Arts and Culture
Several waves of settlement and encounters with other civilizations in recent centuries have bequeathed Taiwan a diverse culture and a pluralist society. This hotbed of creativity has produced such global names as Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, film directors Ang Lee and Hou Hsiao-hsien, and fashion designer Jason Wu. While the local film industry is making a comeback with box-office hits at home and abroad, Taiwan’s music industry has long been the leader in Chinese-speaking markets. Taiwan’s cultural and creative industry is thriving with government support. More information on ROC culture here.
- NPM treasures make Taiwan Public TV debut Taiwan Today
Four of Taipei City-based National Palace Museum’s best-loved treasures will feature for the first time in a Taiwan Public TV documentary set to screen 10 p.m. May 16 islandwide.
- Taiwan photographers shine in PSA listing Taiwan Today
Taiwan photographers garnered top rankings in the latest Photographic Society of America’s Who’s Who in Photography listing released earlier this month.
- The Ancestors’ Tales—Dakis Pawan Tells the Truth about Wushe 05/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
In 2011 director Wei Te-sheng’s historical epic See-diq Bale hit screens across Taiwan to a rapturous reception. Da-kis Pa-wan, the man responsible for translating Wei’s script into the Seediq language, also kept a shooting diary as the film was being made, ultimately publishing it as Truth Bale. Driven by a growing sense of anxiety about the decline of the Seediq language, Da-kis Pa-wan followed his first book with Returning to the Truth: The Seediq People and the Wushe Incident.
- Return of Ancestral Spirits Re-Energizes Tafalong Community 05/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
In a documentary film directed by anthropologist Hu Tai-li, young Amis of the Ta-fa-long community strive to bring back ancestral spirits and reconstruct a family home that had special ceremonial importance. But since traditional ceremonies and ancestor worship have long been marginalized in the tribe, can those ancestral spirits really come home?
- The Anthropologist Behind the Camera: Hu Tai-li 05/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
It both documents and observes. Hu Tai-li’s new documentary Returning Souls takes an anthropologist’s look at how the people of Tafalong have courageously searched for their roots with great passion and idealism in the face of great difficulties.
- You Must Be Joking! Live Comedy Gets a Foothold 04/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
Many cities have a landmark locale for the “culture of humor.”
- Paper Windmill Theatre Rides Again! 04/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
“When are you coming back?”
- Chinese food in Taiwan: just how authentic is it? January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
An inquiry into whether mainland-origin cuisines have changed in Taiwan over the decades.
- Fruitful Island January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
Taiwan is known for its delectable fruits such as mangos, bananas, and guavas, but nature writer Chang Hui-fen says consumers shouldn’t take them for granted.
- Taiwan starts to take to cheese January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
Traditionally it wasn’t part of the local diet, but consumption now is growing steadily.
- Taiwan’s own Willy Wonka January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
This country’s chocolatiers create tantalizing flavors with local specialties like oolong tea and Kaoliang liquor.
- Night market favorites January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
You can’t reproduce the ambience, but you can still relive some of the experience.
- A culinary tour of Pingtung January 2013 Topics, American Chamber of Commerce
Long or short, low or high, the county has as wide a choice of foods as anywhere in Taiwan.
- The Cultural Phenomenon of Teresa Teng 03/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
Wherever there are Chinese, you will find the songs of Teresa Teng. This year marks the 60th anniversary of her birth, and she is being commemorated in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China with film and music festivals, conferences, and publications of biographies. She was in this world for only a brief 43 years, but her voice provided spiritual solace to a whole generation. Her rise, her fame, and her death have combined to create an epic cultural legend that can never be duplicated.
- Land of the Jumping Flea: Ukulele Fever Grips Taiwan 03/01/2013 Taiwan Panorama
The adorable four-stringed ukulele, resembling a miniature guitar, has recently caught on big time in Taiwan. It’s loved by TV stars, popular vocalists and the general public alike, but this whirlwind craze has also unwittingly drawn attention once again to the traditional instrument industry of Shuilin Township in Yunlin County.