Pei-Yin Li

About the Talk

This talk analyses three diverse leftist pursuits of colonial Taiwanese writers, including Lai He’s (1894-1943) transition from nationalism to a more class-informed reflection of colonial reality, Yang Kui’s (1906-1985) consistent prioritisation of class difference over the coloniser/colonised dichotomy, and Lü Heruo’s (1914-1951) shift from a critic of colonial modernity to a radical leftist right after 1945. It argues that despite their different trajectories and dispositions, they shared a commitment to a realist style deeply ingrained in Taiwanese society and lives of its people during Japanese colonial era, with China exerting a crucial influence on their perspectives of Taiwan’s circumstances.

About the Speaker

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