Fashion as a Communicator of Identity in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club

Suprajitno, Setefanus (2023) Fashion as a Communicator of Identity in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. In: The 5th International Conference on Language, Linguistics, and Literature (COLALITE 2023), 05-08-2023 - 05-08-2023, Purwokerto - Indonesia.

	PDF Download (451Kb)
	PDF Download (1698Kb)

Abstract

In this paper, I would like to explore the significance of fashion as a symbol of cultural identity in Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club. Being a symbol of cultural identity, fashion also functions as a communicator of identity. By analyzing the clothing and accessories the characters wear, I demonstrate that fashion accentuates the generational and cultural differences between the Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters. In so doing, I investigate how fashion reflects the characters’ identities, as well as communicating them to others. The findings show that in this novel, fashion illustrates the complex interplay between culture, identity, and self-expression. This interplay offers insights into the characters’ experiences as immigrants and their struggles to reconcile their cultural heritage with their new lives in the U.S.

Actions (login required)