Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Comments on the Finalist

“WHAT is MAN?” upholds the classics while resembling a reading of “Encyclopedia Britannica,” thereby deconstructing issues through the molding of mass culture into a mode of entertainment.   Nonetheless, this work effectively dissolves the male gender roles of the Chinese classics, wherein the hero immediately becomes a coward, strength becomes impotence, and loyalty is worthless.  On a superficial level, the work regards the male gender, but on a deeper level it relates to human desires.  It is human desire that brings forth a masculine nature, and with this masculinity comes oppression and fate.  Writer-director Edward LAM’s aesthetic agenda, popular elements and classical allusions comprise the ingredients for Lin’s brilliance in theatrical entertainment.   Lin’s interpretation of “The Water Margin” as the embodiment of masculine prototypes is evidenced by the male idols that wear Armani costumes and drive Porsches.  Meanwhile, it both raises and contests the yellow flag of congeniality and deceit, through using desire to oppose the idealized view of “Mt. Liang” and using consumption to oppose our consumption of the “hero.”  This typical Hong Kong style brand consciousness production, brings an interesting contrast to the less commercially oriented Taiwanese theatre. （By Committee Member Chian-ying LU）