Issued on: Modified:
As Taiwan gears up for key January 13 presidential elections, FRANCE 24 takes you to Taipei for the second half of our particular programme on the Taiwanese cultural scene. On this episode, we give attention to the island’s cultural diversity. Ranked because the world’s tenth most profitable democracy, we have a look at how Taiwan’s dedication to progressive values are shaping a new technology of artists.
We start by exploring Taipei’s vibrant queer scene with drag queen Rose Mary, who’s been performing for 5 years. In 2019, Taiwan grew to become the primary and solely nation in Asia to legalise marriage for same-sex {couples}. This culture of acceptance makes Taiwan a refuge for LGBT artists in an in any other case conservative area.
Watch half one of the presentSpecial programme: Taiwan’s artists step out of China’s shadow (part 1)
Taiwan can be making progress within the battle for gender equality. In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen – a proudly single girl – grew to become the island’s first feminine president. And ladies make up over 40 p.c of Taiwan’s parliament, a file in Asia. Nonetheless, Taiwan’s #MeToo motion got here late, in 2023, sparked largely by the Netflix collection “Wave Makers”. The present follows a marketing campaign staff within the lead-up to a presidential election, and its plot centres across the problem of sexual harassment. We spoke with co-writer Chien Li-ying, who defined that with the most important query of Taiwan’s sovereignty dominating politics, points like gender equality are typically compelled onto the again burner. But “Wave Makers” managed to spark a reckoning by exhibiting sexual harassment within the political sphere.
I wasn’t anticipating the present to have such an impression. We regularly say in Taiwan ‘let’s wait till we develop into a nation or we make peace with China earlier than we discuss different points’. Many say that as a result of ‘Wave Makers’ put the difficulty of sexual harassment within the context of the political sphere, some employees then spoke out about being victims.
Chien Li-Ying, co-writer of the collection “Wave Makers”
Watch extraTaiwan’s #MeToo moment: Women speak out against sexual harassment
Taiwan’s cultural identification can be formed by its Indigenous heritage. Whereas greater than 95 p.c of the inhabitants has Han Chinese language ancestry, about 2 p.c belong to 1 of the island’s 16 recognised native tribes, every with its personal culture and traditions. Fulfilling an election promise, in 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen – who herself has some native ancestry – issued an unprecedented apology to the island’s Indigenous folks for hundreds of years of colonial domination by China and Japan.
Indigenous artists have more and more been shaping Taiwan’s musical scene, as showcased by the Pasiwali festival, held yearly since 2018 in Taitung on the southeastern coast. We meet one of Taiwan’s largest pop stars, Abao, whose 2020 album “Kinakaian” or “Mom Tongue” – sung in her native Paiwan – received the highest prize on the Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s equal of the Grammys. Devoted to preserving and sharing her Indigenous heritage, she’s now a mentor to a complete technology of younger artists.
In Taiwan, Indigenous folks make up simply 2 p.c of the inhabitants. So this competition is a uncommon and valuable likelihood to make our voices heard.
Abao, singer
Watch extraBeijing’s narrative pushes Taiwan to rethink its own history
Editor-in-chief: Magali Faure
Manufacturing: Natacha Milleret
Presentation: Alison Sargent
Path: Jérôme Mignard
Pictures: Jérôme Mignard, Lucie Barbazanges
Enhancing: Aurélien Porcher, Joël Procope, Gilles Terrier
Translation and coordination: Alice Herait
