Comic images in Taiwanese art: an exploration of abject culture

In this thesis, I attempt to examine the Culture of Abjection in the context of the comics created by Taiwanese artists such as Yang Mao-lin, Lee Ming-tse, Lee Ming-zhong, Lee Kuen-lin, Liu Shih-tung, and to investigate its influence on contemporary art in Taiwan. Within my analysis of Taiwanese culture, I have used the term abject to refer to the downtrodden and marginal areas of Taiwanese art, which have inspired the content of my work. To me, the notion of abject culture is affirmative rather than negative. It has informed my understanding of Taiwan s difficult situation, both culturally and politically, over the last three hundred years. The term Culture of Abjection refers to a culture formed by the complex dynamics of demoralization, marginalisation, oppression and resistance. The Culture of Abjection can be found in vibrant Taiwanese subcultures, as expressed through the creation of the comic strip, animation, even through various artefacts on the sidewalks and buildings of market places. This abject culture can be simultaneously confident and joyful and as well as a downtrodden form of mainstream high art culture. My exhibition I feel like Chinese today expresses and extends these themes. My study, both in the written and in the creative work looks directly at that which has previously been denied as an area of research in our eastern Taiwanese culture. This is a challenging adventure and could not be accomplished without the study of western criticism, philosophy and art movements, as well as the study of contemporary Taiwanese art and my own position within it.