‘Homebound’: The Illustrated Graphic Novel As an Autobiographic Voice for an Immigrant Asian Gay Male in New Zealand
Date
Authors
Chooi, Don Yew Li
Supervisor
Ings, Welby
Harris, Miriam
Item type
Thesis/Dissertation
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract
This practice-led artistic inquiry takes the form of an 80-page, scripted and illustrated graphic novel. Creatively, the work is concerned with the narratisation of a largely autobiographical voice through the juxtaposition of word, image, and decompression story telling. The narrative draws heavily upon certain experiences I had, growing up in Malaysia and moving to New Zealand. In this journey, I began to identify as an Asian gay man within the bear culture. Specifically, the novel and exegesis unpack the nature of belonging as both a concern of ethnicity and sexual orientation. In doing so, it draws upon recent discourse surrounding non-western considerations of gay masculinity, filial obligations and notions of the ‘chosen family’.Description
Keywords
Gay, Asian, Male, Autobiography, Graphic, Novel, Immigrant, New Zealand, Illustration, Storytelling, Masculinity, Filial piety, Art, Narrative, Malaysia, Bear, Identity, Cultural, Sexual, Gay bear, Gay Asian male, Graphic novel, Gay masculinity, Chosen family, Kinship