Background
I'm interested in the mechanics of poetry and the limits of language, particularly in the context of migration and the Asian diaspora in Quebec. I will be exploring multilingualism, French-Canadian poetry, literary theory and autobiographical fiction—with a focus on what is called "women's literature" to fuel my own curiosity related to the effects of growing up in a culture entirely removed from one's parents'.
Multilingualism and Self in Poetic Work
When I first joined B21 in Fall '21, I was curious to know whether multilingualism and translation, in tandem with the medium of poetry, could bring me closer to an answer regarding my Chinese heritage. How do diasporic communities define their homeland? How can I bridge the gap between French and Mandarin Chinese? Though I haven't found a definite answer to these interrogations, I've settled on the fact that this identity, like any other, is in constant evolution. I have however found that bettering my Chinese has granted me access to sides of my family I hadn't been able to see before; language, though insufficient, can still bring us closer in some measure. Engaging this language in my poetic practice has also allowed me to feel a sense of balance and rekindling with my parents' culture.
Final Question: How does one put words on a very particular and ineffable experience? As my interests have shifted from work on diasporic identity to gender-based violence, I want to transpose my interrogations on language to trauma and further my understanding on how words can either empower or strip someone of their agency. I hope to pursue this fundamental question in my graduate studies, and feel very privileged to have been able to lay the stepping stones during my time at B21.
