Feelings of discomfort in Ōe's “Prize Stock”

Annette Thorsen Vilslev*

*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

This article examines the feelings of discomfort in the works of Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Ōe. Focusing on Ōe's first short story “Prize Stock”, Shiiku (1957), the article discusses how the incredible event of a black pilot falling from the sky in the mountains near a small Japanese village during World War II refers to more general racial issues than those described. The discussion argues that Ōe's story, criticized as racist because of the treatment of the black airman, should be read in a broader view, thematising the problems of race and marginalisation in Japan and beyond.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology
Volume14
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)151-158
Number of pages8
ISSN1584-1057
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Affect
  • Discomfort
  • Japan and beyond
  • Kenzaburo Ōe
  • Racial issues

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