Kotey, James Okan
(2022)
Voice on an Island: Translations of Five Short Pieces by Medoruma Shun.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
This thesis contains a set of literary translations of five short stories by Medoruma Shun, an Okinawan author famous for novels and short stories addressing the experiences of Okinawans in the late 20th and early 21st century. Best known for works like his Akutagawa-winning short story Droplets that address traumatic war memory, Medoruma’s style is often associated with magical realism, as his protagonists seem to live between the everyday world and often troubling intrusions linked to memory (often associated with the battle of Okinawa) and trauma. The five stories here are The Doll, Glass, The Horse, Cocoon, and Bongaeri, all have such dimensions, although some are not clearly linked to war memory. The thesis provides translations that emphasize Medoruma’s style, and each includes an introduction that draws attention to how this style emphasizes important thematic elements.
The Doll is about an elementary-schooler’s encounter with a strange dollmaker. Glass is about a man’s day after a window is broken in his apartment by an unknown assailant. The Horse has an adolescent come into contact with a very special horse near the shores of his local swimming spot. Cocoon is about a bashful and reserved student who meets a unique young woman. Bongaeri is a story about a father coming home to celebrate the Bon festival and remember dead relatives.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
30 April 2022 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
April 2022 |
| Approval Date: |
25 October 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
13 June 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
56 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > East Asian Studies |
| Degree: |
MA - Master of Arts |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Medoruma Shun |
| Date Deposited: |
25 Oct 2024 19:13 |
| Last Modified: |
28 Oct 2024 12:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43148 |
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