Bert Scruggs
Associate Professor, East Asian Studies
School of Humanities
School of Humanities
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
ORCiD: 0000-0003-2719-9059
University of California, Irvine
Department of East Asian Studies
Mail Code: 6000
Irvine, CA 92697
Department of East Asian Studies
Mail Code: 6000
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Fiction, Postcolonialism, Postsocialism, Regionalism, Translation
Research Abstract
Using language, literature, film, and translation as well as cultural, gendered, and spatial identification, I explored fiction written in Chinese and Japanese by Taiwanese authors in my first monograph, Translingual Narration: Colonial and Postcolonial Taiwanese Fiction and Film. In a nutshell, it examines once overlooked and obfuscated texts and explains the complexity of postcolonial identity and post-colonial translation and memory in Taiwan during the twentieth century.
My current research concerns Chinese and Taiwanese xiangtu (homegrown; literally “the soil of the countryside") fiction.
My current research concerns Chinese and Taiwanese xiangtu (homegrown; literally “the soil of the countryside") fiction.
Publications
Monographs
Translingual Narration: Colonial and Postcolonial Taiwanese Fiction and Film. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2015.
Journal Articles
“The Crises of Representation in Taiwan in Ruins and Ground Zero.” National Taiwan University Studies in Taiwan Literature. No. 24 (2020) 83-112.
“Landscapes and Sublime Memories: Revisiting Liang Xiaosheng's ‘A Land of Wonder and Mystery.’” Frontiers of Literary Studies in China 8.4 (2014) 513-531.
“The Postcolonial Appearance of Colonial Taiwan: Film and Memory.” Frontiers of Literary Studies in China 7.2 (2013) 194-213.
“Narratives of Discomfort and Ideology: Yang Kui’s Short Fiction and Postcolonial Taiwan Orthodox Boundaries.” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique 14.2 (2006) 427-447.
“Identity and Free Will in Colonial Taiwan Fiction: Wu Zhuoliu’s ‘The Doctor’s Mother’ and Wang Changxiong’s ‘Torrent.’” Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 16.2 (2004) 160-183.
Selected Translations
Liao, H. (廖洪基). “The Flying Fish and the Lily” (飛魚‧百合) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 52. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2024.
Gan, Y. (甘耀明). “Mystery Train” (神秘列車) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 45. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2020.
Wang, Z. (王禎和). “The Mouse Serves a Guest Tea” (老鼠捧茶請人客) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 42. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2018.
Yang, K. (楊逵). “Water Buffalo” (水牛) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 38. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2016.
Zhang, W. (張文環). “Fallen Bud” (落蕾) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 30. Santa Barbara: US-Taiwan Literature Foundation, 2012. (Japanese to English).
Wu, Y. (巫永福). “Camellias” (山茶花) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 27. Santa Barbara: US-Taiwan Literature Foundation, 2011. (Japanese to English).
Li, Q. (李喬). “Journey to Taimu Mountain” (泰姆山記) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 23. Santa Barbara: University of California, Santa Barbara, Center for Taiwan Studies, 2008.
Translingual Narration: Colonial and Postcolonial Taiwanese Fiction and Film. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2015.
Journal Articles
“The Crises of Representation in Taiwan in Ruins and Ground Zero.” National Taiwan University Studies in Taiwan Literature. No. 24 (2020) 83-112.
“Landscapes and Sublime Memories: Revisiting Liang Xiaosheng's ‘A Land of Wonder and Mystery.’” Frontiers of Literary Studies in China 8.4 (2014) 513-531.
“The Postcolonial Appearance of Colonial Taiwan: Film and Memory.” Frontiers of Literary Studies in China 7.2 (2013) 194-213.
“Narratives of Discomfort and Ideology: Yang Kui’s Short Fiction and Postcolonial Taiwan Orthodox Boundaries.” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique 14.2 (2006) 427-447.
“Identity and Free Will in Colonial Taiwan Fiction: Wu Zhuoliu’s ‘The Doctor’s Mother’ and Wang Changxiong’s ‘Torrent.’” Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 16.2 (2004) 160-183.
Selected Translations
Liao, H. (廖洪基). “The Flying Fish and the Lily” (飛魚‧百合) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 52. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2024.
Gan, Y. (甘耀明). “Mystery Train” (神秘列車) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 45. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2020.
Wang, Z. (王禎和). “The Mouse Serves a Guest Tea” (老鼠捧茶請人客) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 42. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2018.
Yang, K. (楊逵). “Water Buffalo” (水牛) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 38. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2016.
Zhang, W. (張文環). “Fallen Bud” (落蕾) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 30. Santa Barbara: US-Taiwan Literature Foundation, 2012. (Japanese to English).
Wu, Y. (巫永福). “Camellias” (山茶花) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 27. Santa Barbara: US-Taiwan Literature Foundation, 2011. (Japanese to English).
Li, Q. (李喬). “Journey to Taimu Mountain” (泰姆山記) translated by B. Scruggs. Taiwan Literature English Translation Series, 23. Santa Barbara: University of California, Santa Barbara, Center for Taiwan Studies, 2008.
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5582
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5582
Last updated
06/06/2026
06/06/2026