The 1970s: Literary Conventions

Summary

In the literature of the 1970s, there emerged in general a further significant shift in focus from that of previous years. The preoccupation with Malay leaders and their pretensions which dominated the literature of the 1960s, was no longer evident as a major theme. However, the perception of the upper class and figures of authority suggested in earlier literature persisted, although in less obvious terms. Novels such as Perjudian [The gamble] (1973), Izin dalam Paksa [Consent under duress] (1973), Lambak [Lambak] (1974), Krisis (Crisis) (1976), Noni [Noni] (1976), Bel urn Masanya [Before its time] (1977), Tiba Masanya [The time has come] (1977), Kernel ut [Crisis] (1977) and Seluang Menodak Baung [A carp impaling a fish] (1978) are among some of the literary works which perpetuated the perception of the Western-educated officers, the DOs, the Makil Rakyat(s) and government officials as essentially corrupt and hypocritical. The literary preoccupation of the 1970s, especially in the first half of the decade, revolved around the fishermen, farmers and the landless poor who faced the task of opening up new land to start a new life. A sympathy for their struggles, dedication arid commitments found expression in literary works. In his survey of the novels of the 1970s, Safian Hussain suggests that besides love stories literary works of the period may be roughly divided into two preoccupations, namely, life of the urban dwellers and the villagers. He further adds that on the one hand writers tend to dwell on the ills of urban society by highlighting the hypocrisy and moral decadence which plague it. On the other, their focus on village concerns tend to centre on peasants' sufferings and difficulties, along with their determination to meet the challenges of life (Safian Hussain 1981, p. 42).

Alongside the preoccupation with the struggles of the rural poor, the period was also to show an interest in the literary conventions associated with the “absurd”.