Wandering in Heterotopia: The Politics of Sound and the Representation of
Aphasia in the Film Abang Adik
Chen Xiaojian Jian Guideng
Abstract:Abang Adik, a film written and directed by Malaysian director Lay Jin Ong, was released inmainland China on September 21, 2024. Employing a realist approach, the film focuses on themarginalized communities at the very bottom of Malaysian society in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, andstateless individuals struggling to survive. The inherent ethnic and cultural context in Malaysia imbuesthe film with a "diasporic" quality. This paper, through the theoretical lenses of heterotopia and thepolitics of sound, provides an in-depth analysis of the violent manifestations and multiple dimensionsof aphasia among the marginalized characters in Abang Adik, as well as their resistance andredemption within the heterotopia. Furthermore, it aims to offer insight into the exploration ofdiasporic communities and to contribute to the study of Southeast Asian cinema.
Keywords: Abang Adik; Heterotopia; Politics of Sound; Representation of Aphasia; Malaysia
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