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AAWW in New York to launch 'Queer Time: A Notebook of Taiwanese Tongzhi Literature' online

  • Date:2021-07-26
AAWW in New York to launch 'Queer Time: A Notebook of Taiwanese Tongzhi Literature' online

The Asian American Writers' Workshop's (AAWW) online literary magazine will launch the unique collection "Queer Time: A Notebook of Taiwanese Tongzhi Literature," co-edited by Taiwanese author Chi Ta-wei (紀大偉) and Taiwanese American writer Chu Ariel (朱詠慈), and hold its bilingual event online on July 26.

This is the first time that the AAWW in New York presents a topic on Taiwanese literature, gathering the works of Taiwanese authors including Chen Bo-qing (陳栢青), Chen Pei-jean (陳佩甄), Huang Jade (黃岡), Li Pin-yao (李屏瑤), Lin Hsin-hui (林新惠), Ma Yi-hang (馬翊航), Prtit (夏慕聰), Leah Yang (楊隸亞), Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子), Chi Ta-wei, and Chu Ariel. Their works were translated by local American translators.

"A Queer Invention in Taiwan: A History of Tongzhi Literature" written by Chi offers a unique and comprehensive insight into queer literature in different eras of Taiwan. While naming this event, he added the time coordinate "Queer Time" into the geographic coordinate "Taiwan Literature," in hopes of to highlight Taiwan's emphasis on multi-gender issues and allowing the international community to know more about the essence of Taiwanese culture.

Chi stated through a press release of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO) that Taiwanese society has been defended LGBT’s human rights in recent years and promoted the development of queer literature in Taiwan.

To increase the international visibility of Taiwanese authors, this event will premiere on the AAWW's YouTube channel and also share writers’ and translators' dialogues and readings with English readers.

In addition, TECO pointed out the Ministry of Culture is delighted to see the collaboration between the American literature platform and Taiwanese authors, which allows American readers to see the abundant creative prowess of Taiwanese authors.