerance which are related with the thesis of "model minority" because these topics cause the most powerful tension in Chinese American literature. In discussion of these topics, the dissertation is divided into five chapters.In the introduction, I state the cultural pluralism theory of politics of difference and Hall's identity as a "production" theory. These theories explain the representation and deconstruction of Confucianism in Chinese American literature.Chapter one introduces the research background in China and abroad. In Chinese/Asian American literature studies, how to locate the Confucianism in Chinese American cultural identity is a controversial and hot topic. Generally speaking, the ways of representing and deconstructing Confucianism in Chinese American literature are associated with orientalism, hegemonism, and racism.In chapter two, I first review the filial piety which is one of the core values of Confucianism the connotations of patriarchal hierarchy, family economic relationship and sex autocracy. These characteristics of filial piety are embodied in the aspects of "American dream", family structure and marriage freedom including gay and lesbian in Chinese American literature. Obviously, the practice of filial piety in these aspects encounters fierce confrontations and deconstructions.In chapter three, I discuss the politics of discourse/speech in Chinese American literature by exercising Michael Foucault's power discourse theory. I trace the difference and changes between Confucius'use of discourse and the use of discourse in Chinese American literature by focusing on three topics:silence, secrets, and lies. I think the deployment of discourse/speech is a mirror of politics of race, gender, and sex.In chapter four, I review the origin and development of the "model minority" thesis and point out the relationship between the "model minority" thesis and Confucianism is a fake proposition which is derived from racism and racial politics. By reading of the two books Fifth Chinese Daughter and Typical American, we can find out the truth about "model minority" myth.The conclusion gives some additional remarks on the subject of Confucianism in Chinese American literature and the methods of reading it. In this part, I point out the presentation and deconstruction of Confucianism is an ethnic characteristic of Chinese American literature and the reading of contexts is closely related to the sociohistoric contexts of Chinese American literature.