怀旧与记忆 ：陈志锐的诗学记忆 = Nostalgia and memory : reading of Tan Chee Lay’s lyric poetics

• Main Author: 胡慧音 Oh Hui Yin
• Other Authors: Zhang Songjian
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: Chinese
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities::Literature::Chinese
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76052
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Tan Chee Lay is one of Singapore’s widely known Singapore Chinese Literature author amongst the younger generations’ authors. He has written numerous works of different genres including poems, prose, novels and even picture books. Instead of focusing on Singapore’s rapid development, Tan Chee Lay chose to pay attention to the grassroots, with hope to portray a more diversified Singapore in his works. As such, “Nostalgia” is one of the main themes of his works. Being one of the recent authors, research and resources about his works are limited. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the fictional works of Tan Chee Lay using theories such as “Nostalgia” and “Memories”. Identities, localism, diaspora and cultural identity will also be discussed. The cultural development of Singapore, especially during 1970s to 1990s, can be seen when those scattered pieces of memories in his works are pieced together. Through this, what seemed like personal memory can become a collective memory of one generation. The emotions and feelings encompassed in his works derived mostly from the grassroot society that he once lived in. Though poor and undeveloped, that was a place that was full of meaning and humanity. Other than analyzing solely on Tan Chee Lay’s fictional works, this paper will put the analysis in the context of Singapore Chinese Literature’s development over the years, so as to see the bridging between the writers of the earlier and younger generations. Critical analysis aside, this paper also explores the philosophical thoughts behind his lyrical works.