by Justine Chen
Remember Meg Ryan’s “Shop Around the Corner” in the movie You’ve Got Mail? Here in Taipei there’s also a small shop with a French window with mellow yellow light and children sitting here and there, reading pop-up dinosaur books or Harry Potter. Silex Foreign Children’s Bookstore, located opposite Jin-Hwa Park, is not only a store that sells books, but also one that has a dream of introducing more people into the vast world of children’s reading. Pull the door open; a tinkle of the bell will always greet you when you come in. Take a look at the books on the shelves and you’ll be surprised by the number of books Silex has within its small space. Don’t know what to start with? How about taking a look at the zero- to three-year-old section? In this section, you’ll find books designed especially for kids, printed on sturdy paper and filled with bright, colorful pictures. Children take a great interest in reading the Kipper series, which tells the story of a puppy’s life while learning about shapes by solving simple puzzles; the Maisy series is also popular, encouraging kids to lift small flaps to know more about Maisy the mouse. Want something for older children? Try the shelf opposite, which contains many famous picture books, arranged by author or title. For those who are new to picture books, you can start with the separate sections with individual authors’ works. Don’s miss John Bourningham’s First Step or Cloud, Maurice Sendak’s Where are the Wild Things?, Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Babbett Cole’s Hair in Funny Places. These will keep you busy for a while. Short stories, rhymes, and poems are also available for school-aged children, as well as adaptations of classical fables or stories like Thinderella or The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Had enough of English books? They also have a small section of children’s books in French, Spanish, and German. Even if you can’t read these languages well, it’s still worth taking a look at the German version of Harry Potter or the French Garfield and Snoopy. Or proceed upstairs to the Chinese section, which fills half of the second floor. The other half contains English novels for teenagers. Here you can also find monthly recommendations. For example, for Halloween you’ll find books that have something to do with witchcraft, such as Which Witch. Lastly, if you are interested in fantasy and science fiction, there is also a great science fiction section. Not exactly children’s reading material, but Silex’s sci-fi section has gained a substantial reputation among fans in Taipei. The shop also holds a variety of activities, including monthly seminars for adults that introduce different authors, and an English story-telling time that takes place every two weeks. People of all ages are welcome. Ready for a close look at Silex? Visit them at: 台北市大安區金華街249-3號 Tel (02) 2396-8403
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by Jessie Seetoo
What makes people stay up late on the net? Online romance? Games? Homework? These answers might explain most dark circles under the eyes, but for one unique group of people the reason for burning the midnight oil online is to write NBA stories. These diehards are in charge of an online sports magazine featuring the NBA, with extended coverage also of the CBA, billiards, and recently, the Syndey Olympics. Amateurs, you might conclude, since the youngest staff writer is only 19. But these are not just NBA fanatics, they are professionals, four of whom are now being actually paid for their online periodical. They did start out as amateurs, however. Active on major BBS discussion boards, they were originally students like you and me, with majors ranging from philosophy to computer engineering; they were simply passionate about the game. Reviews, replies, discussions, and taunts closely bonded them, but the bottom line is that these people managed to turn their interest into a career. In the beginning, just before the start of the 1997 season, one of these addicts posted an article complaining about a renowned sports columnist being insufferably rash and arbitrary in his predictions. “If it were me, he concluded, “I would analyze the games on the basis of real figures and scores.” Replies flooded in. It turned out that there were others who were keen on truning their dreams into reality. Together they managed to publish an issue on the internet in November, 1997, featuring a full analysis of and predictions for each of the 29 teams in the NBA. They wrote under pseudonyms and had never actually met each other until the first issue came out. Since that time, the online magazine has appeared on a monthly basis. When they provided immediate coverage of the playoffs, the number of visitors reached more than 10,000! Even eminent basketball anchorman Kenny Gao (高景炎) and sports writer Qu Zi-li (曲自立) have consented to cooperate with them. In July of this year an internet company was formed, hoping to create “the most authentic all-sports website in Chinese.” Questioning them about their most memorable and exciting moments, I naively expected them to talk about the glamour of press conferences and star players, or their handsome salaries. But to my great surprise, said one of them (who happens to be my brother!), “the really exciting moments are difficult for outsiders to understand.” He mentioned, for instance, their reports of the playoffs in 1998. Staff members had to watch live relays on TV during the night, and when the games were not shown in Taiwan they had to rely on live radio broadcasts. But all this hard work meant that their homepage was a step ahead of the rest of the world! Yes, they happened to be born in the Age of the Internet. But before joining the company they spent their own money on their website. They were lucky to have come across many opportunities, but I would emphasize that it was their true devotion and self-discipline that caught the experts’ eyes. Entering the business world seems to have given them a more promising future. Yet more complex pressures come with the territory. I asked if they have ever regretted it. Rubbing his panda eyes, my brother said no; we just love this game. No money to buy Sports Illustrated? Tired of rough translated reports in the newspaper? Visit their website at www.SportAve.com.tw by Hilda Ku
Our new president Chen Shui-bian was born in February, which means that he is an Aquarian. The typical characteristics of an Aquarian are humanitarianism, philanthropy, vision, individualisism, creativity, curiosity, and intensity. An Aquarian always has many different types of friends. Moreover, the goal throughout an Aquarian’s life is to make the world a better place to live, thus he devotes much of his time to social institutions or social affairs. In short, one recent television program even commented, we can foretell that under his rule we will definitely lead a happy and prosperous life. A strage way to congratulate our new president, perhaps, yet interpreting signs of the zodiac has been immensely popular for hundreds of years. But what on earth are these signs and why do so many people seem so interested in them? Horoscopic signs, also known as constellations, the signs of the zodiac, or astrology, comprise a method of fortune-telling as well as a profile of a person’s personality traits. Since every one of us was born in different year, month, day, time, and place, the theory is that everyone has his or her own unique horoscope. There are a total of twelve signs on your horoscope map, including the sun (which affects your philosophy of life and character), the rising sun (influencing your appearance, behavior, and aptitude), the moon (connected to your affections, appetite, and human relationships), Mercury or communication (determining your points of view), Venus or love (controling love and marriage), Mars or passion (dealing with temperament), Jupiter or fortune (involved with your goals and philosophy of life), Neptune or spirit (cultural and spiritual life), and lastly, Pluto or rebellion (which has great effect on the creativity, destruction, and regeneration on the entire human race). Each of these signs affects us in different ways at different times, exerting a powerful influence on us. Complicated as all of this is, however, the first and foremost reason for people to turn to an interpretation of their signs is that they feel upset or uncertain about life. Then reading your signs just becomes fortune-telling. For example, when two people fall in love with each other they may be eager to know whether they are destined for each other or whether they even suit each other. And aside from being an effective way to calm people about their unknown future, star signs also serve as a popular means of breaking the ice between people – and not just young people. In any case, whether people resort to star signs as a guide to their insecure future or just for chatting, few seem to take them seriously nowadays. Some people can’t live without thinking about their signs – for example, they seldom leave home without knowing their lucky color and number for the day – but it seems that most people don’t live at the mercy of their star signs. Isn’t it more important, in fact, for us to determine our own lives? Is your horoscope really trustworthy? by Julie Sung
Booming music, cold air, sweat, huffing and puffing – where is this? It’s California. But wait, where are the beaches, the palm trees, and the bathing suits? In case you didn’t know already, California is THE place to work out now. It’s the new, trendy fitness center located on Chung-hsiao East Road. I must admit I did not foresee the success of California. After all, Chinese people don’t work out, working out is what Westerners do. Muscles and strong physiques are admired and coveted in the West, not here in Taiwan where the sight of muscles is usually followed with eews and giggles. Nevertheless, the popularity of California is undeniable, with its second store opening in the bustling Shi-men-ting and still a third store in Tien-mu. Apparently, people have become more health-conscious and muscle friendly and are forking over big bucks in exchange for better bodies. Big bucks indeed, but better bodies? It is common knowledge that adequate exercise is good for you. It helps prevent osteoporosis, reduces heart risk, and is also effective at balancing mood swings and lifting depression, or so California’s website tells me. But I doubt this is what the majority of people who go to the gym have in mind. The people who walk into California probably have notions of being fashionable and stylish rather than being healthy and fit. The chic design and five-star facilities create an atmosphere unlike that of a coffee house or a bar, where the hip and happenin’ people go. If you are disgusted by such pursuit of materialism and shake your head at such a costly craze, you are a better man (or woman) than I, for I jumped at the chance to become a temporary member, though I tried to convince myself and others that I had suddenly become keen on my physical well being. My first visit to California was a Saturday night. I was amazed at how packed the place was. And it confirmed my suspicions that this was a place of social gathering. Most of the equipment was occupied, but often by people who were using them as benches for gossiping rather than bench pressing. I saw girls giggling in pairs and big guys walking around aimlessly smiling here and there. Everyone looked exquisitely athletic in their brand name outfits and towels casually slung across one shoulder. But the members weren’t the only ones that looked good. I spotted a few cute instructors too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were part of the rage of California. I don’t believe I saw anyone over 35, except for my aunt whom I dragged along just so that I could get in. However, when I returned to the gym at other times of day I observed quite a different scene. If you go there at six in the morning you will see some serious bodybuilders working on their muscles. I guess this is when they put in the work so that they can strut around on Saturdays. There is also a large population of elderly ladies who have decided to replace their morning hikes with something more modern. And then there are the office workers who do a quick jog to start their day. Your guess is as good as mine as to who these people are who show up in the afternoons, but people they are and there are quite a good number of them too. The ambience is very different at these times. People don’t talk as much and concentrate on their exercise. At times when the place was full, I noticed something peculiar about the distribution of people among treadmills and bikes. The equipment in the area with a clear view of the TV sets tuned to HBO were packed, while machines facing the news were left deserted. The most interesting things usually happen in the locker room, where it didn’t take long for me to get used to the assortment of naked bodies. But rest assured that I am warned against what I might look like if I don’t do something now to fight gravity as I grow older! I was once in the steam room with a woman who slathered milk all over herself and the lucky few who were sitting next to her. Yet you get used to such things and they don’t seem so outrageous after a couple of trips. So after two weeks and numerous visits to California, I must say I was a little harsh labeling it as a place where people flock simply to conform to a current fad. For people of all ages and all motives go there. True, some may be there to be fashionable, but there are also people who are there for the genuine purpose of working out. In fact, California may have ultimately done a good thing – bringing exercise into fashion. As for me, I was sad to leave the posh fitness center after my two weeks membership had expired. I was tempted to join, but reflecting on the many times I went, not to exercise, but just to dress up in my Nike outfit and enjoy the glamorous feeling of being in California, I had to say a painful no to the saleslady. by Christine Song
Have you noticed a petite young woman with strikingly red hair appearing around campus recently? You may have caught sight of her around our Liberal Arts Building or the Language Center. It is possible you have taken her for just another foreign student studying Chinese on our campus. Well, she is. But I bet you wouldn’t know that she is also an expert in Renaissance Bibles and early modern english literature, or that her resume boasts six different academic degrees! Meet Vivienne Westbrook, a new scholar flown in from England only a month ago – and the newest member of the DFLL staff. A native of Manchester, Dr. Westbrook completed all of her studies in her hometown. As a recipient of the prestigious British Academy Scholarship, she received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Manchester in 1998 for her work in neglected Renaissance Bible translations. Prior to this, Dr. Westbrook earned a Master’s degree with a thesis on the evolution of English Bible annotation. And as if that weren’t already an accomplishment in itself, she wrote the 70,000-word paper in a mere seven months! But after two hours of interviewing this incredible lady, I found that this was only one act among the many “superhuman” feats she has managed to achieve! For example, after giving up a full-time job to go back to school, she wrapped up a 3-year undergraduate English Literature program in only one year. What’s more, she completed her Ph.D. thesis six months ahead of schedule, a period which she spent at the Univeristy of Notre Dame, in the U.S., taking three high-level theory courses. During all this she never stopped working part-time to support herself, by editing or teaching. She chuckles when I marvel at her achievements, “Maybe I’ll just die early from exhaustion.” Oh, and by the way she somehow managed to squeeze in getting married as well! Professor Westbrook is currently teaching Milton, English Renaissance Bible and Literature, and Academic Writing – all offered in the M.A./Ph.d. program. She believes that since lecturing is one of the least effective ways of teaching, when compared to active participation, her classes are more discussion-inclined than lecture-oriented. She explains that this is not just her “homespun idea” but an approach based on a theory that she has studied in her second Master’s program (Educational Psychology) and explored in her thesis: “Metacognition and Strategic Learning in Higher Education.” As cognition is the way the brain acquires knowledge, meta-cognition is being “aware of one’s own learning process in order to optimize learning.” In her Academic Writing course, for instance, students are encouraged to be each other’s colleagues – to make and accept commentary on each other’s work, to ponder how they digest information. Dr. Westbrook points out that she is quite impressed by our students’ reactions in class (although she also seemed a little puzzled by the overwhelmingly even distribution of American accents). She observes, “American Universities provide good training for academic debate, and students participate fully in class discussion, and English students are much more reticent in class than students in Taiwan.” When asked about life in Taiwan, Dr. Westbrook says language is the primary obstacle to adjusting thoroughly. Not being able to recognize road signs or postings can be unnerving, after all, especially for someone who is “used to being in control.” Nevertheless, she is eager to discover what Taiwan has to offer – food, Chinese opera, temples, etc. She is an avid fan of Mainland director Zhang Yi-Mou’s film and hopes to learn more about Lee Ang. She remarks that Chinese directors make their movies beautiful, that “screen poetry,” as she eloquently puts it, is always present. The only cultural shock she has experienced so far is seeing people buying different flavors of “vinegar.” Incredulously, she says, “In England, vinegar is only used with chips (or french fries in American English). We don’t have bottles of it packaged for drinking purposes!” Sorry about the misunderstanding, Professor, but “vinegar” in Chinese happens to share the same character as “cider,” which is what you really saw. And finally, on behalf of the entire DFLL faculty, the Foreign Exchange extends a warm welcome to our new professor, wishing her the best in the coming year, and many more to come. Oh, and, before I sign off, just one more scoop. Guess where Dr. Westbrook’s first university degree came from? Would you believe it if I said the Business Program? by Jennifer Chen
“Cuz I’m Slim Shady, yes I’m the real Shady, All you other Slim Shadies are just imitating, So won’t the real Slim Shady please stand up? Please stand up, please stand up?” – Eminem: “The Real Slim Shady” Rhythmic beats, catchy, controversial (and often questionable) lyrics, and meticulously packaged artists are what make hip-hop, the music that’s resounding in the ears of Taiwan teens. Add a trendy skateboard or pop-dance outfit, a few phrases such as “got da flava” or “cool man” and you’ve got the typical, supposedly super-cool, but sadly unoriginal hip-hopper. The word “hip-hop” comes from the United States, and literally means a style of music that’s “hip” – trendy – and “hop” – danceable. It integrates R&B, rap, rock, and garage music to create a genre that not only is accepted by lovers of its predecessors, but has initiated a subculture – hip-hop culture. It is also, like jazz, symbolic of African-American consciousness, which is shown in graffiti (spray-paint art, mostly done on walls), lyrical rap, and distinct rhythms. Hip-hop has its “classic” artists too, such as LL Cool J, Rakim, Dr. Dre, Nas, and Das Efx, who through talent and packaging have gained a place in the hip-hop Hall of Fame, although the better-known artists (at least here in Taiwan) are mostly new: Mest, Boomfunk Mc’s, Sisqo, Eminem, and Craig David. It was not until recent years that hip-hop surfaced as a major teenage culture-group here in Taiwan. With the assistance of MTV and ICRT, plus an army of Grammy Award-winning artists like TLC, Lauryn Hill and Will Smith, hip-hop music began to flourish on the island. Skateboard and street-dance competitions, promoting the sporty, outdoorsy side of the hip-hop culture, were held in all the major cities; and teenagers in general began to dress and act like hip-hoppers – with baggy clothes, piercings, and a swaggering walk while carrying a skateboard or roller-blades as “accessories.” This phenomenon was foreseeable, since Taiwan has long been a place where different cultures mix to create a “Jap-merican” style, and the way hip-hop has gained momentum much like the time when NBA broadcasts took the attention of Taiwanese teenagers away from baseball. So is the infatuation of hip-hop really “cultural integration,” or is it purely imitation? Looked at closely, the problem poses a great threat to our values of self-awareness: hip-hop first became popular in the U.S. because of its historical background and its roots in jazz, blues, soul, and R&B, and its mostly black artists did not write simply to be “cool”; they wanted to express their feelings about living in a white-dominated society. On the other hand, when local Taiwan artists attempt to create hip-hop music, they focus only on the rap and the rhythm, but not the spirit. The result is just a clone of the original, not something that could be called “authentic.” What’s worse is that most Taiwanese hip-hop groupies are only aware of the “look” they should have, hence the uniform-like outfits that appear on campus and on the streets. It’s easy to understand that teenagers turn to hip-hop as a means of self-expression, but how is pure imitation a way of expressing yourself? Similarly, the steadily growing skateboarding, street-dancing population must also face the fact that they cannot really call themselves original artists, but just dancers in a particular style. Hip-hop culture is only in a state of infancy on the island, and instead of simply waiting for another fad to hit us, what we really need is a resolve to localize and personalize this “alien” culture so that it becomes truly reflective of our own consciousness, not just another import. by Audrey Jeane Wey
There they stand in a row – the biggest, matronly looking one on the left and the tiniest baby at the far right. Attired in painted garments of colors gay, each wears a cheerful yet somewhat bizarre smile. Dog roses, golden scrolls, stories and folklore in visual splendor on their aprons. As you take them out, one by one, the excitement intensifies as you start to wonder how many dolls there are, all stacked together. Yet if you feel like putting them all inside one another again, that’s fine, too – for part of the wonder is to see all the little ones go inside the biggest, fitting perfectly into that hollow space. That’s what the Matryoshka is: an all-embracing image of Mother Russia. A jolly peasant mother – or grandmother – with future generations tucked away inside her. Bearing a Latin root, the Matryoshka signifies motherhood and fertility. Some say it is given to daughters as part of their dowries; others say newborns receive them along with blessings for a long and prosperous life. But when, and how exactly, the first matryoshka dolls came into being has remained more or less a mystery. Legend has it that in old Russia these wooden dolls were passed on from generation to generation, and each new generation made a doll bigger than the last so it could hold all the others inside it. But in fact, it is widely agreed that the idea of items nestling inside one another came from somewhere else. The commonest belief is that the direct predecessor of the matryoshka was introduced into Russia from the Island of Honshu, Japan, in the 1890s. Yet quite unlike the brightly colored, feminine matryoshkas we see nowadays, the Japanese figure was of a Buddhist sage known as Fukuruma – a laughing old man with a bald head. In the late nineteenth century, Russia underwent a period of great economic and cultural development. With the country’s awakening to its national identity, artists strived to create a new “Russian Style” that could incorporate the past and the future as well as the present into a harmonious whole, and the result was the matryoshka, emerging as a sort of national toy. Originally their styles were quite diverse; not only did they come in various sizes and shapes, but male characters were portrayed as well as smiling peasant girls. Later on, however, the female image became mainstream, and a proportion of 1:2 (the ratio between its width and height) was worked out. A whole set of matryoshkas often take years to complete. Though alder, aspen, and birch are also used, lime is the most commonly used material. Trees are usually felled in spring and then aired for several years before they can be used; then the skilled hands of craftsmen turn and laquer and cover the wood with starchy glue before it can be painted on. The smallest one, which does not come apart, is usually made first. What follows is the bottom part of the next one, and then the top part which sits securely on it. Throughout the whole process no measurements are taken; everything depends on the master’s intuition and well-trained eye. The “folk element [in Russia] is full of seriousness, full of sense. The people have lived through and are still living through the deepest calamities of the soul; they are very observant; they think hard” (Russian philosopher Razanov). The matryoshka in painted festive costume nesting inside one another well explains the Russian toymakers’ perception of the world. With the peasants’ aprons as a canvas, this specific form of folk art is the best embodiment of both real-world events and eternal issues of common life, which rise to meet us through decorative motifs of shawls, flowers, hens or loafs of bread. In the matryoshkas we catch a glimpse of the Russian spirit: the joy and sadness, and the hope that seems a little absurd. Future generations will come and human struggles will inevitably triumph. This is the deepest message conveyed by the matryoshka – the symbol, and soul, of Russia. by Mimi Chong
The walk down High Street to the official box office is short, but it takes the uninitiated a prodigious amount of time to get there. There are just too many distractions. Fire-eaters and jugglers draw crowds and your attention. Street musicians add their varied voices to that of the pedestrians – a jester in motley strumming a lute; a brass band; and naturally, bagpipers in Highland dress. A procession of jingling belly-dancers proffer fliers for their show, which you attempt to refuse because you already have a sheaf in your hands. Posters beckon – “Got to Do Godot,” “Tea With Brahms,” “International Photography 2000.” A flea market is just around the corner … Finally, somehow, you disengage yourself (but briefly!) from the attractions, make it to the box office to procure a free magazine-sized programme, and gape at the sheer amount of events that you’ll never manage to see a fraction of. Theatre, music, dance, visual art … it’s all in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Held annually in August, the Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. Originally a smattering of uninvited theatre groups determined to perform at the first official Edinburgh International Festival, “the Fringe” has since then developed a society devoted to organizing the artists that congregate every year to the Scottish capital – this year, with over 600 companies performing 1350 shows in 200 venues. Each company uses small, unconventional theatre spaces and take all their own financial risks, flourishing or failing according to public demand. Therefore, the Fringe remains a platform for diverse, free artistic expression, and that, combined with the low prices solicited for each performance, attracts countless people from all over the world every year. And it all takes place in Edinburgh, the historic capital of Scotland. Edinburgh is a small, quaintly romantic city, sprung around a castle atop a hill. It is a city to be walked, veined with winding, grey streets and stone staircases, picturesquely untidy with shops, parks, pubs, cafes, and old stone buildings. During Festival season, throngs of people pack the city’s attractions to the wee hours. Not merely tourists passing through, Festival-goers are an amiable lot, willing to tip buskers, easy to strike up conversations with – they as much as the performers contribute to the atmosphere of bonheur permeating Edinburgh. That bustling, yet leisurely feeling was one of the things that struck me most during my stay in Edinburgh this past summer – a stay that was lamentably short, for I had no idea beforehand that the Festival Fringe would be so much fun. Venues are literally all over the place – makeshift stages are set up inside places like pubs and churches – it is easy to just walk in, purchase a ticket, and hope for a good show. I was lucky and struck gold the few times I did this; it is possible, however, to find yourself unwittingly watching a bunch of local high school students’ semblance of a play, with teenybopper music droning in the background. To easily avoid that torture, you can pick up a copy of the Scotsman, which has daily reviews of Fringe events, or simply talk to people. And if performances are not your thing, there are always exhibits, markets, and activities you can participate in – I spent one of my most entertaining evenings at a ceilidh (pronounced “KAY-lee” – such is the magic of Gaelic), a traditional Scottish dance complete with folk music, dance instructors, native Scots – and if you don’t dance, plenty of whiskey. The Fringe is much easier on a student budget than any of the other Festivals happening in Edinburgh during summer: a ticket to the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo costs over 50 pounds while a Fringe ticket averages 5 pounds – 4 for concessions. Many shows are free and you nearly never have to make reservations. The only planning problem you might encounter is accommodation – no matter what type lodgings you can afford it is strongly advised that you book well in advance. And if you like theatre, or dance, or music, or crafts, or pub-hopping, or just seeing new places, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to go, and feel the Fringe for yourself. by Anne Lo
“Oh my God, did you guys see that? Wow! That’s awesome!” Other than screams and whistles this is the kind of thing most often heard at pop dance performances. Hip-hop, old-skool, nu-skool, breaking, new jazz: they have all brought thrills to millions of fans. But what goes on behind the scenes? What’s the life of a dancer really like? To find the answers to these questions, I talked to Yi-chien (苡茜), a former member of MASK, one of the top dance groups in Taiwan. The amazing thing is that she is also a university student, just like us. So here I was with her sitting across from me, looking totally different from what I expected. “Fooled ya!” she said playfully when I commented on her clothing. I was expecting baggy pants, a big T-shirt, and perhaps a baseball cap. But her shorts and spaghetti straps surprised me. “I only dressed like that because I needed to,” she went on. “At first it’s comfortable, but it gets boring after a while.” Of course being a dancer is more than just clothes. Practice is definitely required. And since MASK is a professional dance group, dancing is their job. This makes it even more demanding. “Our practice time is from midnight to 2:00 a.m. Sometimes we practice even longer if we have a really important performance coming up. And after practice, we’re all so tired we just sleep in the studio!” “And what do your parents think of your not coming home?” “Well, they were mad for a period of time, because I’m a girl. But you know parents’ authority can always be challenged! We have to work hard because the choreography is not done one or two weeks in advance, but normally in two to three days. Five days is the most time we might get to prepare for a performance. So you can see how pressing that is. I have to work especially hard because almost all the other dancers have been dancing longer than I have. I need more time than they do to memorize, so you see how this is very demanding for me.” That sounds tough, I thought, but does it also have anything to do with being a girl? One of the things that first got me interested in Yi-chien is that she was the only girl in her group. One girl, fourteen guys. What’s it like? “Tough. Very tough! I have to do everything with twice the power and make it twice as big to be the same as the others!” I know this well, I thought, since I’ve also done some locking and new-skool with the guys in my club. But since MASK specializes in these and other kinds of dances usually done by male dancers, doesn’t that feel strange? “Not at all, because I’m quite used to it. Ever since I started dancing I took lessons from male teachers, danced with guys. And the group I joined before MASK was a breaking group, so I think I’m very comfortable with this kind of dance and very used to dancing with guys. Nobody tried to stop me or had any opinions about it because it was my own choice. It was my choice, and mine alone.” When asked about difficulties or conflicts of working with guys, she replied that changing clothes was the most inconvenient thing. All they had to do was stand there and change, and I had to run a long way to find a bathroom! As for conflicts, I don’t think there were any…not that I can think of…" Then I told her my own story, how I tried out for boys’ dancing in our club, how the guy in charge didn’t want any girls in the first place, how the boys ignored me at practice, and how, in the end, I didn’t get chosen even though I could do just as well as the guys. Yi-chien listened quietly, then pondered for a moment. “That’s so mean!” she said, “But let me tell you, c’est la vie! – That’s life!” “Does that mean there’s nothing I can do about it?” “Well, you can always get into another group, work hard until you’re better than he is, then come back and kick his butt!” I laughed. This is my hero, I thought! “For me, being in MASK was a very rewarding experience. I learned a lot. I keep learning as I go. And the most important thing was that I learned things that could never be learned in an all-girls group or even a boy-girl group. I think it’s important for dancers to get in touch with things other than dance. Some people think that if you’re a dancer, you must be totally devoted to dance and if you’re not, they think you are a traitor. But I see no point in that. There are so many things to learn in the world. Why limit yourself?” “Well then, do you think you would like to have dancing as a career?” “If there’s a chance, I’d love to. But it’s not the only thing I can do. I might like to go into advertising, or film making…Who knows? We never know what life has in store for us. And like I said – c’est la vie!” Marianne Hsieh
As Ricky Martin’s music bursts out deafeningly through the speaker, everyone in the place starts dancing feverishly: waving hands, shaking hips and heads, laughing, screaming, touching and embracing each other’s sweaty bodies, whether they know each other or not. This is the intoxicating pleasure of fantastic Latin music. Latin music, which has been sweeping the international pop music market in recent years, has taken Taiwan by storm as well. The definition of Latin music, however, may be a little unclear; literally the term refers to popular songs with Spanish lyrics, yet most fans, when asked why they love it so much, say that it really doesn’t matter whether you can understand Spanish or not. What they enjoy is the passionate celebration of life: Latin culture symbolizes romance, passion and energy. Strong rhythms, repeating melodies, simple but arousing lyrics, and exaggerated body movements spread magic in the air, making people want to go on dancing and singing like crazy. Latin music’s motto is forget your troubles and enjoy yourself! Latino fever began in Taiwan with “Ricky-mania”; Martin, a bilingual singer from Puerto Rico, rose to international stardom after his performance of “The Cup of Life” at the World Cup France 98. His hit singles “Living La Vida Loca” and “She Bangs” are musts at parties. His huge October 11 concert in Taipei showed the popularity of Latin music in Taiwan. And there are other popular Latino singers such as Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez. All of a sudden, it seems, Latino fever is everywhere. The trend has also influenced Taiwan’s local singers like CoCo-Lee. Her latest number one hit, “True Lover,” shows a typical Latin flavor. Even CoCo dresses in the Latino way, brightly-colored, sexy, and exaggerated, and watching her dance is just like watching a Ricky Martin music video. This is an exciting new element in Taiwan pop music. As Ricky Martin said in an interview before his recent concert, “Latino people are laid-back and energetic. I want people who come to my concerts to feel the same way.” Taiwan audiences have been moved by this passion as well. So throw away your homework assignment and shake your bon-bon! |
Authors
The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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