The Taipei Times reports that the GIO is considering restricting popular TV soap operas from foreign countries:Soap opera fans may no longer be able to watch their favorite programs because the Government Information Office (GIO) is considering banning soap operas produced by Japan, Korea, China and Hong Kong on prime time TV.
GIO Minister Pasuya Yao (
姚文智 ) yesterday confirmed that the GIO is studying the plan, but he stressed that it was not final."We are indeed assessing the proposal," he said. "The goal is to see more locally produced programs on TV. To that end, we are thinking of amending the existing laws or adjusting administrative orders to encourage more locally produced TV programs so that local actors and actresses will have more job opportunities."
The stupidity of this was well-expressed by the KMT whip:
"We support the GIO's plan to offer government funding to help local TV producers make better programs," Pan said. "However, we are sorry to hear that the GIO is planning to suppress foreign programs, when it should be looking into why they are more popular than local ones."
Well said, Mr. Pan. Meanwhile, the DPP's extremism in defiance of poverty is not nice:
DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨 ), however, said that he fully supported the GIO's move, and that he would persuade his daughter, who he said is an avid Korean soap opera fan, to watch something else.
Why stop there, Mr. Lin? Why not persuade her to stop watching Korean, Japanese, and American movies as well? And when you go out, be sure to prevent her from eating kimchi, sashimi, and cheese!
The DPP has to quit imitating the KMT's protectionist economic policies. In addition to being economic nonsense, this policy also reveals that the DPP's conception of what Taiwan is remains too wedded to a strictly local understanding of Taiwan's identity. The DPP seeks to define Taiwan by making it smaller, whereas what it should really be doing is seeking ways to internationalize the island, to tie more firmly to the global community so that if China attempts to annex the island, both locals and foreigners will be able to see that a great hole has been torn in the global fabric. International TV is one way that Taiwan can connect to the outside world. Taiwan needs a diverse, multicultural, globalized identity, and the DPP, while paying lip service to that ideal, has yet to fully grasp it.
UPDATE: ESWN has some more good info.
[Taiwan] [Asia] [China] [Japan] [Korea] [GIO]
9 comments:
shouldn't someone be studying what it would take to make Taiwanese television a popular export product?
As far as I know, countries like France, Japan, Germany and Australia, etc., also have strict media laws dictating how much local content must be shown (on prime time).
I think it's a fabulous idea.
In Australia, we import foreign programs because it is CHEAP to do so - not because we cannot do better in terms of content. :-( If we didn't have such laws enforcing local content, we'd all become 'Americans'. :-( It's precisely the fear the French authorities have - and in France, it has helped to protect/preserve the wonderful French cinema indie lovers adore.
While the case may be slightly different in Taiwan (and I am the first to agree with the fact that most Taiwanese programs are trash), it would do Taiwanese culture/people/society a world of good if prime time TV help to give Taiwanese programs/actors/media workers/culture a boost.
Jen
Sorry, Jen, it's ridiculous. The Korean programs are more popular everywhere. I'm all for subsidizing the local culture industry, and I can easily agree that keeping out Hollywood is a good way to preserve one's culture. But Korean TV isn't a form of cultural imperialism, unlike US filmdom. Totally different level of threat, totally different issue. Further, there's nothing particularly "Taiwanese" about soap operas or shitty TV. Finally, by subsidizing local TV shows, the government is simply ensuring that they will never be any good -- that Taiwan will never produce anything marketable overseas, which is what it should be doing (heck, there's a gigantic same-language market just over there.....)
Michael
right on, mt.
Michael - I understand where you're coming from. :-)
I am not advocating subsidising local shows - as you say, this won't improve quality. However, I do think that Taiwanese media could do with some restraint (like they do in France) - for example, by dictating a minimum % of local content which must be shown daily.
I agree the South Korean dramas aren't threatening culture (they are mostly already devoid of it). However, I am simply in awe of the way the French protect their 'art', culture, identity etc. via strict media laws. As far as I can see, apart from unabashed arrogance in their citizens (who are so proud to be French), it hasn't hurt France and it helps to put their tourism industry at the forefront. OK. Comparing Taiwan to France is very premature, but the French model is really worth considering.
Anyway, if we're talking about soaps, I am afraid they're trashy everywhere. But I've noticed that, since DPP's been 'in power', there've been some exceptional local shows and dramas - showcasing our history/culture - the very sort of things that we were not allowed to know about when KMT were in control. Granted, they weren't soaps, they were quality, prime-time dramas.
I am not interested in coddling. But as Taiwan still suffers from an identity problem, it would be great to see more quality local content.
I suppose the salient point here is how Taiwan does it, rather than whether it does revamp the media (laws).
PS: I do have a vendetta against those South Korean stars with the plastic-surgeon-chiselled faces, though. Taiwanese youths can do without such unrealistic/unnatural phenomenon. =D
Cheers.
Thanks, that's a good response.
Much to think on. In any case the GIO came out today with the claim that it was only a suggestion anyway...
Michael
Hey Axis & Allies! Sure brings back lots of memories. I still have 3 boxes.
Live in Taichung? There's a pretty active group of us here.
Nope, I'm in SF Bay Area. But I'm a fan of your blog. Anyway I have a lot of relatives in Taichung so I try to drop by whenever I'm in the country.
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