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'She's Got Tears in Her Eyes': The Language of Masochistic Violence and Power in the Work of Kono Taeko
Citation
King, EL, 'She's Got Tears in Her Eyes': The Language of Masochistic Violence and Power in the Work of Kono Taeko , Crossroads, 3, (2) pp. 69-76. ISSN 1833-878X (2009) [Refereed Article]
Abstract
Imagine a woman, her back naked, holding herself steady waiting for the blow that must
come from her lover. He is wielding a rope or rod, something that makes a noise as he
stands over her. This is a scenario that could occur in any one of Kônos early writings
such as Ant SwarmEor Toddler HuntingE(1961, 1964; Ant SwarmEor Toddler HuntingE
trans 1991). The question that has to be asked of such a scene is not who is in control?E
but rather who has the power?EIt is easy to assume that the dominant figure is that of
the male; he is the one standing and it is he who holds in his hand an implement with
which to inflict pain. It is the male who is in control of the situation and who will deal all
of the blows onto the womans flesh. However, it is the woman who has the power in
the scene. It is her fantasy that they are acting out.
In Masochism in Modern Man Theodor Riek defines three main characteristics of
masochism: fantasies, suspense and demonstration. This paper, building on Gretchen
JonesEarticle Subversive strategies: Masochism, gender and power in Kôno Taeko's
Toddler-Hunting, seeks to examine Kônos early work in terms of these three
characteristics in order to explore the roles of power and language in her violent fantasies.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Language, Communication and Culture |
Research Group: | Literary studies |
Research Field: | Literature in Japanese |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Other culture and society |
Objective Field: | Other culture and society not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | King, EL (Dr Emerald King) |
ID Code: | 56703 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Deposited By: | Asian Languages and Studies |
Deposited On: | 2009-05-21 |
Last Modified: | 2010-04-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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