Taipei: City of Displacements (McLellan Endowed Series xx)

This cultural study of public space examines the cityscape of Taipei, Taiwan, in rich descriptive prose. Contemplating a series of seemingly banal subjects--maps, public art, parks--Joseph Allen peels back layers of obscured history to reveal forces that caused cultural objects to be celebrated, despised, destroyed, or transformed as Taipei experienced successive regime changes and waves of displacement. In this thoughtful stroll through the city, we learn to look beyond surface ephemera, moving from the general to the particular to see sociocultural phenomena in their historical and contemporary contexts. **Joseph R. Allen** is professor of Chinese literature and cultural studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and author of __In the Voice of Others: Chinese Music Bureau Poetry__ and translator of __Forbidden Games and Video Poems: The Poetry of Yang Mu and Lo Ch'ing.__ "Through the prism of Taipei's development, Allen masterfully covers many aspects of visual culture in Taiwan during the past century. The book details cultural debates with insight and draws on many visual forms. Taipei is bound to become a prime source on Taiwan culture." -**Yomi Braester**, author of __Painting the City Red: Chinese Cinema and the Urban Contract__ This cultural study of public space examines the cityscape of Taipei, Taiwan, in rich descriptive prose. Contemplating a series of seemingly banal subjects--maps, public art, parks--Joseph Allen peels back layers of obscured history to reveal forces that caused cultural objects to be celebrated, despised, destroyed, or transformed as Taipei experienced successive regime changes and waves of displacement. In this thoughtful stroll through the city, we learn to look beyond surface ephemera, moving from the general to the particular to see sociocultural phenomena in their historical and contemporary contexts. Joseph R. Allen is professor of Chinese literature and cultural studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and author of In the Voice of Others: Chinese Music Bureau Poetry and translator of Forbidden Games and Video Poems: The Poetry of Yang Mu and Lo Ch'ing. "Through the prism of Taipei's development, Allen masterfully covers many aspects of visual culture in Taiwan during the past century. The book details cultural debates with insight and draws on many visual forms. Taipei is bound to become a prime source on Taiwan culture." - Yomi Braester , author of Painting the City Red: Chinese Cinema and the Urban Contract Allen (Chinese literature and cultural studies, University of Minnesota) explores the meanings of public space, statues, displays, and parks of the city of Taipei, Taiwan. The prologue is a brief overview of Taiwan, giving background on the cultural history of the island. The first two chapters then consider representations of the city in various visual media over a period of 100 years. The third chapter sketches patterns of traffic in the city, and the final four chapters focus on historical and contemporary conditions in public places in the city's downtown area. A postface describes the theoretical underpinnings and scholarship that inform the study, especially the key term 'displacement.' The book is illustrated with historical and contemporary b&w photos and maps. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Winner of the Joseph Levenson Post-1900 Book PrizeThis cultural study of public space examines the cityscape of Taipei, Taiwan, in rich descriptive prose. Contemplating a series of seemingly banal subjects--maps, public art, parks--Joseph Allen peels back layers of obscured history to reveal forces that caused cultural objects to be celebrated, despised, destroyed, or transformed as Taipei experienced successive regime changes and waves of displacement. In this thoughtful stroll through the city, we learn to look beyond surface ephemera, moving from the general to the particular to see sociocultural phenomena in their historical and contemporary contexts.Watch the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBdGIoox7zM Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Note to Readers......Page 16 Prologue......Page 20 One / Mapping the City......Page 34 Two / Picturing the City......Page 58 Three / Traffic in the City......Page 85 Four / A Park in the City......Page 108 Five / Display in the City......Page 129 Six / Statues in the City......Page 153 Seven / A Horse in a Park in a City on an Island in the Sea......Page 176 Postface: Theoretical Considerations......Page 198 Notes......Page 216 Chinese and Japanese Glossary......Page 251 Works Cited......Page 265 Index......Page 284 Prologue -- Mapping The City -- Picturing The City -- Traffic In The City -- A Park In The City -- Display In The City -- Statues In The City -- A Horse In A Park In A City On An Island In The Sea -- Postface: Theoretical Considerations -- Chinese And Japanese Names And Terms. Joseph R. Allen. A Mclellan Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.