“Truthfulness” in Memoirs of Contemporary Chinese American Writers

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2024.05.017

Abstract

Abstract:

Maxine Hong Kingston, Shirley Lim, and Amy Tan are widely regarded as the most significant contemporary Chinese American writers, all of whom have published memoirs since the late 20th century. In her memoir writing, Kingston intertwines fiction and imagination with non-fiction, showcasing an innovative and creative “poetic truthfulness”. In contrast, Shirley Lim’s academic memoir focuses on “personal historical truthfulness”, supplementing theoretical discourses with personal affects. Meanwhile, Amy Tan utilizes visual storytelling to challenge the objectivity of Western “media truthfulness”. These instances illustrate a multi-dimensional perspective of “truthfulness” in narrative, affective, and visual aspects, shedding light on the burgeoning artistry and self-reflectivity of contemporary Chinese American writers.

Key words: Chinese American Writers, Memoir, Truthfulness, Maxine Hong Kingston, Shirley Lim, Amy Tan

CLC Number:

I106

ZHANG Xin. “Truthfulness” in Memoirs of Contemporary Chinese American Writers[J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2024, 24(5): 188-198.

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