Cold War Metaphors in The Membranes: Segregation, Protection, and Historical Inscription
Abstract
Chi Ta-wei once likened queer literature to a "child of the Cold War." His novella The Membranes engages in profound reflection on the legacy left by the Cold War in Taiwanese society through imaginative depictions of the future and the body.During the Cold War, the Taiwan Strait separated the Chinese mainland from the islands . The core metaphor of the "membrane" operates not merely as a physical boundary between the two sides but also as a protective barrier. In times of external upheaval, individuals could retreat into the inner space enveloped by this "membrane," seeking refuge and stability. This "membrane" reflects the predicament of individuals striving for self-expression and self-consolation within the interstices of the martial law system during the Cold War, while also embodying a gap—both unwillingly and insurmountably—between the individual and the external reality. This paper examines how the "membrane" is shaped by Taiwan's geopolitical context, socio-cultural dynamics, and individual life experiences under the shadow of the Cold War, and how it translates the strategic reality of the island chain within the Cold War framework into existential and developmental dilemmas for individuals in society.
References
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