Pluralism and Internal Identity in Applied Arts

April 6, 2022

“The true meaning of pluralism should be to build bridges for dialogue, to step out of one’s narrow perspective, and to expand personal experience. Yet today, it has become an excuse for dividing society and fostering opposition.”

– From the book The Illusion of Diversity in America

The Illusion of Diversity in America analyses social issues in the context of American culture and education policy, highlighting contemporary challenges faced by multiculturalism: the loss of value standards and the abandonment of the tradition of pursuing truth. In the process of constructing subjectivity, individuals risk losing value benchmarks, revealing the danger of “position-taking” becoming excessively politicised. This approach risks basing acceptance of diversity on a foundation of exclusion, gradually diverging from multiculturalism’s original goal of fostering public respect for differences and similarities alike.

As time accelerates and disciplinary boundaries shift, examining the root causes of these phenomena becomes ever more pressing. Boundaries of Acceptance focuses on applied arts to deconstruct the relationship between consumer market motivations and the communicative strategies of creators, reflecting societal psychology. By drawing on creators’ practical methodologies, the programme responds to these issues, exploring the process of individual subjectivity construction within a collective framework. It aims to propose a reconciliation between progressive and conservative ideals.

This lecture, presented by Executive Director Chen Yi-Chiu (curator and proprietor of Pon Ding Bookstore) and Chairperson Peng Hsing Kai (graphic designer), consolidates successful international case studies in applied arts. It examines how applied arts can serve as a bridge between society and art, reflecting pluralistic values and reconciling the internal identity of creators. Additionally, it offers a critical reflection on the historical impact of the separation of design from applied arts. Together, the speakers will explore potential pathways for Taiwanese creators, serving as an introductory discussion for this series of talks.

Planned and co-organized by pong ding︎︎︎ & tuanco.︎︎︎.
Published: April 6, 2022. Last Updated: August 16, 2022.