I’ve been discussing the on line journal idea with Tom and Tseen and both of them mentioned that there may be artists that would not label their work or see their work fitting in to the Asian-Australian niche/category or whatever you would call it. I guess I think about Quan Yeomans who is Vietnamese-Australian and Regurgitator is a mainstream band. I’m so used to being labelled a Vietnamese-Australian writer that I’ve internalised it somewhat. Also in my work it often has a Vietnamese protaganist or issues involved. It didn’t used to be like this, I had written some science fiction and fantasy work in my late teens that didn’t involve ethnicity. Anyhow it’s something new to think about.
I just read from Margaret Atwood’s Negotiating the Dead and she says once you are a known writer then you cannot be invisible anymore. People stick labels on you and maybe project masks on to you that you cannot remove. That’s maybe where my politicisation comes from in a way, I have only had to question my identity in regards to my face as a public writer when I am asked questions about it frequently. I also think it might be why authors have second novel syndrome they have to overcome whatever is projected onto them from the first novel and try and become invisible again to write the second book (if this is possible).