1990년대 중국소설에 나타난 남성성 연구(2)— <雨天的棉花糖>과 <那个夏季那个秋天>을 중심으로

Abstract

This study explores how masculinity contributes to establish its identity as male subjectivity by observations on <雨天的棉花糖> and <那个夏季那个秋天>. Their tragedies are worthy to be evaluated in two aspects. The first one is the deconstruction of hegemonic masculinity. It appears in two ways. The hegemonic masculinity is practiced by suppressing male subjectivity, and male subjectivity is deconstructed regardless of success or failure in winning hegemonic masculinity. It proves that hegemonic masculinity is unachievable and illusive. The second aspect is the firmness of the bisected gender system. The social and cultural mentality does not accommodate individualized masculinity in the bisected gender system, and it is rigid enough to lead Hong Dewu to his death. On the other hand, Geng Dongliang feels lost because he recognizes his internalized recognition of bisected genders. The tragedies explain that whether various masculinities are practiced in culture or not is one question, and whether the masculinities deserve equal value and get accepted or not is another question in the bisected gender system. As Hong Dewu and Geng Dongliang’s tragedies, the space for various masculinities will get narrower when the subjectivities, which does not be explained as dominant and universal, get suppressed in the processes of becoming males. The writer must have had enough his reasons and meanings for focusing on these particularly non masculine boys, and making narratives on their journeys of becoming a man.