POSTPONED: Lecture by Dr. Lung Yingtai, Former Minister of Culture of Taiwan, Celebrated Writer & Public Intellectual

Suspicion, Distrust, and Cultural Exchanges:

China-Taiwan relation viewed from the creative industry perspective

POSTPONED to Fall 2016 due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

Boston University

Lung Yingtai, former Minister of Culture, is also a celebrated writer, literary critic and public intellectual. Having written 30 books, Lung not only has a large number of devoted readers in her native Taiwan, but her works also have great influence in the Chinese-language world in Hong Kong, China, and North America. After receiving her doctorate in English Literature from Kansas State University, Lung Yingtai taught in several universities, including University of Heidelberg. During the 13 years’ sojourn in Europe, Lung was a regular contributor to newspapers such as the Frankfurter Allgemeinung Zeitung and the Berlin Tageszeitung. Recognizing Taiwan’s potential to share the global cultural spotlight, Lung entered public service as Taipei City Government’s first minister of culture in 1999. She quickly earned a reputation for implementing practical projects that successfully transformed rundown buildings into artist villages, literature houses and museums. The eye-catching results unlocked the cultural potential of the metropolis and ushered in a new era of living for residents.

In July 2005, a dozen of influential intellectuals together with like-minded business leaders established the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation with the aim to cultivate civil society of Taiwan. In 2008, Lung received the honor of being named the first “Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Fellow in Humanities” by the University of Hong Kong. Lung Yingtai was appointed Minister of Culture in May, 2012. During her term of office, Lung made an extensive overhaul of outdated rules and regulations in the fields of cultural development such as the Film Act, the Public Broadcasting Act and the Cultural Heritage Law. she also delivered new laws such as the Museum Act and the the Underwater Cultural Preservation Act. In view of the political isolation of Taiwan, Lung made great effort in cultural diplomacy establishing artistic exchanges with many countries.

Lung left her post as Culture Minister in December, 2014. She is Chairman of Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation and continues to promote global citizenship. Based in Taipei, she is now fully engaged in her new writing projects.