Commonplace Podcast Episode 81: Commonplace goes to Taiwan, Part 2
People, Places, and Events Featured in this Episode:
(Feature on Mr. CHANG Cheng and his partner, Ms. LIAO Yun-chan)
Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own
FemBooks est. 1994
Witch House (located in the same building as FemBooks)
Peng Wan-Ru Foundation (located in the same building as FemBooks)
National Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of Building and Planning
(More on Eslite’s cultural significance and future)
KANG Min Jay’s speech “Altered Space: Squatting and Legitimizing Treasure Hill, Taipei” presented at Cultural Development Network’s 2006 Forum, “Artivism: The Role of Arts in Regeneration”
Public art project at Taipower Spider Tree
Tonsan Bookstore est. 1982 (the leftist bookstore referred to by KANG Min Jay)
GinGin Books est. 1999 (the gay bookstore referred to by KANG Min Jay)
(More on GinGin’s founder, LAI Jeng-jer 賴正哲)
Taiwanese poet CHEN Kehua’s poem, “Anal Subjectivity”
(Note: This webpage from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture has a different translation of the poem’s title. Google also translates differently as “The Need for Anal Sex.”)
Music
“Monday Spirit”
長笛Flute/作曲Composition：張瑛蘭 Ing Lan CHANG
人聲Vocal/ 作詞 Lyrics：喜辰晨 XI Chenchen
吉他Guitar：林華勁 Gin LIN
Other Relevant Links:
Selected patrons will receive copies of Salsa by Taiwanese poet Hsia Yu translated by Steven Bradbury, courtesy of Zephyr Press.
(More translations by Steven Bradbury)
友善書業合作社 Taiwan's Independent Bookstore Culture Association
During their trip, Rachel and Doreen also visited the Beitou Museum exhibit: “Stories Told Through Mother’s Hands: Children’s Textile & Embroidery Arts” guided by its curator Brenda Lin, who also serves as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Les Enphants Co and is the author of Wealth Ribbon.
The exhibit showcased items from Brenda’s mother, Christi Lan Lin’s, collection of traditional Asian textiles made by mothers for their children.
Brenda’s forthcoming essay, “Things,” will be published Feminist Press’ WSQ in May 2020.
Liner Notes:
01:08 Doreen provides a brief overview of Taiwan’s history.
09:55 Rachel and Doreen speak with CHANG Cheng, one of the co-founders of Brilliant Time Bookstore.
19:28 Rachel and Doreen speak with YAO Yuting (Analeigh), a staff member of Brilliant Time Bookstore.
25:50 Rachel and Doreen speak with LI Xiumei (Sophie), manager of FemBooks.
28:35 Rachel and Doreen speak with KANG Min Jay, a professor at National Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of Building and Planning, one of the activists behind the creation of the WenRooTin Cultural Area where FemBooks is located.
1:00:29 Our gratitude to the many people who were involved with the making of this episode!