Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching

This article examines the construction of diverse identities in contemporary Malaysian literature. Using one literary text, “Neighbours” by Karim Raslan (1996), the analysis shows that the characters, particularly the ancillary male character, Kassim, possesses diverse identities with ethnic ident...

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Main Authors: Collin, Jerome, Ting, Su Hie, Ruzy Suliza, Hashim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Asian Journal of English Language & Pedagogy 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/1/Identity%20in%20Contemporary%20Malaysian%20Literature%20%28abstract%29.pdf
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author Collin, Jerome
Ting, Su Hie
Ruzy Suliza, Hashim
author_facet Collin, Jerome
Ting, Su Hie
Ruzy Suliza, Hashim
author_sort Collin, Jerome
building UNIMAS Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This article examines the construction of diverse identities in contemporary Malaysian literature. Using one literary text, “Neighbours” by Karim Raslan (1996), the analysis shows that the characters, particularly the ancillary male character, Kassim, possesses diverse identities with ethnic identity being foregrounded over other forms of identity that are based on age, social class, gender and sexuality. However, these other forms of identity exert influence over the realization of the characters’ ethnic identity, thereby reinforcing the idea that social identities do not exist in isolation, but interact with each other in the process of identity formation and expression. This article also discusses the dilemmas and challenges that local writers face in constructing the identities of their characters and their own identities in the process, as well as the implications of using the writers’ works to discuss issues related to identity in the literature classroom.
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publisher The Asian Journal of English Language & Pedagogy
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spelling unimas-161862023-11-07T02:18:21Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/ Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching Collin, Jerome Ting, Su Hie Ruzy Suliza, Hashim LB Theory and practice of education This article examines the construction of diverse identities in contemporary Malaysian literature. Using one literary text, “Neighbours” by Karim Raslan (1996), the analysis shows that the characters, particularly the ancillary male character, Kassim, possesses diverse identities with ethnic identity being foregrounded over other forms of identity that are based on age, social class, gender and sexuality. However, these other forms of identity exert influence over the realization of the characters’ ethnic identity, thereby reinforcing the idea that social identities do not exist in isolation, but interact with each other in the process of identity formation and expression. This article also discusses the dilemmas and challenges that local writers face in constructing the identities of their characters and their own identities in the process, as well as the implications of using the writers’ works to discuss issues related to identity in the literature classroom. The Asian Journal of English Language & Pedagogy 2016 Article PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/1/Identity%20in%20Contemporary%20Malaysian%20Literature%20%28abstract%29.pdf Collin, Jerome and Ting, Su Hie and Ruzy Suliza, Hashim (2016) Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching. The Asian Journal of English Language & Pedagogy, 4. pp. 21-29. ISSN 289-8689 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311733736
spellingShingle LB Theory and practice of education
Collin, Jerome
Ting, Su Hie
Ruzy Suliza, Hashim
Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title_full Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title_fullStr Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title_full_unstemmed Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title_short Identity in Contemporary Malaysian Literature: Diversities, Writers’ Dilemma and Implications for Teaching
title_sort identity in contemporary malaysian literature: diversities, writers’ dilemma and implications for teaching
topic LB Theory and practice of education
url http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16186/1/Identity%20in%20Contemporary%20Malaysian%20Literature%20%28abstract%29.pdf