非裔美国文学中的口述文化传统——以非裔美国小说中门廊意象为例析

The Vernacular Cultural Traditions in Afro-American Literature: A Case Study of Porch in Afro-American Novels

门廊在美国建筑文化中的出现与发展历程折射美国社会、历史和文化结构的变化。非裔美国文学作品中常见门廊意象,各种人物形象在门廊众声喧哗,戏谑同胞、戏弄白人、讲述祖先故事。门廊成为非裔美国人发出声音,确定身份,融入族裔群体的平台,智慧地回击白人压迫、歧视的战场;更是他们凝聚族裔力量、传递智慧、传承口述文化的场所。与布鲁斯、爵士乐一样,门廊建筑与门廊文化成为非裔美国族群融入并影响美国文化的又一例证。

The occurrence and development of porch in American architecture reflects the transformation of American social,historical and cultural structure.Porch and porch culture contribute to the blending of Afro-American culture into America along with Blues and Jazz music.Images of porch can be found in many Afro-American writers’fictions.The characters gather and talk on the porch,mocking at each other,fooling the whites,telling their ancestors’stories.Porch has been their platform uttering their own voices,identifying with their race,integrating with the community.Most importantly,it is the very place for Afro-Americans to inherit and pass down their vernacular cultural traditions.