Let's be proud of Taiwanese culture

`When the Taiwanese media describe the ravenous publicity hound Hsu Chun-mei ... as being Taike, they are not being wholly complimentary.'

Since the hype for the two-day Taike Rock Concert on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 in Taipei and the use of the term "Taike" (台客) in reports about the Miss Taiwanese Beauty Contest 2005, the term has become a subject of public debate.

The term Taike should be a neutral term that is a geographic indicator of a place where Taiwanese culture and attitude predominate. But if we look at it in historical terms, we see that the term came into use after "Retrocession" when the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government rode roughshod over Taiwanese sensibilities. As the ruling party, it imposed its language, art and folk customs on Taiwan, turning Taiwanese into guests in their own country.

These kinds of wounds exist in all multiethnic nations, for when one culture is in a position to interpret the cultural norms of the country, it imposes this as the mainstream. This is why the term taike offends some people, who feel it is derogatory. If we understand the historical context of the term, we know that when the Taiwanese media describe the ravenous publicity hound Hsu Chun-mei (許純美) and Taiwanese boy band 5566 as being Taike, they are not being wholly complimentary.

But the key question is, who has the power of cultural interpretation?

The fine performances of Boddy Chen (陳昇), Wu Bai (伍佰), and Shining 3Girls (閃亮三姊妹), and humorous rap by Joy Topper (豬頭皮) at the Taike Rock Concert was a display of techno and rock showcasing Taiwanese flair, vitality and the creative beauty and humor of the Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) language. In other words, Taiwan's younger generation has started to incorporate local Taiwanese elements into their music and dance. This heralds a new phase of recognition and love for Taiwan by a new generation of Taiwanese.

Some of the older generation may be concerned that young people should take pride in being described by the term Taike, as it has become a derogatory expression. But, looked at in another way, if Taiwanese can now incorporate local elements into their artistic development and have developed sufficient self-confidence to create their own identity, isn't this a clear example of Taiwanese retrieving the right to interpret their own culture?

Maybe, by using this different approach to interpret the meaning of Taike in a relaxed and humorous fashion, Taiwanese people will be able to escape from under the shadow of a dominant state-imposed culture. All Taiwanese should stand firm and allow a mix of the cultures of the US, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan to develop. In this way, we can help form a kind of Taiwanese taste with a strong sense of local style.

Zheng Yu-chieh is a graduate in philosophy of Fu Jen Catholic University.

TRANSLATED BY LIN YA-TI