Chiaroscuro of the Uncanny: An Unknown Side of Old Master Q

Kum Hoon Ng, Lian Hee Wee

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Wong Chak’s Old Master Q, a superlatively well-known and popular Hong Kong comic series, is commonly seen as a hilarious comedy. Through analyzing hitherto neglected narratival modalities (i.e., the “funny uncanny,” “horror uncanny,” and “as-is uncanny”) whereby Wong plays with disturbing elements, the chapter argues that Old Master Q is actually more variegated and sophisticated. Ng and Wee draw a connection to the age-old supernaturalistic worldview of the Chinese, modern Hong Kongers’ immersion in the paranormal, as well as Western visions of dark cosmic Otherness as expressed by H. P. Lovecraft, Eugene Thacker, and others. Wong Chak is thereby shown to be an artistic master of the uncanny who transcends the bi-cultural tension inherent in a Hong Kong modernizing between the East and the post-Enlightenment West.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCultural Conflict in Hong Kong
Subtitle of host publicationAngles on a Coherent Imaginary
EditorsJason S. Polley, Vinton W. K. Poon, Lian-Hee Wee
Place of PublicationSingapore
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages211-233
Number of pages23
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9789811077661
ISBN (Print)9789811077654, 9789811339967
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2018

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Social Sciences(all)
  • Arts and Humanities(all)

User-Defined Keywords

  • Alfonso Wong
  • Hong Kong comics
  • Old Master Q
  • The uncanny
  • Wong Chak

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