“Survivance” of American Indian Literature: On the Uniform Theme among Gerald Vizenor’s Works

doi:10.12002/j.bisu.311

Abstract

Abstract:

Ranked as one of the “Four American Indian Literary Masters”, Native American writer Gerald Vizenor has thirty more books published in his literary career. A comprehensive review of his various works shows us clearly that the theme of “postindian survivance” is consistently represented among these works. Based on this leading theme, Gerald Vizenor has developed an Indian national narrative of his own unique characteristics. In this essay, we analyzed both his fictional and nonfictional works to give an explanation on the leading theme of Gerald Vizenor’s national narration, which stands steady on his Anishinaabe root and highlights the Anishinaabe tradition; deconstructs the misgiven name “Indian” as a national identity; resists the oppressions on tribal culture from the white mainstream society; makes a great contribution to the study on literary themes of American Indian literature.

Keywords: Gerald Vizenor; survivance; literary theme; fictional and nonfictional; Chair of Tears; Indian literature; American natives

摘要：

被誉为“四大美国印第安文学大师”之一的本土裔作家杰拉德·维兹诺从事文学创作数十年来已发表30多部体裁多样的作品。综合梳理维兹诺的多部作品可以看出,“后印第安生存抵抗”的主题一直统领他的文学创作,由此也形成了他自己独特的、自成一体的印第安民族叙事。本文选取其一部小说、两部散文集,从虚构和非虚构两个层面剖析和阐释杰拉德·维兹诺坚守部族根源、弘扬部族传统的民族叙事对西方殖民者错误命名的“印第安”民族身份的解构、对白人主流社会压制印第安文化的反抗以及对印第安文学自身主题思想研究方面的贡献。

关键词: 杰拉德·维兹诺, 生存抵抗, 虚构与非虚构, 流泪的系主任, 印第安文学, 美国本土裔

CLC Number:

I106.4

Liu Lihui. “Survivance” of American Indian Literature: On the Uniform Theme among Gerald Vizenor’s Works[J]. Journal of Beijing International Studies University, 2020, 42(6): 94-105.

刘丽慧. 印第安文学中的“生存抵抗”：论杰拉德·维兹诺作品间的贯通主题[J]. 北京第二外国语学院学报, 2020, 42(6): 94-105.

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