Soft Power in A Hard Time: A Cultural Perspective on Cross-Strait Relations

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the George Washington University presents a speech by Lung Yingtai, Minister of Culture for R.O.C., (Taiwan).

Lung Yingtai, Minister of Culture, R.O.C., (Taiwan) is 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 City University of New York, Taiwan Central University and the University of Heidelberg. During her 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.

From 2003 until 2012, Lung lived and taught at the University of Hong Kong and in 2008, she received the honor of being named the first "Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Fellow in Humanities" by the University of Hong Kong.

Lung Yingtai became Taiwan's inaugural Minister of Culture in May, 2012.

A lunch reception will be held on the 2nd floor following the speech

Please RSVP at go.gwu.edu/Yingtai by Friday, August 24.