by Marianne Hsieh
Gao Xingjian (Chinese name), a 60-year-old novelist, playwright, and artist was recently awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for his novel Soul Mountain, a unique piece based on his travels over 15,000 kilometers in South-Western China for ten months in 1983. This work, described as a quest for inner peace and freedom, was highly praised for its sharp insights, precise language, and inspiring thoughts. Gao is the first Chinese winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Born in 1940 in the province of Jiang Shi, he was severely oppressed during the Cultural Revolution because of his outspokenness, and in 1988, in order to “seek genuine peace of mind,” he moved to France and where he has writing ever since. He is highly recognized by French literary circles and his books are also best-sellers there. Generally, most Chinese people feel proud of him, since no Chinese writer has ever been awarded this great honor. The news, however, embarrassed the Beijing government. While still in China Gao often wrote plays or novels opposing Communism and sometimes even opposing the government directly. As a result there was no official acknowledgment after he won the Nobel Prize; the CNA (China News Agency) only reported that “a French citizen Gao Xingjian of Chinese origin won the Nobel Prize.” Ironically, the report was less than 200 words, compared with the popularity and attention the award received in Taiwan. Some people have actually criticized the award as being only political. Since the Nobel Prize traditionally honors works with global views it’s hard to choose a local Chinese writer, because most Chinese writers are confined to topics and styles due to censorship. However, China is expected to join the WTO and there are some crucial agreements to be signed with the US. So it is supposed that international bodies won’t try to provoke disputes by choosing other Chinese writers like Bei Dou (Chinese name) or A Cheng (Chinese name), who seem to have more prominent reputations but are also more controversial. Gao himself, however, doesn’t seem to care much about this issue. He said once in an interview: “I am not a politician, but I do criticize the policies of the government of China. My hope is to say whatever I wish to say; this is the only reason why I chose to leave my homeland.” He was extremely surprised when told about winning the award but he insists that a writer does what he or she has to do, whether in China or France. Soul Mountain is also controversial. Although based on his travel experiences it is written in a highly-westernized style, with long philosophical discussions and a heavy use of modernist language. Many critics believe that the novel is a good example of how successfully western modernism can be adapted to Asian themes. And others appreciate Gao’s efforts to introduce Chinese works to the western world. However, some believe that the Nobel Prize should have been given to a work with a greater emphasis on ethics, and a work that is more specifically Chinese In other words, they think that content is more important than style. But we must still respect the judges’ decision and can appreciate Gao’s creativity despite all the criticisms. Perhaps another Gao Xingjian will soon win another glorious award for the Chinese-speaking world.
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by Justine Chen
Taking place in May each year, the Senior Play is certainly the most important event for seniors during their final year in the department. Produced entirely by students, the Senior Play has earned a reputation for allowing students to show their creativity and ingenuity. Moreover, it gives students a rare opportunity to work more closely with others, and the memories of that incredible experience last a lifetime. But did you know that seniors must spend an entire year preparing for their five-day performance? Unlike the drama contest every spring, which usually takes four or five months to prepare, the scale of the Senior Play is much bigger and needs a lot more time. In early October, students who are interested in directing set out to look for plays they would like to perform, and they often create plays of their own. Traditionally, the Senior Play event consists of one longer English play as well as one or two shorter ones, often in other languages or written by students. For example, in 1998 the seniors presented Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, accompanied by a student play, How to Learn a Filthy Language in 30 Minutes, as well as an adapted piece called Key to the Elevator. Besides looking for scripts, directors have to meet and discuss which plays they would like to put one, and they also have to find producers (also students) to help with the administration work, fund-raising, promotion, and organizing the crew. In November, after the directors have reached an agreement on which plays to perform, producers must work out a rough budget and set up a production schedule. Even though the seniors receive a subsidy from the department, producers have to find more financial support, often from off-campus sponsors. For this reason a PR team is formed. Indeed putting on a play requires a lot more money than you think. A large proportion of the budget is spent on renting out the theater in the Audio-Visual Center, but money is also needed for the set design, props, costumes, and makeup. Posters and flyers must also be printed. While the PR people are busy making contacts with potential donors, the directors are not idle either. In December, auditions are held. This always attracts lots of people, and talented actors and actresses are often “discovered.” Now the performance really feels like it is going to take place, and everyone begins to work on technical aspects of the play, including staging, costumes, lighting, and sound effects. Usually, the PR team has finished their work before the spring semester begins, and soon, the promotion season begins. Their job is to make the performance as well advertised as possible, both within the university and for the general public. Posters and brightly-colored flags are put everywhere, and a special Senior Play website is formed to keep everyone up-to-date on the big event. There are also advertisements on the radio. Spring break is the busiest time of all. Rehearsals are still going on, but everything has to be finalized in a hurry. If you happen to come across people talking to themselves hurrying from class to class, don’t be surprised if they turn out to be the actors in the upcoming play! This nervousness comes to a peak after in-theater rehearsals start in early May. Everyone involved must devote almost every minute of their free time to making final adjustments. Seniors have now been working together for many months, and everyone is positively bristling with excitement. Want to see the outcome of this amazing six-month preparation? The 2001 Senior Play will take place from May 14th to 19th. Everyone is welcome to see the plays for free. See you then! by Jessie Seetoo
Touching, leaning, lifting, and embracing – these are forms of body contact frequently adopted by dancers and choreographers. For ballerinas and their Prince Charmings, they are poised positionings that enthrall audiences – and especially photographers. Contact improvisation, however, is a highly “movement-oriented” form of dance that uses a series of ongoing movements to compose duets of fluidity. Since each dance is improvised, you never know how it will develop – and therein lies its fascination. “A cross between jitterbugging, wrestling, and making love,” as one improviser describes it. It is an exploration and an experience; the dancers are no longer just performers, they become involved in it. Contact improvisation is based on the physical contact between the dancers. By touching, dancers concentrate on the flow of energy that runs between them, caused by the pressure and the shift of weight when they touch. Dancers remain in contact during the entire experience. And by moving with that flow of energy, an astonishing variety of “body links” are formed – the shoulder to the back, the head to the waist, the toes to the fingers, and much more! From spectators’ point of view, movements can range from tender leanings and pressings to daring crashing, rolling, and tumbling. And it is not limited to duets or trios only; contact improvisers sometimes form a “jam” with many participants. Imagine how exciting that would be! This new approach to modern dance was invented by the American dancer and choreographer Steve Paxton. In 1972, he inaugurated a piece named “Magnesium,” in which he and eleven students performed on several wrestling mats for an audience in a large gymnasium. They staggered about, crashed into each other, fell, and rolled about. A lot of pulling, dragging, loss of balance occurred. This was the prototype for contact improvisation. The final part of the piece is called “the stand,” in which the dancers stand, facing different directions, and meditatively feel their own subtle shifts of weight within. The result appears to render a gentle swaying of their torsos. This technique was later adopted for the training of beginners, in order to practice inward concentration and spontaneous movement. As a dance lover myself, I have also tried contact improvisation and found it extremely interesting. Unlike more common forms of modern dance, which require years of technical training, contact improvisation is very easy to approach. Of course you need to practice certain skills, but they are not as grueling as ballet. We began with “the stand” in our first class. The aim is to allow yourself to concentrate on and “listen” to your own body. Then you are asked to lie on the floor, to feel more sensitively the different parts of your body against the floor, and roll in different positions to experience your own weight while gradually making your movement smoother. During the process, you sort out the best way to roll without painfully hitting your joints against the floor, since yielding and softening are also essential in contact improvisation – you don’t want to hurt yourself, right? Then you and your partner take turns rolling on each other’s back while the other remains lying on the floor. This helps you to feel the parts of your partner’s body and his or her weight. Finally, you can start doing contact improvisation and enjoy “sticking together” with your partner(s)! Participating in this unique form of dance, I was truly inspired. First, I felt the unlimited possibility of my body movements in response to my partner’s, and also to space. The astonishing curves and spirals we form by chance can never be choreographed, nor can they be duplicated. We can only be overwhelmed with more surprises as they develop. Then there is the excitement of dancing with different people. Somehow, through the body, you can sense the subtleties of different dispositions in different people. And it’s simply exciting to see what kinds of “conversations” you can strike up. Finally, there is a magic quality of mutual, wholehearted trust between partners, through touching and attentive responding. No one is dominant; everyone has to play the role of the “listener.” When you overcome your self-consciousness you are deeply involved with the others, and it just makes you feel blissful and relaxed, as if all barriers have been removed and you and your partner’s feelings resonate beyond words. For this last reason, contact improvisation has also been adopted for dance therapy. For me, well, I like the concept of dance purely for its own sake. And if you wish, you can always feel free to take part without having to memorize any steps. Why not give it a try and experience it for yourself? The university’s dance club holds regular classes (see PTT: 140.112.30.142 NTU-MD board 台大舞蹈社現代舞組 for further information), and there is a weekly workshop held by Prof. Ku Ming-Shen (古明伸老師), the chair of the Dance Department of National Institute of the Arts (國立藝術學院), on Fridays at 7 p.m. There’s also a “jam” every Saturday at 4 p.m. at _____________(Chinese address). by Maggie Chan
When I first started watching “Sex and The City,” I expected to see another Ally McBeal-type story, another big city girl pretending not to wait for her Prince Charming to save her from brutal reality. But as the series went on, I realized that the show is more than sex, and the city. “Welcome to the Age of Un-Innocence.” What should love in the 90’s look like? Nobody knows for sure. Based on the book Sex and the City, which originated from Candace Bushnell’s column in The New York Observer, the TV series focuses on the love life of four 30ish women – a columnist Carrie; Charlotte, an art gallery dealer; Samantha, the PR executive; and lawyer Miranda – who live in the Big Apple. As Carrie taps away at her laptop, her narration leads us through Manhattan’s most popular hangouts, celebrity events, nightclubs, endless streams of lunches and cocktail parties – while the four characters experience misadventures in love. Through the voice-over of Carrie, the lead character, we are allowed a peek at the love life of high society, the gorgeous, successful, and rich elite in the city. We meet, for example, the “modelizer,” who only dates models, and the “toxic bachelor,” the powerful and successful single man who is self-centered and allergic to commitment. We feel the glossy atmosphere and inanity amidst the champagne, cigarettes, and wine. The author herself once admitted in an interview that no women she knew actually dressed like they do on the show during the day time, yet this is a comedy after all. Most important of all, the show speaks from the point of view of women. As the girls gather around bars or coffee shops and engage in small talk, women’s questions are constantly coming out: “Why is it always the woman who has to change, and not the man? Can a woman fully commit to a man and still maintain her independence? Can she be friends with her ex-boyfriend? Are relationships the religion of the ‘90s? Overwhelmed by everlasting contradictions, the same doubt emerges as I hear Miranda spilling out her thoughts amid their conversations, “How does it happen that four such smart women have nothing to talk about but relationships and boyfriends?” However, I then realized that it is what the characters say, rather than what they do that has won audiences over. As Carrie declared in one recent episode, “Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with.” Or Miranda: “If a man is over thirty and single, there’s something wrong with him. It’s Darwinism. They’re being weeded out from propagating the species.” The show has won fame for being funny, smart, glamorous, and straightforward. Personally, I think it’s occasionally crude, even vulgar, but that’s really what the show is about. It is about life, finding true love (if it even exits), and sex, as it reaches down to the very basics of human nature – the mating rituals of mankind. The lines are somewhat outrageous, bold, sarcastic, honest and a bit over-embellished – but funny. We laugh at the show, as we identify with the characters and their entertaining remarks, and that’s what makes the show so popular and successful. Eyeing the show miles away from New York City, I’d simply say that “Sex and the City” is a well-made imitation of social life, particularly of the distinct species called Manhattan’s successful and attractive singles. But how much does it resemble the reality that we live in? How much does it resemble the love life in Taipei city – or is it the “End of Love” in Taipei? The patterns would be amazingly similar, I suppose, though I assume that the answer varies from person to person. Yet one thing can never change, that the process of searching for a perfect partner will remain the same, and maybe especially in the city. This is TV series, after all, not an anthropological thesis. Debates are raised but left unanswered. But it doesn’t matter whether the show is gaudy or not, and I certainly wouldn’t mind the formulaic plots: to love, or not to love? Love in its nature is the simplest yet most complicated idea to portray. The show, although it aims at depicting this very topic, is something made to be enjoyed and laughed about. And what’s going to happen to Carrie after Mr. Big has left her to marry someone else? by Audrey Jeane Wey
What is a witch? An old hag on a flying broomstick, I suppose – cackling all the way as she rides through the dark night with a sleek black cat perched precariously on her shoulder. Mysterious, funny, yet strangely alluring in a way, this imaginary figure has lived in people’s minds for hundreds of years. She is sorceress, enchantress, summoner of supernatural powers and mistress of spells. Literature and folklore simply couldn’t do without her; neither could Halloween parties. But would you be a witch in real life? The picture book version is fascinating, perhaps. But history is indeed something very different. No more pointed hats, not to mention flying broomsticks. Instead of the fairy-tale lightheartedness there was hatred, suspicion, and a morbid fear – directed against human beings who, though accused of practicing witchcraft, had neither spells nor deities in their defense. Driven by what we now know as Gothic Satanism, witch-hunts in Europe reached their peak during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. They were called Burning Times, throughout which about 200,000 people were executed. People were taught by the Roman Catholic Church to believe that there existed evil individuals who had sold their souls to Satan in exchange for the power of black magic, devoting themselves to the Devil and to the enterprise of harming others. Allegedly they killed and ate babies, advocated the Devil, flew through the air and gathered at midnight; they were responsible for epidemics, natural disasters, and, mysteriously enough, the disappearance of male genitals. People were tried, tortured, and finally condemned to death – mostly by hanging in Protestant jurisdictions, and by burning in Catholic countries. The targets, however, could either be men or women, most of whom seemed to have been midwives, native healers, single women (who lived alone), the begrudged, or those who were implied in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Not just old hags, as you can see – but ordinary people, with or without black cats and crooked noses. And then something similar occurred in Salem, Massachusetts, during the 1690s, triggered by the strange behavior of certain young village girls. Again, innocent people were accused of exercising black magic, since the causes of mental illness were still highly obscure. Again there was terror and fear and hatred. Over 150 people were imprisoned, 19 hanged, and one pressed to death with large stones for refusing to enter a plea. This turned out to be the largest witch hunt and the last witch trial in American history. So what remains after that? Despite the marks of terror witch trials have left upon history, magic and witchcraft never seem to lose their allure. Wicca, its name taken from wiccae – a middle-English word meaning witchcraft – is a rapidly growing neopagan religion based partly upon concepts, symbols, and deities from the ancient Celtic society, and its followers sometimes call themselves witches.” Yet the term witchcraft should take on a different meaning here; for Wiccans believe that spells are but intensified prayers, and magick” (magic) the raising and channelling of energy that is already within oneself. 毣n it harm none, do what ye wilt.” Look at the Wiccan Rede and you will understand that Wiccans are totally unrelated to Devilish Biblical witches. Just as Christians are taught to eschew evil,” Wiccans are strictly forbidden any harmful acts, for any evil that one does will return three times over”(the Threefold Law). Nor, on the other hand, do they have anything to do with imaginary, story-book sorcerers – Wiccans are real-world beings; they do not live in an alternate universe. So what is a witch anyway? It is a figure hated by many, feared by many, yet appreciated by many and popular among many. Its existence stays within the human mind. Would you be a witch if you could? by Giovanni Boccaccio
– a collaborative translation effort by Audrey, Mimi, and the rest of Prof. Valentino’s 2nd year Latin class People always look impressed when I tell them I take Latin, and I concur that Latin is, for me at least, a rather daunting language to learn. (I speak not for my other six classmates, including fellow editor Audrey Jeane.) I myself find the grammar to be perfectly mind-bending at times, but translating Latin into English is always interesting, especially when you discover just how very related the two languages are. In this short passage by Boccaccio, a 14th century Italian writer, many examples with Latin words as English word roots can be found – so look closely, and enjoy! – Mimi Quae fuerit Dantis figura Hic poeta noster mediocri statura fuit et postquam ad maturitatem pervenit, paululum incurvus incessit; gravis et mansuetus ambulabat; honestissimas vestes semper induebat, illo quidem habitu qui eius maturam aetatem decebat. Eius os oblongum fuit et nasus aduncus et oculi grandes potius quam parvi et maxillae magnae et ex labro superiore inferius protensum. Colore fusco fuit, capillis barbaque spissa, nigris, crispis; semper autem vultu maestus erat et deliberabundus. Quamobrem accidit ut olim Veronae, cum iam per omnes gentes vulgata esset eius operum fama imprimisque illius partis Comoediae quae ab auctore “Infernus” nuncupata est, quam iam noverant multi viri ac mulieres, dum ille transit ante ianuam ubi complures mulierculae sedebant, una ex illis submisse (non adeo tamen ut a poeta et ab illis qui cum eo erant non audiretur) ceteris diceret: “Videtisne eum qui in infernum descendit atque ad arbitrium suum redit et nuntios huc affert de iis qui illic sunt?” Cui alia ex illis ingenue: “Tu quidem” inquit “vera dicis: nonne vides ut homini barba crispa sit et color fuscus propter aestum fumumque qui illic est?” Quae verba cum is post se dici audiret et intelligeret simplici mulierum fide profecta esse, gaudens et fere laetatus quod illae in eiusmodi opinione versarentur, leviter subridens praeteriit. This poet of ours was of small stature, and after he reached maturity, he stooped slightly when he walked; his stride was grave and stately; and he always dressed in simple robes in accordance to his middle age. His face was long and his nose aquiline, and his eyes were rather large, his jowls heavy, and his lower lip protruded from the upper. He was of dark coloring, with thick, black, crisply curling hair and beard; he was always august and deliberate of expression. Since the fame of his work was already renown, and especially the part of the Comedy named Inferno by the author was known by many men and women, because of this, it happened once in Verona while he passed by a door where several women were seated, one of them quietly (but not so much that it could not be heard by the poet and his companions) said to the others, “Do you see that one who descends into Hell and returns as he likes to tell us of those there?” To whom another of them naively replied: “What you say is true; don’t you see that the beard of that man is curled crisp and his coloring dark, because of the fire and fumes in that place?” As he heard these words behind him, he understood that they were pronounced from the simple faith of the women, and delighted that they were of this opinion, he continued on his way smiling to himself. By Angela Lu
“What should I do after I graduate?” One constantly hears this question being asked by students in the department. Since I’m a junior now I’ve started to spend more time thinking about this question as well. However, it wasn’t too long before I realized that it’s real no use wandering about in my own imagination, so I decided to talk to a senior classmate who graduated four years ago. He’s now in graduate school. Still in close contact with most of his classmates he had a lot of information to offer, and I hope this might be of use to you as well. The most obvious career choice for many of our graduates is to become a teacher, especially an English teacher. Since Taiwan is trying to become more internationalized, English education has become increasingly important. As a result, more and more English teachers are needed for all sorts of schools, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, as well as for private institutes and cram schools. But first you need to be certified by taking a group of education courses, or by passing the elementary school English teacher qualification exam and then go through more training offered by the Ministry of Education. Private English institutes or cram school also provide their own training programs; all you need is good language skills and an interest in teaching English. Editing and translating are also popular choices for our graduates. Editors are needed for many different types of publications, including books, magazines, newspapers, and even on-line periodicals. English magazines and textbooks are the most popular areas for our students. Translating is also a great career. Besides written works, transcriber and translators of foreign TV programs, movies and, songs are all very much in demand. And of course there’s oral interpretation, if you are willing to undergo more specialized training. Although we are not specifically trained in business skills, many of our graduates are recruited by corporations and trading companies every year. You probably never imagined what a wide variety of businesses have hired our graduates, everything from a glass industrial company to high-tech firms. Sometimes our students enter as executive assistants, which basically means they serve as English secretaries, but at the same time they are picking up business skills and valuable work experience. This is exactly what happened to one of our students; after working in a high-tech firm for 3 years, her company wants to send her abroad for an MBA degree. A very large number of our graduates go to graduate school, but not always immediately. Some choose to work for a while before going back to school. And with good training in language skills and the humanities, our students have unlimited options for graduate programs. Not only literature, linguistics, and drama, but also things like education, communication, and art management, and even more “remote” fields like business management, psychology, design, law, and computer science. One student from a few years ago was very interested in dance. She decided to go abroad to study it, and now she is teaching in National Institute of the Arts(國立藝術學院). A number of our students went on to journalism school, and they are now editors and translators of foreign news at several prestigious TV stations. So let’s return to our first question: “What should I do after I graduate?” Anything you want! All options are open and free for us to choose. The important thing is to choose what you like. One unchanging piece of advice from both teachers and graduates is to give yourself more opportunities: participate in any activity that interests you, take different courses, join clubs, take parts in contests – anything! Explore yourself; find out what you are interested in and know where your potential lies. Then go for your dream and have a life worth living. by Heather Chen
I was sitting in a VIP room with a bunch of teenage girls. Dozens of CDs and posters were piled on the table in front of us. Laughter was heard everywhere and everyone was talking excitedly to each other. Despite this cheerful atmosphere, I was actually having a nervous breakdown. My mind had gone totally blank and my heart was pounding so fast that I thought it would jump out of my chest any minute. I was so nervous that my voice even trembled when I spoke. Yet conversing with others was the only way I could calm down. So what was it that made me this excited and so unlike myself? Well, maybe not a big deal to others, but a dream come true for me—an afternoon tea meeting with my idol Lee-hom Wang. Like many teenagers, I have a huge craze for my idol. When I say huge I really mean it. I’m a zealous supporter of his, or, in other words, I’m a superfan. I buy all his CDs and posters, attend his autograph sessions and go to all his concerts. I record (or try to record) the programs that he has been on and collect magazines and newspapers that have reports on him. I wake up at five a.m. and line up under the burning sun for twelve hours just to get a better seat in his concerts. I am depressed for days if I hear someone criticize him or spread bad rumors about him. I go to his personal website everyday (when possible) to get his latest news and exchange opinions with other fans. I even send email to him though I know he would never have the time to reply. So far, the craziest (and silliest) thing that I’ve done was that I baked cookies for him as a gift. In short, I’ve spent a great deal on him—in terms of money, time, and energy. Many people, I believe, would think that I’m too crazy and have gone too far. Yet everyday in the entertainment news on television, we see crowds of teenagers doing the same things, and some even crazier. For instance, some fans follow their idols wherever they go and even try to sneak into their houses. I’ve also seen reports of fans committing suicide because of their idols. So what exactly are the charms of these stars that they could make their fans so addicted? I think nobody would deny that their appearance plays a big part. We are naturally enchanted by beautiful things and beautiful people; how can we possibly resist from being fond of someone who is beautiful or handsome, and who looks exactly like our dream lover or Prince Charming? It’s simply irresistible—at least to me (and to those like me), for whom passions often overrule reason and who find it hard to use so much self-control. The most popular artists, therefore, are usually the most beautiful or handsome. Of course there are exceptions—but very few. Nonetheless, besides external charms, I think there is a more important reason why these people are so popular—a “something” in their character or personality that infatuates their fans. This “something” may be anything: a talent for music or acting, a humorous way of talking, a kind and amiable nature, a nimble and creative mind, or simply a unique way of being cool. These people appeal to us because they possess features and characteristics that we lack. We admire them because they can do (and often do very well) what we cannot do. We wish we could be like them, but since we cannot, we give them our greatest support—or more specifically, become their superfans. Indeed, idolatry is very common nowadays among teenagers and I personally have no objections to idol chasing, for I am sometimes quite crazy myself. However, I do not think that there should be no limit to this kind of passionate behavior. Fans who follow their idols and sneak into their houses or commit suicide for them have really gone too far. These people have lost themselves and have found nothing else in the world except “being with” their idols. They no longer live for themselves but for another person. When showing support to our idols, we mustn’t forget that we have our own lives and they have theirs. Moreover, there are many other things and people in the world that are interesting and meaningful and they deserve our attention, too. It would be a pity if we gave up the chance of seeing and feeling the world around us for the sake of one single person. Besides, extreme behavior would only offend your idol by making him or her feel that you’re invading his or her privacy. So why spend so much time making yourself disliked by someone you’re fond of? By the way, do you think Lee-hom will like the cookies I baked for him? I sure hope so. I spent weeks practicing making them! by Christine Song
This summer, America tuned in to CBS as 16 castaways were marooned on a remote island in the South China Sea. The castaways had to sweat, cheat, and maul their way through thirty-nine days as millions watched them through thirteen weekly episodes to discover just who was the ultimate Survivor. “Survivor” is the name of the hit TV show launched by producer Mark Burnett, and also the most popular product of reality TV so far. Its framework looks something like this: sixteen people – of various ethnic backgrounds and age – were selected from thousands of applicants and put in an obscure location – this time a tropical island – to survive without the conveniences of modern life. Competitions are held between teams and individuals. Sometimes there is a prize, awarding the winner a “luxury,” which can mean anything from a hot shower to a phone call home. The thirty-nine days are broken down to three-day cycles, and each cycle is produced into one television episode. At the end of every third day the participants form a tribal council to cast ballots to vote one contestant away, eliminating that individual but further advancing themselves to the ultimate goal – 1 million U.S. dollars. Does this sound fun? Whatever your answer may be, millions of people at least found it fun to watch. Although not the pioneer of reality TV, “Survivor” is certainly what triggered the reality TV phenomenon that is sweeping the American airwaves. Reality TV refers to television in which real people – people like you and me – are taped in their real lives. A well-known example is MTV’s “The Real World,” which televises the lives of seven completely different people living under the same roof for six months. Or the movie, “The Truman Show,” in which Jim Carrey’s entire life becomes a spectator sport. The popularity of reality TV has increased tremendously over the years, culminating in the season finale of “Survivor” – which attracted a total of 51.7 million viewers. So why all the hullabaloo? What characteristics does reality TV posses that it has expanded into the current craze? What makes people want to know what these upstart celebrities’ favorite food or sexual fantasies are, as the individual websites of the “Survivor” participants reveal? Dissecting this phenomenon we find two major factors. One, voyeurism. However you may deny it, there is a mite of it in all of us. You may not even realize it, but perhaps you recall unwittingly perking up your ears at work at a tête-à-tête going on two cubicles away, or casually glancing through the window to see what your neighbors are doing as you stroll by. Reality TV justifies our desires by turning other people’s private business into a public affair. Secondly, there’s tension and contention. A bickering couple making a scene on the street is always fun to observe. Provided that we are not an interested party. Well there’s plenty of that too in any reality TV show. It is, after all, what they thrive on. The essence of reality TV lies in the fact that there are no scripts or actors. Real people; real scenarios. Hence reality TV. But in fact the scenarios are closely choreographed and the participants meticulously selected to ensure “tension and contention.” For example, in an old episode of “The Real World” in which the generation X’ers first meet, they learn that the beautiful loft furnished by MTV has four bedrooms for seven people – and that the group happens to include a bigoted biker and an HIV-positive homosexual. Or in “Survivor,” competitions and rules are devised to encourage rivalry and betrayal. What follows is discord, distrust, and, of course, ratings. Consequently, rather than presenting reality, reality TV is actually a genre in which the script and actors take on a new convention to bring the audience old entertainment in novel form. The result is partakers who gain their fifteen minutes of fame, viewers who are happy watching an island of castaways squabble and deceive, and producers who are laughing all the way to the bank. That, my friend, is the real reality. by Mimi Chong
Let’s say that you are a rabid X-Files fan. In order to commiserate with fellow X-philes, you take up net-surfing personal fanpages, just to see what other people think of your favorite show. One day, you inadvertently follow a link to a pageful of text. Interested, you read it – only to find that not only does Scully believe in Mulder’s conspiracy-loaded notions, but she and Mulder are on their honeymoon, and they are now referred to as agents Mulder and Mulder. When, you expostulate, did this ever happen in the show? Rest easy, for it never did. This, my friend, is the glorious subculture spawned from fandom – fanfiction. Fanfiction, or fanfic for short, is fan-generated fiction inspired by their favorite series. They come in the form of poems, scripts, and most often, short stories and novellas. Not only do TV series have fanfic, of course – the rule is, if it has a fandom and a plot, then fanfiction has been written about it, be it movie, book, comic book, cartoon, or video game. Some sprawling fandoms are Star Wars, X-Men, Ranma ½ and the Final Fantasy series. (I freely admit to being baffled that there are fanfics about N’Sync, however.) If you’ve ever written a story about something you like, involving characters created by someone else, you’ve written fanfiction. The concept of fanfiction dates back to the Middle Ages, when “fans” of the oral tradition of the Round Table added their own characters to Camelot – Lancelot, for one. By the early twentieth century, Sherlock Holmes, the most famous man that never lived, incited the birth of various “literary societies” dedicated to the promotion and continuation of the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – in other words, writing more Holmesian stories. In the ’60’s and ’70s, the first Star Trek “fanzines” – with articles and stories written by Trekkies – were published, coining the word fanfiction as we now know it. Fanzines were printed by private means and distribution was limited only to a few hundred subscribers at most. It wasn’t until the onset of the internet and the World Wide Web that fanfiction became truly widespread and accessible. Thousands of connected people visit millions of fanfic-devoted newsgroups and websites each day; and with the increase of readers, the number of fic-writers also multiply. The reasons for writing fanfic are as varied as the people who write it, but they all boil down to this: a deep love for a favorite series. Some people call it obsession; and it’s true that it takes something akin to that to dwell on a scene, a character, or a relationship so much that it actually becomes necessary to write about them. So fanfics are often inner monologues of a character, expansions of a plot point, “might-have-been’s,” or continuations of a story after it has ended. And, of course, the ever popular soap-opera style getting together (or splitting apart) of a couple “destined (or absolutely wrong!) for each other.” In short, it is enjoyable for fans to take things into their own hands. Receiving fanmail for a story is also not at all disagreeable – it just isn’t fun to write a fanfic and not share it with like-minded people. Therefore, fanmail is the other great motivation for writing fanfiction. Sometimes one might wish, though, that the lack of fan encouragement would make some self-proclaimed “writers” stop churning out so-called “fics.” For the quality of fanfiction ranges from “better than the real thing” (which is high praise for a fic-writer) to “I can write better if I hung over a keyboard by my neck and typed with my toes.” Bad fanfic, as with all bad writing, is simply painful. Spelling and grammar, of course, are musts for good writing; finesse of style is a welcome bonus. But the criteria for fanfiction has one important rule different from that of usual creative writing: fanfic must also be faithful to the original story. If you want to make changes to the plot, the characters, or add creations of your own, it is imperative to make them plausible or else you’ll catch a lot of flak – fans are a picky bunch. Mulder and Scully should not just wake up one morning and decide to get married (or kill each other); nor should Xena the Warrior Princess find herself in the emergency room of ER (or Dr. Doug Ross in Ancient Greece – you catch my drift). Unless, of course, some evil necromancer transported Xena into the twentieth century and Doug got sucked into a time warp that appeared in the gutters of Chicago one morning when he was late for work… Fanfiction can be pretty insane at times. So are the people that write it. But that’s one of the greatest things about them – they’re usually the first to admit, cheerfully, that they need a life. You have to admire the sheer devotion; and sometimes, you are truly, pleasantly surprised by the beauty and depth of the works themselves – out there on the internet, there are unknown, unassuming people who can move with words. But mostly, fanfiction is fun. Fans write thirty-chapter epics just for the fun of it, and if you are open-minded and easily amused, chances are you’ll find reading fanfic fun, too. Where else could you get the satisfaction of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Mulder decked out in tropical shirt and bikini, blissfully guzzling daiquiris on a Caribbean cruise? |
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May 2024
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