| Abstract |
This essay dwells upon what aesthetics rebels against and how aesthetics revolts. It aims to reveal that aesthetics places itself in a most self-weakening but sharp revolutionary position. The discussion will focus on three aspects. First, the essay reflects on the insight and limitation to Taiwan literature and criticism formed by the identity politics after the abolishing of Martial Law. In the second part, Jacques Derrida’s and Jacques Rancière’s thoughts on aesthetic politics and ethical issues are applied to an insightful perceptional framework. Based on this, the ethical question addressed by the aesthetic action of Wu He’s Remains of Life, which exceeds “identity writing”, can be understood. The last part of the essay analyzes Remains of Life and the relevant comments. The analysis exposes the paradoxical duality of fabrication and witness of this novel and further ponders over the ethics and identity politics of the duality. Wu He’s fictional testimony, I would say, is a difficult but important act of gentle revolt. |
