Improving the World... One Interaction At A Time.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Taiwan.
Improve the World: Taiwan
Country: Taiwan
Continental Location: Asia
What They Call Themselves: Taiwanese
Primary Language: Mandarin Chinese
Secondary Language: Taiwanese
Prominent Cities: Taipei [capital], Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, Keelung
Famous Sites: National Palace Museum (Taipei); Taipei 101
Currency: Taiwan Dollar
Starter Phrases in Phonetic Mandarin:
See China.
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Ang Lee (Oscar winning director, “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”, “Brokeback Mountain”, “Hulk”); Hong-Chih Kou (Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher); Chien-Ming Wang (baseball pitcher, NY Yankees); Steve Chen (Co-founder of YouTube); Jerry Yang (Co-founder of Yahoo!); Lucy Liu (American-born Taiwanese actress); Connie Chung (American-born Taiwanese journalist).
-This island state’s colonial name, Formosa, came from Portuguese Iiha Formosa, meaning “beautiful island.” From the 17th century to WWII, the Chinese and Japanese fought over control of Formosa. However, a civil war following WWII resulted in the creation of the two Chinas (PRC & ROC); mainland China remains under Communist leadership.
-Chinese New Year begins on the 1st day of the 1st Lunar month of the year, 2012 is the year of the Dragon. In order; the 12 year rotates through: Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, and Rat.
-The National Palace Museum is an art museum in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of over 650,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qin dynasty. In 2008, it was the 15th most visited museum in the world.
-Taipei 101, which has 101 stories above ground, has been the world’s tallest building since 2004. Taipei 101 holds other records including the world’s fastest ascending elevator speed (approx. 37 mph), and largest countdown clock used on New Year’s Eve. In 2009 a building in Dubai passed up the 101 as the world’s tallest building.
-Baseball is the national sport. Taiwan produces frequent champions in the Little League World Series held annually in Williamsport, PA. It’s 17 titles are second only to the USA, dominating in the 1970’s. They were runners-up in 2009 to Chula Vista, CA. Taiwan last won the tournament in 1996.
-Due to its popularity as a focus for immigrants, Taiwanese Heritage Week is held locally in Monterery Park, CA.
What To Avoid:
Confusion with the Peoples’ Republic of China which is Communist mainland China. 1992 scandal in which Taipei’s Little League team used overage players.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Taiwan.
Improve the World: Taiwan
Country: Taiwan
Continental Location: Asia
What They Call Themselves: Taiwanese
Primary Language: Mandarin Chinese
Secondary Language: Taiwanese
Prominent Cities: Taipei [capital], Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, Keelung
Famous Sites: National Palace Museum (Taipei); Taipei 101
Currency: Taiwan Dollar
Starter Phrases in Phonetic Mandarin:
See China.
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Ang Lee (Oscar winning director, “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”, “Brokeback Mountain”, “Hulk”); Hong-Chih Kou (Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher); Chien-Ming Wang (baseball pitcher, NY Yankees); Steve Chen (Co-founder of YouTube); Jerry Yang (Co-founder of Yahoo!); Lucy Liu (American-born Taiwanese actress); Connie Chung (American-born Taiwanese journalist).
-This island state’s colonial name, Formosa, came from Portuguese Iiha Formosa, meaning “beautiful island.” From the 17th century to WWII, the Chinese and Japanese fought over control of Formosa. However, a civil war following WWII resulted in the creation of the two Chinas (PRC & ROC); mainland China remains under Communist leadership.
-Chinese New Year begins on the 1st day of the 1st Lunar month of the year, 2012 is the year of the Dragon. In order; the 12 year rotates through: Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, and Rat.
-The National Palace Museum is an art museum in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of over 650,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qin dynasty. In 2008, it was the 15th most visited museum in the world.
-Taipei 101, which has 101 stories above ground, has been the world’s tallest building since 2004. Taipei 101 holds other records including the world’s fastest ascending elevator speed (approx. 37 mph), and largest countdown clock used on New Year’s Eve. In 2009 a building in Dubai passed up the 101 as the world’s tallest building.
-Baseball is the national sport. Taiwan produces frequent champions in the Little League World Series held annually in Williamsport, PA. It’s 17 titles are second only to the USA, dominating in the 1970’s. They were runners-up in 2009 to Chula Vista, CA. Taiwan last won the tournament in 1996.
-Due to its popularity as a focus for immigrants, Taiwanese Heritage Week is held locally in Monterery Park, CA.
What To Avoid:
Confusion with the Peoples’ Republic of China which is Communist mainland China. 1992 scandal in which Taipei’s Little League team used overage players.
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