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The Portuguese decision to name Taiwan Ilha Formosa was only the first in a series of decisions made by cultural intermediaries that shaped Western perspectives on what would become one of the most important geopolitical locales of the twentieth century. This talk will examine the construction of an imagined Taiwan in the West through four modes, largely focusing on events in the past few decades.

How much agency do the people of Taiwan have in constructing these images? Which elites from inside and outside of Taiwan have achieved hegemony as cultural intermediaries in presenting Taiwan as an exotic island, oppressed colony, capitalist factories or progressive society? With these questions in mind, Dr Smith will examine pivotal individuals and organisations who have engaged in various means of representation, translation and commercialisation to tell Taiwan’s story well (or not so well).

Craig A. Smith is Senior Lecturer of Translation Studies at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute and president of the Australasian Taiwan Studies Association (ATSA). Graduated from Taiwan’s National Chung Cheng University with an MA in Taiwan Literature, he regularly writes about or translates Taiwan’s literature and history.

Afternoon tea will be provided at 3:15pm.  the 2024 ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃTaiwan Update Program.

Photo Credit: Kaart Van Het Eyland Formosa, Wikimedia Commons