Watson Events

Museums and Official Historical Narratives: Broadening or Bridging the Gulf in Cross-Strait Understanding?

Museums and Official Historical Narratives: Broadening or Bridging the Gulf in Cross-Strait Understanding?

The past twenty years have witnessed expansion and growing sophistication in the museums sector on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This presentation will consider how these changes have affected the portrayal of the societies on either side of the Taiwan Strait, and of the historical relationship between them. It will also discuss possible implications of the shifts in the official narrative on either side for the future of cross-Strait relations. These issues will be explored through an examination of what has and has not changed in official narratives, with particular attention to the following themes: defining “the nation”, how “foreign” societies are represented, museum narratives of the national past, and tourism’s role in the cross-Strait issue. Professor Edward Vickers (U. of London) will be our guest speaker; introduction by Professor Emily Stokes-Rees (Brown).

Location: Smith-Buonanno 106.