Aboriginal rights activists yesterday criticized a government-produced short film promoting a festival of Aboriginal art, saying that the portrayal of a female Aborigine and a Caucasian suitor conformed to discriminatory ethnic and gender stereotypes.
“It makes us especially heartbroken to see such a work of discrimination come from one of our very own Aboriginal government agencies,” said Chen I-chen (陳以箴), an Aboriginal rights advocate from the Makatao people.
The clip, produced by the state-run Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, was made to promote the Pulima Art Festival, a national art event featuring fine art and performance art by Aboriginal artists.
The film showed a blond Caucasian man encountering an Aboriginal woman near an MRT station. Apparently attracted by the woman’s beauty, he followed her into the station, where she performed a dance routine alongside traditionally dressed Aboriginal children.
The clip ended with the man saying he would like to get to know the woman, and the woman responded by handing him a Taipei Easycard, which then doubles as a ticket to the festival.
Critics said the film promoted stereotypical views of female Aborigines as “exotic objects of lust” sought after by Western men.
“This film has no cultural depth at all,” Hualien county councilor candidate Kawlo Iyun Pacidal said. “It’s saddening that so many Aboriginal artists have poured their heart and soul into the work featured at this festival, yet they are completely unrepresented in this advert.”
Kawlo, of the Amis people, added that the “stalking behavior” of the man in the clip made her feel uncomfortable, since it reinforced the stereotype that female Aborigines are exotic trophies.
The advocates demanded a thorough review of the production process of the film, as well as an apology from the foundation.
The clip was taken down from YouTube late last night “to respect different views,” Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation marketing division deputy manager Chuang Che-jen (莊哲人) said.
He added that the the writer and director of the film are Aborigines.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS