‘Island Of Light’ screens Taiwan film, pop culture

Taiwanese cinema has proven to be one of the most significant cultural forces on the international scene, and a UW–Madison symposium March 7-9, “Island of Light,” explores how the films and filmmakers have won global audiences and reshaped Western concepts of film art.

Since the mid-1980s, films from Taiwan have been regular fixtures in the international film circuit, winning numerous awards. This symposium is an occasion for scholars in the United States and from around the Pacific Rim to share ideas with a campus audience about Taiwanese films and culture.

Scheduled talks will discuss these films in relation to regional or global trends. Guests include two major figures in the Taiwanese film industry and popular culture, Peggy Chiao and Wu Nien-jen.

The symposium was coordinated by Nicole Huang, with assistance from David Bordwell, and the staffs of the Center for East Asian Studies and the Department of Communications Arts.

Films and talks will be held in 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave. For a complete schedule and more information, call (608) 262-3643.