““Posthuman”Posthuman” Identity: Fragm Identity: Fragmentation and Origins entation and Origins

(of the Past and Future)(of the Past and Future)

Salt Fish GirlSalt Fish Girl By Larissa LaiBy Larissa Lai

OutlineOutline

• IntroductionIntroduction: Mainstream SF films vs. Feminist Sci-fi: Mainstream SF films vs. Feminist Sci-fi• Larissa Lai Larissa Lai • Questions re. chap 1; Questions re. chap 1; • Chap 1: Nu Wa and her Creation; her Views of ProcreatChap 1: Nu Wa and her Creation; her Views of Procreat

ion; Nu Wa becomes Little Mermaid; ion; Nu Wa becomes Little Mermaid; • Questions re. Questions re. chap 2 chap 2 • Chap 2: Miranda’s Parents; her Birth and the Smell; SChap 2: Miranda’s Parents; her Birth and the Smell; S

erendipity vs. the Unregulated Zone; the Business Suit;erendipity vs. the Unregulated Zone; the Business Suit;

• Implications of the First Two Chapters Implications of the First Two Chapters

Mainstream Sci-Fi films Mainstream Sci-Fi films

• Origin MythsOrigin Myths – Sons rebelling against the – Sons rebelling against the Father figures (e.g. Father figures (e.g. Blade Runner, MinoriBlade Runner, Minority Report ty Report and and The Island); The Island); Mother missiMother missing or marginalized. ng or marginalized.

• Ethnic MinoritiesEthnic Minorities – on the margins, or in – on the margins, or in the slums and underworld.the slums and underworld.

• Cyborg IdentityCyborg Identity: Cloned, disassembled a: Cloned, disassembled and re-assembled. nd re-assembled.

Feminist Sci-fi Fictions Feminist Sci-fi Fictions

• Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Charlotte Perkins Gilman: HerlandHerland (feminist utopia w (feminist utopia where men are not needed for procreation.) here men are not needed for procreation.)

• Marge Piercy: Marge Piercy: Woman on the Edge of TimeWoman on the Edge of Time – distopia v – distopia vs. utopia (where both genders can be mothers & nucles. utopia (where both genders can be mothers & nuclear family no longer a basic unit) ar family no longer a basic unit)

• Margaret Atwood: Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind AThe Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin – ssassin – challenge patriarchal/capitalist control challenge patriarchal/capitalist control

• Octavia Butler: Octavia Butler: DawnDawn -- five genders in the extraterrest -- five genders in the extraterrestrials , cross-breeding of two extraterrestials, an intermrials , cross-breeding of two extraterrestials, an intermediary (called ooloi), a black woman and an Asian maediary (called ooloi), a black woman and an Asian man. n.

Feminist Sci-fi Fictions (2) Feminist Sci-fi Fictions (2)

• The Island The Island • Clones made to extend Clones made to extend

human lives or for organ human lives or for organ transplants, etc. transplants, etc.

• What will they do after What will they do after being liberated?being liberated?

• Salt Fish Girl –Salt Fish Girl –– Sonias – Sonias – cyborgs made with cyborgs made with

minorities’ & minorities’ & fish genesfish genes; Mi; Miyakos, mixed with yakos, mixed with cat genescat genes..

All sent to serve as factory wAll sent to serve as factory workers. orkers.

– Liberated Sonias try to resist Liberated Sonias try to resist and maintain their autonomand maintain their autonomy. y.

– ends with Miranda’s matinends with Miranda’s mating with Evie (a liberated Sonig with Evie (a liberated Sonia) a)

Larissa LaiLarissa Lai & & Chinese history & Chinese history & myth myth

• Beyond the debate over Beyond the debate over authauthenticity and exoticismenticity and exoticism

• History re-visioned for differeHistory re-visioned for different causes and connected witnt causes and connected with contemporary or future Chih contemporary or future Chinese-Canadians nese-Canadians

• History embodiedHistory embodied: (1) history : (1) history of gender exploitation told thof gender exploitation told through the stories of fox, rough the stories of fox, 魚玄魚玄機機 , Nu Wa and Salt Fish Girl., Nu Wa and Salt Fish Girl.

(2) the fox’s animating human c(2) the fox’s animating human corpses; Nu Wa’s human-fish orpses; Nu Wa’s human-fish body—and the smell. body—and the smell.

Born in Born in La Jolla, California,La Jolla, California, Grew up in Grew up in NewfoundlandNewfoundland,,Joined the Chinese-Joined the Chinese-Canadian movements in Canadian movements in the 80’s in the 80’s in VancouverVancouver; ; currently working on a currently working on a PhD at the University of PhD at the University of Calgary.Calgary.

When Fox Is a Thousand --When Fox Is a Thousand --

1.1. thematic concernsthematic concerns: connections and betraya: connections and betrayals of friends and lovers; fluidity of gender and ls of friends and lovers; fluidity of gender and cultural identity cultural identity

2.2. centers around the murder of a Chinese-Cancenters around the murder of a Chinese-Canadian woman; adian woman;

3.3. involves involves re-interpretationre-interpretation of the fox (no long of the fox (no longer er 狐狸精 狐狸精 but one who animates women’s but one who animates women’s bodies and moves to the West﹚, bodies and moves to the West﹚, 魚玄機 魚玄機 and and the fluid gender & ethnic boundaries of the Cthe fluid gender & ethnic boundaries of the Chinese-Canadianshinese-Canadians

Salt Fish GirlSalt Fish Girl

Two Time-lines:Two Time-lines:• (1) (ancient China(1) (ancient China) nineteenth-centur) nineteenth-centur

y China -- y China -- Nu Wa and Salt Fish GirlNu Wa and Salt Fish Girl • (2) Pacific Northwest in 2044 –“the abs(2) Pacific Northwest in 2044 –“the abs

olute power of the Big Six” (14); olute power of the Big Six” (14); places -- the walled city of Serendipity (multinplaces -- the walled city of Serendipity (multin

ational companies Saturna and Nextcorp), tational companies Saturna and Nextcorp), the Unregulated Zone (Pellas Shoes)—he Unregulated Zone (Pellas Shoes)—MiranMiranda and Evieda and Evie

Salt Fish GirlSalt Fish GirlConnections between the two time-lines Connections between the two time-lines 1)1) Salt Fish Girl is a factory worker in the late 19th centSalt Fish Girl is a factory worker in the late 19th cent

ury, like Evie (the female clone) in 2000. ury, like Evie (the female clone) in 2000. 2)2) Nu Wa once betrays Salt Fish Girl and migrate to the Nu Wa once betrays Salt Fish Girl and migrate to the

Land of Mist and Forgetfulness, just as Miranda later Land of Mist and Forgetfulness, just as Miranda later also betrays his father by selling the mother’s song.also betrays his father by selling the mother’s song.

3)3) Nu Wa, after returning to Canton, is involved in mariNu Wa, after returning to Canton, is involved in marital problems (of the husband’s infertility and forcetal problems (of the husband’s infertility and forced sexual relations with a fisherman) and then forced d sexual relations with a fisherman) and then forced to commit suicide. to commit suicide.

4)4) Inside the water, Nu Wa becomes a durian fruit, to laInside the water, Nu Wa becomes a durian fruit, to later impregnate Miranda’s mother. ter impregnate Miranda’s mother.

5)5) Both Miranda and Evie are of “putrid” origins (of fiBoth Miranda and Evie are of “putrid” origins (of fish and durian). What does this mean? More later. sh and durian). What does this mean? More later.

The First Chapter—The First Chapter—Questions Questions • BifurcationBifurcation – How is Nu-Wa as a creator of hu – How is Nu-Wa as a creator of hu

mans presented? How is the story of mans presented? How is the story of The Little The Little Mermaid Mermaid revisedrevised?? (You can compare it with th (You can compare it with the creation myth of the Bible or the following vee creation myth of the Bible or the following version-- rsion-- sourcesource) )

•女媧是中國歷史神話傳說中的一位女神。與伏羲女媧是中國歷史神話傳說中的一位女神。與伏羲為兄妹。為兄妹。人首蛇身人首蛇身，相傳曾煉五色石以補天，並，相傳曾煉五色石以補天，並摶土造人摶土造人，制嫁娶之禮，延續人類生命，造化世，制嫁娶之禮，延續人類生命，造化世上生靈萬物。 女媧是中華民族偉大的母親，她上生靈萬物。 女媧是中華民族偉大的母親，她慈慈祥地創造了我們，又勇敢的照顧我們免受天災祥地創造了我們，又勇敢的照顧我們免受天災。。是被民間廣泛而又長久崇拜的創世神和始祖神。是被民間廣泛而又長久崇拜的創世神和始祖神。她神通廣大化生萬物，每天至少能創造出七十樣她神通廣大化生萬物，每天至少能創造出七十樣東西。 東西。

Her Sense of Loneliness & Her Sense of Loneliness & Need for Communication Need for Communication

• Not “a philosphical, mountain-top sort oNot “a philosphical, mountain-top sort of loneliness” p. 1f loneliness” p. 1

• Not omnipotent as Goddess; Speaks to “Not omnipotent as Goddess; Speaks to “you,” who may eats her up as fish. p. 2 you,” who may eats her up as fish. p. 2

• Creates humans out of loneliness, though Creates humans out of loneliness, though the humans laugh at her. the humans laugh at her.

Human Identity begins with splitting oHuman Identity begins with splitting of one’s tail. f one’s tail.

Creation and Procreation Creation and Procreation

• Creation– neither kind or gentle p. 2; Creation– neither kind or gentle p. 2; • Legs created out of anger p.3Legs created out of anger p.3• Products –disgusting, rude, insolent, brutal, p. Products –disgusting, rude, insolent, brutal, p.

4 4 • Humans start the sacrificial ritual Humans start the sacrificial ritual Nu Wa wo Nu Wa wo

rries about their mortality rries about their mortality • Sexual act – for pleasure as well as procreation Sexual act – for pleasure as well as procreation

p. 5 (Confucius mentioned—anachronism.) p. 5 (Confucius mentioned—anachronism.)

Nu Wa becomes Little MermaiNu Wa becomes Little Mermaidd• Lonely and envying humans’ having passion Lonely and envying humans’ having passion • River River pool pool waterfall waterfall a cold green lake a cold green lake

a young man’s face p. 7 a young man’s face p. 7 • p. 9 The young man’s face p. 9 The young man’s face In the third chapIn the third chap

ter, ter, the man’s face becomes a woman’sthe man’s face becomes a woman’s (th (the Salt Fish Girl’s) and Nu Wa impregnates a we Salt Fish Girl’s) and Nu Wa impregnates a woman through water. oman through water.

Miranda’s Miranda’s mixture of originsmixture of origins; a feminist re; a feminist revision of both Nu Wa and The Little Mermaid vision of both Nu Wa and The Little Mermaid

Chapter Two: Questions Chapter Two: Questions

• Miranda’s Birth: How are Miranda’s parents Miranda’s Birth: How are Miranda’s parents related to each other? What happens to Miranrelated to each other? What happens to Miranda’s mother before M’s birth? da’s mother before M’s birth?

• What can be the symbolic meanings of MirandWhat can be the symbolic meanings of Miranda’s smell? a’s smell?

• How is Serendipity different from the UnregulaHow is Serendipity different from the Unregulated Zone? ted Zone?

• And the Business Suit and “The Real World”?And the Business Suit and “The Real World”?

• Can you find any connections between Nu Wa Can you find any connections between Nu Wa and Miranda? and Miranda?

Miranda’s Parents –uneasy Miranda’s Parents –uneasy relationship relationship • The mother’s image: before the vanity table. The mother’s image: before the vanity table.

– Interpreted through a photograph – M sees a squiggle in his fInterpreted through a photograph – M sees a squiggle in his father’s eye ather’s eye

– On the day of M’s conceptionOn the day of M’s conception– After the parents’ argument After the parents’ argument

• At 65, mother falls in love with the father for the first tiAt 65, mother falls in love with the father for the first time. P. 17;me. P. 17;

• The smell The smell immaculate conception immaculate conception love seat love seat g garden unattended arden unattended bliss interrupted by a neighbor p. bliss interrupted by a neighbor p. 18 18

• The mother’s “ancient sigh” The mother’s “ancient sigh” pp. 12; 19-20; p. 41 pp. 12; 19-20; p. 41 her career made and broke in The New Kubla Khan her career made and broke in The New Kubla Khan a young man who jilted her a young man who jilted her estranged from her hus estranged from her husband until his getting a durian for her. band until his getting a durian for her.

The Stinky, Pepper-Pissy Smell The Stinky, Pepper-Pissy Smell • Chap 1: p. 2 the stink of “the beginnings and Chap 1: p. 2 the stink of “the beginnings and

endings”endings”• Chap 2: first unpleasant, then “vaguely familiar”; of Chap 2: first unpleasant, then “vaguely familiar”; of

“something forbidden smuggled on “something forbidden smuggled on board. . .mingled with the smell of unwashed board. . .mingled with the smell of unwashed underwear”(13) underwear”(13) Durian p. 15 Durian p. 15

• p. 16 pervades everything in her house. p. 16 pervades everything in her house. • P. 37—the smell of the Unregulated Zone P. 37—the smell of the Unregulated Zone smell of the minorities or underclass; smell of the minorities or underclass; later Miranda is suspected to have a dreaming later Miranda is suspected to have a dreaming

disease (a disease that causes memories of the disease (a disease that causes memories of the traumatic past to leak into the present) traumatic past to leak into the present)

The Durian Tree The Durian Tree

• Durian—suggestive of Asian Durian—suggestive of Asian foreignness; foreignness;

• The seeds of Miranda; The seeds of Miranda;

• The DNA for a subversive society of The DNA for a subversive society of free clonesfree clones

Serendipity vs. the Serendipity vs. the Unregulated ZoneUnregulated Zone• CD-Rom, laptop old p. 19; CD-Rom, laptop old p. 19;

TV dated; p. 24 TV dated; p. 24 • thought control -- Running thought control -- Running

dog TV 21 –; Forbidden dog TV 21 –; Forbidden Tales p.34Tales p.34

• No mixture with the other No mixture with the other world; Business Suit for tax world; Business Suit for tax collecting p. 25; 27;collecting p. 25; 27;

• Interactive Electronic Books Interactive Electronic Books with Spy Goggles (24--) with Spy Goggles (24--)

• Miranda –the only Asian in Miranda –the only Asian in her school her school

• Food – bright and regular in Food – bright and regular in shape 31 shape 31

• More ethnic minorities More ethnic minorities • Food – strange, twisted Food – strange, twisted

and misshaped and misshaped • More poor people and More poor people and

violence violence

Business Suit Business Suit virtual reality – virtual reality –intersecting with the other intersecting with the other world world • Turning tax collecting into adventures Turning tax collecting into adventures • The father is not always heroic; The father is not always heroic;

collecting tax by swallowing “long collecting tax by swallowing “long streams of razor disc birds” which turn streams of razor disc birds” which turn into numbers. into numbers.

in the following chapter, Miranda in the following chapter, Miranda returns all the tax and kills Receiver returns all the tax and kills Receiver GeneralGeneral the family exiled to the the family exiled to the Unregulated zone Unregulated zone

Implications of the first two Implications of the first two chapters chapters • Miranda—fish scale Miranda—fish scale Nu Wa Nu Wa• The past can inhabit our bodies – but there are The past can inhabit our bodies – but there are

multiple sordid origins; multiple sordid origins; • The past the mother misses & the Song for ClaThe past the mother misses & the Song for Cla

ra Cruise—sexist and racist, too, just as the futra Cruise—sexist and racist, too, just as the future and the novel’s ending is not a solution oure and the novel’s ending is not a solution once and for all. nce and for all. – Miranda will later tried many different medicine witMiranda will later tried many different medicine wit

hout success, until later she is sent to Dr. Flower, whout success, until later she is sent to Dr. Flower, who produces clones, and works for him. ho produces clones, and works for him.

– Resistance group will fail. Resistance group will fail. – “ “Everything will be all right, I thought, until next tiEverything will be all right, I thought, until next ti

me. me.