“I am not writing about sex but of human nature:" Pornography, sex and human nature in the Untold Trilogy of Feng Tang

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, sexuality has emerged as an increasingly significant theme in Chinese literature and popular culture. In contrast to earlier works that suppressed sexuality in favor of political fervor, authors like Wang Xiaobo (1952-1997) introduced a completely fresh perspective on sexuality, emphasizing its individual significance (Larson 2003). Two decades after the release of Wang Xiaobo’s renowned novel The Golden Years (1991), Feng Tang (1971) astonishes Chinese readers with his unconventional treatment of sex in his novel Bu’er, the first of the so-called “Unspeakable Trilogy.” Beyond the controversies often surrounding Feng Tang for his unreserved approach to discussing sexuality, particularly male sexuality, this article aims to provide reflection on his poetics of sex, which often appear to aim for higher, sometimes philosophical, ends rather than merely seeking to shock or disturb the reader.