@article{MAKHILLTSS20116222181,
    title = {The Outsider Within: The Expatriate Writer in Malaysia},
    journal = {The Social Sciences},
    volume = {6},
    number = {2},
    pages = {81-86},
    year = {2011},
    issn = {1818-5800},
    doi = {sscience.2011.81.86},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1818-5800&doi=sscience.2011.81.86},
    author = {M.M. and},
    keywords = {spatial proximity,expatriate writer,American dream,Emasculated narrator,narratology,Malaysia},
    abstract = {Pennsylvania-born Robert Raymer moved to Malaysia >25 years ago (1985) and 
since then has written several stories by using Malaysia, especially Penang as 
the major setting. The proximity through matrimony that is claimed by the author 
in the introduction of the anthology on the surface ideally provides him a closer 
perspective of the society as the access through marriage entails openness to 
the details and nuances of the culture and people of the land. However, using 
narratology as an approach, this study problematises Raymer’s claim and argues 
that instead of revealing the Malaysian society as an insider, the narrator and 
narration ironically expose the author’s point of view as an outsider. 
Indeed, the narratological space constructed in this anthology is self-conscious, 
illusory and ironic. Instead of creating spatial proximity, the narratological 
space functions as a conduit for imposing the author’s masculine American 
gaze on the vision of what he thinks constitutes Malaysia or Malaysians, especially 
as epitomized by the female characters. It is within the American expatriate position 
and his mythos that the journey West symbolizes the promised frontier of hopes 
and dreams. Raymer’s journey East, however is filled with nightmares and 
xenophobia thus, undermining the validity of his claim of a connected through 
marriage insider.}
    }