On the “Other” and Its Function in Nonfiction Writing

In nonfiction writing since the turn of the 21st century, the author evidently assumes a subject position, while the individuals involved in the narrative remain objects, fulfilling the role of the 'Other'. However, these Others are not merely passive objects being controlled, compressed, or dominated. Instead, through their strangeness, richness, and complexity, they significantly enhance the truth-seeking effect of nonfiction narratives and implicitly convey the author's unique emotional engagement and respect. Through interactions and confrontations with the author, the Others in nonfiction works help correct the author's self-perception, leading to a deeper understanding of the world's complexity and diversity. They also broaden the author's cultural perspective, imbuing the narrative with cross- disciplinary and specialized reflections. Essentially, these heterogeneous and independent Others allow nonfiction writing to consciously demonstrate its profound concern for history and reality while resisting the homogenization and simulacra characteristic of the digital age.