Wang: Exactly. Taiwanese opera, especially the songs and ballads in the opera, is the expression of the concept of the Taiwanese style of singing. The songs appearing in the operas use the features and intonations of Taiwanese language. As a result, the songs are close to our lives and touch our heart.
Although the actors and actresses in Taiwanese opera are often people from lower social classes and the lyrics and stories are often illogical and filled with feudal thoughts, what should be emphasized is the value and the spirit of local culture revealed in the opera.
Therefore, within the 300 to 400 years of Taiwan's history, I believe the greatest contribution to our culture has not been made by intellectuals, but by those street artists who helped spread local songs and ballads and kept them alive for us to study today.
TT: Compared to the era when Taiwan was under the rule of the KMT -- the so-called outside regime -- has the environment for the study of local culture improved since the DPP came into power two years ago?
Wang: Nothing has really been changed. I think culture is something very subjective. To study culture without a well structured theoretical base is like guiding a boat without compass.
Not only scholars, but even the Cabinet's Council of Cultural Affairs has no clear idea as to what should be the next step of our cultural development.
As a result, as someone who has devoted myself to the study of local culture and Taiwanese opera, I feel very frustrated because even those who really love and care about Taiwan despise Taiwanese opera.
They ignore the value of Tai-wanese opera and they don't understand that it's actually something upon which future local cultural studies could be built.
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