Talk Synopsis – Time, Space, and the Human World — Poetry and the Everyday
The New Poetry Movement of Taiwan dates back nearly a century. In this diverse landscape of numerous schools of thought, every poet’s distinctive style showcases their unique characteristics and varied approaches. As a Taiwanese poet in the 1970s, Xiang Yang has developed his own writing style through working with decastich poems and Southern Min poems. Inspired by his participation in the writing programmes at the University of Iowa and Singapore Writers’ Week, he began working on the “Poetry of the Four Seasons” based on the 24 Solar Terms in the mid-1980s. At the turn of the 21st century, he started expressing the world’s chaos through his poetry by focussing on Taiwan’s foreign relations. Regardless of the subject matter, his poetry seeks dialogue with the everyday. This seemingly mundane exchange is the reflection and response of a poet to time, space, and the human world – an expression of the temporal, universal, and human qualities through poetry.
Speaker: Xiang Yang
Born in 1955, renowned Taiwanese author Xiang Yang has served as the chief editor for the Independence Evening Post fukan, and is currently a Professor at the National Taipei University of Education’s Graduate School of Taiwanese Culture, Chairman of Association for Taiwan Literature. While making his name with poetry, Xiang Yang writes across a variety of genres, including essays, children’s literature, and cultural and political commentary. A poet, writer, lyricist, social commentator, journalist, and scholar, he has received numerous prestigious literary awards, including the National Award for Arts, and is among the most representative figures of contemporary literature.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Tan Chee Lay
Tan Chee Lay received a BA from National Taiwan Normal University, MBA from Leicester University, MA from the National University of Singapore (English Studies), and PhD from Cambridge University. An accomplished poet who is one of the founders of the Poetry Festival Singapore, he is currently the Acting Deputy Head at the Asian Languages & Cultures (ALC), National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. His research areas include the teaching of the Chinese language, modern and contemporary Chinese literature, and the teaching methods of literature. The recipient of numerous awards like the Golden Point Award, the Young Artist Award, and the Singapore Youth Award, he also has several publications, including Sidgwick Letters.
Ticket Prices
S$15 Public
S$10 Students (with proof of student pass)
Tickets from selected Popular Bookstores
- POP@CENTRAL (BRAS BASAH COMPLEX LEVEL 4)
- CAUSEWAY POINT
- JURONG POINT
- TAMPINES MALL
- TOA PAYOH HDB HUB
Besides ticket purchase, you can choose to Bring Your Own Book* or Bring Your Own Poem^ to enjoy complimentary access to the talk.
* ^ Terms and conditions apply.
For more information: http://www.chouscfoundation.org/events/sing-chu-literature-lectures/.