Understanding the Taiwan Independence Issue with the Concept of Kitsch in Kundera's Novel

Philosophy and Culture 38 (9):99-117 (2011)
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Abstract

Milan Kundera for the Czech writer, because stands for democratic reform is seen as the "Prague Spring" of rebellion. Exile in France in 1968 to leave the Czech Republic, France, in 1981, achieved international citizenship in 1984 published his famous novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being", although his work has obvious meaning of philosophical criticism, but strictly speaking he did not have a strong political overtones, it is difficult to be included in the political consciousness of action distinct writers . This article is for "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," the political element in the novel to be analyzed further with Taiwan's current political phenomenon for comparison. In this novel, Kundera used in many passages "kitsch" the words, this paper first examines the novel "kitsch" meaning three to understand Kundera pass through the vocabulary of what kind of message in the story structure in how to use the "kitsch" elements to construct the layout of the story and characters personality, showing how indirect Kundera's political philosophy. Then this paper described the use of Kundera's "kitsch" to observe the political implications of the current political situation in the Taiwan identity issue, which is the "Taiwan consciousness" and "Taiwan independence discourse" connected, we found that in many aspects of independence discussed Kundera's novels are very consistent with the political "kitsch" characteristics, plant-based Taiwanese independence movement awareness, the implementation of the counter-offensive against the KMT's mainland policy as well as the liberation of the Chinese Communist regime's attempts to unity through love Taiwan slogan for political mobilization, the formation of the mainstream consciousness in Taiwan type. This concept of kitsch by Kundera's observation and comparison, and the independence of Taiwan consciousness philosophical discussion of the legitimacy of the in-depth reflection. Milan Kundera is an author born in the Czech Republic, he is considered as one of the main actors in Prague Spring by his once reformist political opinion. In 1968 he exiled to France and obtained naturalized citizen in 1981. In 1984 he published the very famous novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." His novel has very profound philosophical critics meaning, but in fact he doesn't reveal a very strong political inclination in his works, so he could not be classified as political engaged authors. This article concentrates on the political aspect of the novel and applies it to observe political phenomenon in current Taiwan society. In the novel, Kundera used frequently the term "kitsch," this article discusses three dimensions of kitsch appeared in the novel and shows how Kundera used them to construct the novel as well as characters 'personalities, Kundera's political thought would be emerged in the mean time. In the following part, this article applies the notion of kitsch to observe the issue of identity in current Taiwan society, notably the link between the' Taiwanese local identity sense 'and' Taiwan independent movement. 'We consider that the Taiwan independent movement matches, from various aspects, descriptions of kitsch made by Kundera in his novel; Taiwan independent movement is based on dynamic from the Taiwanese local identity sense, this political project intends to revolt against what we call as "the reconquest and unification" kitsch proclaimed by the Kuomintang, it also fights against "the liberation unification" threatened by the Chinese Communist Party. This movement gains its power principally through the "Love Taiwan" slogan , which has become the main stream ideology in Taiwan. In light of concepts from Kundera's novel, this article conducts an academic observation upon the legitimacy of Taiwanese identity and Taiwan independent movement

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