Presenter(s): Lisa Kwan
Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Hennion
Oral Session 3 DL
My short story “Variations on Affection” is told in first person point of view from the perspective of an Asian-American mother. The fictive present follows the mother on her daughter Sophie’s wedding day as she is walking down the aisle. The story alternates between this short time frame and flashbacks detailing important moments in their relationship. It is largely focused on exploring the difficult relationship between mothers and daughters, which is a result of cultural and generational differences. Mainly, it puts the ideas of individualism and collectivism in contention, contrasting Sophie’s independence with her mother’s stubborn traditional upbringing. The navigation of these tensions and their eventual reconciliation, though ambiguous, reflects the experience of many second-generation children and their immigrant parents. As the title suggests, there are many ways in which love and affection manifest.