VAMPİR DİASPORASINI OKUMAK: OCTAVİA BUTLER’IN FLEDGLING ROMANINDA MELEZLİK VE DİASPORİK BİLİNÇ

Abstract

Bu makale, Octavia Butler’ın Fledgling (2005) adlı vampir romanına diaspora teorilerini uygulayarak, farklılık ve melezlik konularına eleştirel yaklaşımlar getirme amacını güder. Makale, romanın melez vampir kahramanı Shori, onun insan simbiyontları ve vampir Ina toplumu arasındaki sallantılı ilişkiyi irdeleyerek, diaspora deneyiminin karmaşıklığını, özellikle, birbiriyle oldukça çelişen ama aynı zamanda el ele gidebilen milli benlik ve melezlik aidiyet anlatılarını gözler önüne serecektir. Çalışmanın odak noktası üç yönlü olacaktır. Makalenin birinci kısmı, diaspora deneyiminin üç temel ögesini oluşturan dağılma, yurda yönelme, ve sınır koruma/sürdürme öğelerine odaklanarak vampir Ina diasporasının tarihsel boyutunu gözler önüne serer. İkinci kısım ise, “karşılıklı simbiyoz” olarak adlandırılan Ina/insan ilişkisinin sorunlu doğasına ışık tutar. Makalenin son kısmı ise Shori Matthews’un melez kimliğini irdeler. Afro-Amerikan insan genlerine sahip bu melez vampirin, ulusal aidiyet ve kimlik politikaları ikilemine düşmeden, sınırları aşıp aşamayacağını ve hayatta kalma senaryolarını çeşitlilik ve değişim üzerine kurup kuramayacağını sorgular.

Keywords

• Octavia Butler
• Fledgling
• Diaspora
• Melezlik
• Etnosentrizm

READING THE VAMPIRE DIASPORA: HYBRIDITY AND DIASPORIC CONSCIOUSNESS IN OCTAVIA BUTLER’S FLEDGLING

Abstract

This article by applying diaspora theories to Octavia Butler’s vampire novel Fledgling (2005), will engender a critical engagement with the issues of difference and hybridity. By examining the oscillating relations between the hybrid vampire protagonist Shori, her human symbionts, and the vampire diasporic community, this study reflects on the complexity of the diasporic condition; especially, the conflicting claims of belonging where the celebration of hybridity can easily go hand in hand with ethnocentric articulations of nationhood. The focus of this paper will be threefold. The first part will unpack the historical scope of the vampire Ina diaspora, highlighting the three constitutive elements of diasporic experience which are dispersion, homeland orientation, and boundary maintenance. The second part sheds light on the problematic nature of Ina/human relationship termed as ‘mutualistic symbiosis.’ And the last part will interrogate the hybrid identity of Shori Matthews, questioning whether this cross-breed vampire with Afro-American human genes can really hold the potential for boundary-crossing and write her scripts of survival on the necessity of embracing diversity and change without being dichotomized by issues of national belonging and identity politics.

Keywords

• Ovtavia Butler
• Fledgling
• Diaspora
• Hybridity
• Ethnocentricism

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