| Abstract [eng] |
The title of this paper is “Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Contemporary Taiwanese Cinema”. The aim of this paper is to determine how indigenous identity is represented in contemporary Taiwanese cinema and to reveal what meanings the representations of indigeneity acquire in the context of Taiwanese identity. The tasks of the thesis are – to describe the historical position of indigenous people in Taiwan from the beginning of colonialism in the 17th century and their significance in contemporary Taiwanese identity politics; to review the development of indigenous representation in Taiwanese cinematography, considering political changes and the relationship with Taiwanese identity; to analyze how and what narratives about indigenous people and their cultural identity are formed in Taiwanese cinematography; to examine how narratives about indigenous people found in Taiwanese cinematography shape and reveal the relationship of indigenous people with contemporary Taiwan. Using qualitative film content and visual analyses of the films The Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011), Panay (2015), Gaga (2022), and the series Seqalu: Formosa 1867 (2021), it was concluded that representations of indigeneity in contemporary Taiwanese cinema reveal a different relationship with Taiwanese identity. In the works of Chinese directors, The Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011) and the series Seqalu: Formosa 1867 (2021), the historical colonial experiences of indigenous people are emphasized, and cultural representations are used as metaphors for contemporary Taiwanese identity. Meanwhile, the works of indigenous directors, Panay (2015) and Gaga (2022), emphasize indigenous self-representation, the challenges of modern life, and critique of contemporary recognition politics. This thesis may be useful for scholars researching how indigenous identities are portrayed in cinema, how indigenous representations interact with the identity politics of the dominant culture, and how indigenous self-representation manifests in cinema. |
