Talk and Concert: Sheng-xiang and Band 【生祥樂隊·講座+演唱會資訊】

The Department of Anthropology and Chung Chi College are honored to invite Mr. Lin Sheng Hsiang, the song writer, vocalist and moon guitarist of Sheng-xiang and Band to give a talk on his experience of participating in social movements via music.

Anthropologists are curious about cultural differences — why are we all human beings even though the differences between us are huge?  Yet, in fact, people from one society could also be sharply different from each other. When the majority in a society are interested in accumulation, self-enterprising, and a (materially) abundant life of success, there are people who are more interested in simple, rustic life: staying in one’s village and appreciating floating clouds and beautiful mountains. Mr. Lin is one such person: he cannot help but cares about the dying farming villages, hopeless marginalized groups, and polluted environment that one can easily find in any intensely industrialized society. Soon after he graduated from college, he realized that he can hardly adapt to the music industry in Taipei that relies on packaging a lot. When he then learned about the development of anti-dam campaign in his home town Meinong, he returned home without hesitation and started planting the seeds of protests with his unique rock n’roll mixed with Hakka mountain songs. Why did he not give up his concerns for the marginalized, the farming villages and the environment when he struggled to support his family in spite of being a critically acclaimed and awarding-winning musician? Why did he say that musicians and songs alone won’t bring changes even though he has been questioning the policy of favoring industrial development over agriculture and has been singing stories of the distress of home-leaving youth continuously for 20 years? Please join us to find out about Lin Sheng Hsiang’s persistent journey on both music and social activism. (The talk will be conducted in Mandarin.)

After the talk, the 6-musician Sheng-xiang and Band will present in full band their newest album Village Besieged, concerning petrochemical industry and pollution, at Sir Run Run Shaw Hall on 18 October. Toru Hayakawa, the bassist of Sheng-Xiang and Band once commented: “Being a musician is about being honest with oneself.” Anthropologists and musicians both believe in understanding through bodily practices. Join us to listen, find and cultivate the seed of change in your heart.  

人類學家始終對不同社會間的文化差異充滿好奇。然而，其實同一個社會裡的人也能天差地遠：在多數人想要積攢資本、出人頭地的同時，也有一些人更看重鄰里家人感情，希望從土地中汲取踏實生活的養分。屢獲殊榮的生祥樂隊主唱林生祥先生也是如此：放不下在工業化的社會中被榨取的農村、被壓抑的底層、被污染了的空氣、土地和水，他在大學畢業後，義無反顧地回家種田、參與運動，以客家山歌，溫柔而有力地唱出反抗的搖滾精神。

面對著獲獎無數卻難以養家糊口的困境，他為何沒有放棄社會關懷？用二十年的時間，以歌聲質問重工輕農政策、唱出全球化帶來的離地失魂之後，他又為什麼說音樂不能改變社會？10月16日晚上7:30，且聽生祥描繪他心中那片不曾停耕的田地。


10月18日晚上8點，生祥樂隊將全員到齊，演繹獲得2017年金曲獎評審團大獎的作品《圍庄》。獨立音樂人和人類學家一般，都相信親身感受的力量。生祥樂隊貝斯手早川徹先生曾說：「做音樂的人就是要對自己誠實」。誠意邀請你一起來，以音樂翻土，找到自己心內的種子。