Source: China Jingwei Network
Author Xiao Hengzhong
(Researcher of the Center for Taiwan and East Asian Studies of Central China Normal University, Peking University , Ph.D. of China Culture University)
1. The epidemic affects the arts and cultural industries and consumer culture
The Taiwanese cultural department spends 1.2 billion ( New Taiwan Dollars, the same below) Budget to launch "Art FUN Coupons", hoping to revitalize the arts and cultural industries in the epidemic, and distribute them by lottery, which will gain great news. The two waves of relief projects launched before this also invested more than 5 billion. The cumulative box office of Taiwan's art performances in the second half of the year was a record high in nearly 20 years, compared with the suspension of large-scale arts and cultural activities in Taiwan due to the impact of the epidemic in the first half of the year. From the perspective of performance, a trend of "retaliatory consumption" has formed.
In addition, the Moscow Classical Ballet Company that came to Taiwan at the end of the year was infected with the epidemic, which caused the entire group to cancel performances and caused great losses to the organizers; and concerts containing many artists have also been postponed or enhanced. Anti-epidemic measures and other practices have tried to stop the bleeding and restore the confidence of the people in participating.
2. The press freedom storm triggered by cultural censorship
According to Article 37 of the “Regulations on Cross-Strait People’s Relations”, mainland publishing, film and television, and broadcasting works enter Taiwan. If they are reproduced in traditional Chinese for distribution in Taiwan, the industry should report before the release Taiwan's cultural department applied. In the past ten years, Taiwan had only 200 applications and only three fines were imposed. Many publishers were not even aware of the existence of this "law", and many mainland books were sold in Taiwan without the review process.
This year, due to the disturbance caused by "Waiting for Dad to Go Home", this "law" has once again become the focus of the public. After the children's book "Waiting for Dad Go Home" was recognized by the Taiwan Cultural Department as a "big foreign propaganda" and "cultural infiltration" of the mainland and was asked to be removed, the issue of censorship of the publication of mainland books in Taiwan has caused widespread controversy. The department also emphasized that it would strengthen the audit system for mainland publications, which triggered a backlash from the outside world.
However, Taiwan’s online e-bookstore blog Lai and Eslite have successively announced the 2020 annual reading report. Among them, the mainland post-90s writer Wan Tete’s work "This world is annoying, you have to be cute" is in Taiwan’s annual sales ranking of Eslite At the same time, he also won the second place in the best-selling list of the year and the champion of the new book list on the blog. As a result, Wan Tete also ranked third in the list of the best-selling authors of the year. In the top ten list, there are three mainland writer.
In the past five years, spiritual inspiration books have been selling well in Taiwan. There are also many mainland authors who can write chicken soup or convey positive energy, life inspiration and history books are also popular in the Taiwan market. For example, "If History is a Flock of Meows" combines comics and history, and sells brightly in Taiwan, and works that are clearly good, and can be favored by readers regardless of region. However, whether it will be more difficult for mainland books to be published in Taiwan in the future? It is worth watching after "Waiting for Dad Go Home" is completely removed.
3. "Cultural Taiwan independence" as a cause of criticism
The Sino-US trade war is not only a trade war and a financial war , but also a technological war and a clash of civilizations. The United States is like a bald eagle and wants to contain China and Taiwan like the Cold War. The region is naturally pro-American in the crevice of civilization conflicts and has become the front line of "anti-China", which has caused tensions among the people on both sides of the strait. All education in Taiwan is dominated by Western education, and it has fallen into the predicament of self-civilization. The "de-sinicization" of the new syllabus of Taiwan's textbooks and the change of Chinese history to the practice of East Asian history clearly shows that the intervention of political consciousness on cultural education requires more attention and efforts.
The history of the country in the textbook is Chinese history. Later, it was changed to teach Taiwan history before teaching Chinese history, which affected the core values of students; and the new "2019 syllabus" included Chinese history in East Asian history. It will cause changes in students’ national identity, just like Hong Kong students’ views on history and values have been changed. There are invisible hands intervening behind them. Textbooks are the will of the Taiwan authorities. We are unable to change them. From the experience of beautifying Japan in past textbooks Look, the selection and narration of historical materials of Middle East and Asia in the new curriculum is its focus. As the epidemic is severe, it is uncertain whether the two sides of the strait can resume exchanges. The "de-sinicization" and "independence of Taiwan" of the education curriculum will deepen in the future, affecting the recognition of young people and making the separation between the two sides more serious. What Lu Sheng has been in Taiwan since 2019 is that "Taiwan independence", "de-China" and "anti-China" are no longer used in other literal packaging. They are used to regard Lu Sheng as "the representative of the Chinese Communist Party." Students cannot communicate with teachers and classmates.
During the epidemic, the mainland must show strategic determination for cross-strait cultural exchanges. In addition to showing strategic determination in exchanges, it can also develop cultural strategic determination in the context of the multipolar world, and develop with respect for Chinese culture. The local Chinese social sciences with modern significance are philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, not Western thinking.
