认同“点染”与本土强化——论新华文学中的鱼尾狮意象

Disseminating Identification and Strengthening Nativeness: A Study on Merlion

鱼尾狮作为新加坡的形象标志,充满了丰富的少为人知的吊诡。即使是梳理现有的文学书写,它们对鱼尾狮的本土意象叠加、冲突等也令人兴趣盎然。从见证、记载历史,到对自我、族群文化困境与危机的忧心,再到想当然地对自然生态的捍卫,再到国家、政治、文化认同的变迁,鱼尾狮显然从它诞生时的文化意义上的瘦弱到如今变得羽翼渐丰;但同时,其中的吊诡却也如影相随,“纪恶”的同时却也加强了“恶”,反思其缺憾和内在认同的同时,却也强化了它的文化意涵。本文力图剖析新华文学中这个独特的本土意象。

Merlion, as a symbol of Singapore, embodies rich paradoxical image rarely known. Even when we analyze current literary description, we can also find similar overlapping, clashes on this image. From writing history to worrying about personal, ethnic dilemmas, from defending natural atmosphere to symbolizing the transformation of national, political and cultural identity, Merlion evidently carries on too many meanings and paradoxes. This article will explore into the image in Singapore Chinese literature.