The Notes of a Crocodile (Chinese: 鱷魚手記) is a 1994 Taiwanese novel by writer Qiu Miaojin (邱妙津). It is one of the most significant Taiwanese lesbian novels of the 1990s,[1] and is also a significant work in Taiwanese literature.[2] The novel depicts the identity, emotional belonging, and self-exploration of lesbians, and uses the metaphor of a "crocodile" to represent a homosexual who must live in disguise in a society that is dominated by heterosexuals.[3] The terms "crocodile" and "La-tzu" (拉子) in the novel have become self-referential terms for lesbians in Taiwan.[4][5]
Notes of a Crocodile is a collection of eight diaries, told in a double narrative. The odd-numbered chapters are written in the first person in the form of private diaries, describing the university life of the protagonist La-tzu and others, as well as their conflicts between self-identity and emotional belonging. Through the words of love and struggle, and the sincere confession of emotions, the author depicts the psychological predicament of homosexuals in the 1990s, facing their own same-sex love in a society dominated by patriarchy.[6] The even-numbered chapters are written in the form of monologues by an anthropomorphized crocodile, which satirize and allude to the lonely and oppressed fate of a "sexual deviant" in human society.
Receptionedit
Taiwanese writer Chi Ta-wei (紀大偉) believes that the two story lines do not have a clear mutual definition relationship. In general, it is believed that the crocodile symbolizes a lesbian or homosexual who appears to be friendly and shy on the outside, but lonely on the inside.[5] Literary scholar Tze-Lan Deborah Sang (桑梓蘭) believes that the novel is a blend of realism and animal fables. The author uses montage and jump-cutting techniques to organize the structure, which can be seen as a feature of Notes of a Crocodile.[7]
^Tsai, Chih-chen (2017). "同志悲歌及其純愛：論邱妙津《鱷魚手記》、《蒙馬特遺書》的動物意象、性別政治與情感象徵" [Homosexuals Tragedy and Spiritual Love: The Animal Image, Gender Politics and Symbolic Affect in Notes of a Crocodile and Last Words from Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin] (PDF). Journal of National Taichung University Of Education: Humanities and Arts. Taichung (31): 43–57.
^Chen, Fang-ming (2011). 台灣新文學史 [A History of Modern Taiwan Literature]. Linking Publishing Company. pp. 617–618.
^Chu, Wei-cheng (2001). "鱷魚手記》導讀" [Introduction to 'Notes of a Crocodile']. Literary Taiwan (39): 161–164.
^Lin, Pei-ling (2011). "依違於中心與邊陲之間─論邱妙津作品中的女同志文化菁英氣質與性別邊緣位置" [Negotiating Between Center and Periphery: The Elite Cultural Traits and Gender Marginality in Qiu Miaojin's Works on Lesbian Culture]. Journal of Women's and Gender Studies (28): 107–131.
^ abChi, Ta-wei (2017). 同志文學史：台灣的發明 [A Queer Invention in Taiwan: A History of Tongzhi Literature]. Taipei: Linking Publishing Company. p. 403.
^Hsu, Pei-Yu (2017). 妙津女同志小說中「我」的告白——以《鱷魚手記》及《蒙馬特遺書》為主 [Confession in the Lesbian Fiction by Qiu Miao-Jin: the Perspective of “The Crocodile Note” and “Last Words from Montmartre]. Graduate Institute of Chinese Literature, Tamkang University. pp. 19–22.
^Sang, Tze-Lan Deborah (2015). 浮現中的女同性戀：現代中國的女同性愛欲 [The Emerging Lesbian: Female Same-. Sex Desire in Modern China]. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press. pp. 287–304.
October 28, 2023
notes, crocodile, chinese, 鱷魚手記, 1994, taiwanese, novel, writer, miaojin, 邱妙津, most, significant, taiwanese, lesbian, novels, 1990s, also, significant, work, taiwanese, literature, novel, depicts, identity, emotional, belonging, self, exploration, lesbians, us. The Notes of a Crocodile Chinese 鱷魚手記 is a 1994 Taiwanese novel by writer Qiu Miaojin 邱妙津 It is one of the most significant Taiwanese lesbian novels of the 1990s 1 and is also a significant work in Taiwanese literature 2 The novel depicts the identity emotional belonging and self exploration of lesbians and uses the metaphor of a crocodile to represent a homosexual who must live in disguise in a society that is dominated by heterosexuals 3 The terms crocodile and La tzu 拉子 in the novel have become self referential terms for lesbians in Taiwan 4 5 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Reception 3 See also 4 ReferenceSynopsis editNotes of a Crocodile is a collection of eight diaries told in a double narrative The odd numbered chapters are written in the first person in the form of private diaries describing the university life of the protagonist La tzu and others as well as their conflicts between self identity and emotional belonging Through the words of love and struggle and the sincere confession of emotions the author depicts the psychological predicament of homosexuals in the 1990s facing their own same sex love in a society dominated by patriarchy 6 The even numbered chapters are written in the form of monologues by an anthropomorphized crocodile which satirize and allude to the lonely and oppressed fate of a sexual deviant in human society Reception editTaiwanese writer Chi Ta wei 紀大偉 believes that the two story lines do not have a clear mutual definition relationship In general it is believed that the crocodile symbolizes a lesbian or homosexual who appears to be friendly and shy on the outside but lonely on the inside 5 Literary scholar Tze Lan Deborah Sang 桑梓蘭 believes that the novel is a blend of realism and animal fables The author uses montage and jump cutting techniques to organize the structure which can be seen as a feature of Notes of a Crocodile 7 See also editQiu MiaojinReference edit Tsai Chih chen 2017 同志悲歌及其純愛 論邱妙津 鱷魚手記 蒙馬特遺書 的動物意象 性別政治與情感象徵 Homosexuals Tragedy and Spiritual Love The Animal Image Gender Politics and Symbolic Affect in Notes of a Crocodile and Last Words from Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin PDF Journal of National Taichung University Of Education Humanities and Arts Taichung 31 43 57 Chen Fang ming 2011 台灣新文學史 A History of Modern Taiwan Literature Linking Publishing Company pp 617 618 Chu Wei cheng 2001 鱷魚手記 導讀 Introduction to Notes of a Crocodile Literary Taiwan 39 161 164 Lin Pei ling 2011 依違於中心與邊陲之間 論邱妙津作品中的女同志文化菁英氣質與性別邊緣位置 Negotiating Between Center and Periphery The Elite Cultural Traits and Gender Marginality in Qiu Miaojin s Works on Lesbian Culture Journal of Women s and Gender Studies 28 107 131 a b Chi Ta wei 2017 同志文學史 台灣的發明 A Queer Invention in Taiwan A History of Tongzhi Literature Taipei Linking Publishing Company p 403 Hsu Pei Yu 2017 妙津女同志小說中 我 的告白 以 鱷魚手記 及 蒙馬特遺書 為主 Confession in the Lesbian Fiction by Qiu Miao Jin the Perspective of The Crocodile Note and Last Words from Montmartre Graduate Institute of Chinese Literature Tamkang University pp 19 22 Sang Tze Lan Deborah 2015 浮現中的女同性戀 現代中國的女同性愛欲 The Emerging Lesbian Female Same Sex Desire in Modern China Taipei National Taiwan University Press pp 287 304 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Notes of a Crocodile amp oldid 1182001834, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
