One thing about being gay is that you can never easily ignore the interaction with your surroundings. You would always wonder the difference between you and other people: why do other boys stare at other girls’ bosoms when you stare those goggling boys? With that awareness, it might lead to a grander vision of so-called “communities”. When I was back in the college learning about the evolution of media history, and how they were capitalized and controlled by corporations, with alarming examples of Taiwanese press as reference, I began to wonder, “what if the media don’t tell us the ‘Truth’?”
For a long time, gay people have been considered as an inferior community, as well as females and some special diseases sufferers, such as albinos and lepers, which explains why there are non-profit organizations and supporting groups to proclaim the human rights to these minorities. I have read Iron (張鐵志, Chang Tieh-chih) before I met him briefly once. His first book, 聲音與憤怒: 搖滾樂可能改變世界嗎? (Sounds and Fury: Can Rock & Roll Change The World?), was a bomb to my barren mind.
I heard of “punk” the term, but didn’t know much about its origin is mainly to fight against the authority. It’s a non-violent(!?) war between classes and ideologies. It’s a desire to reform the society. It’s an urge to change the world. The stories Iron told in his book lightened my mind, blasted out my path to the social root of rock music, and also seeded me a hope that “Another World Is Possible”. Coldplay is not anymore a band to me, but a band with social conscience; Live 8 is no longer a big extravagant international gig, but a global event to get everyone’s attention to Make Poverty History. I came to believe that through music and other arts, or personal act, the world could be changed.
In February 2007, Iron released his second book 反叛的凝視: 他們如何改變世界? (The Rebellious Gaze: How Have They Changed the World?). As a PhD candidate in political science at Columbia University, he took various examples of American social events and icons to narrate the struggles and changes of people who wish for a better world. The book is composed of three main parts: How Has History Inspired the Current Struggle?, How Does Culture Change Politics?, and How Do People Have the Power?. The interesting thing I discovered during my reading is that I didn’t feel I was reading it as a gay man who has the reason to be angry and fight for the denied legal rights, but as a single human who is concerned about the future of this declining world. You can sense his innocent passion through his tone, while his “rebellious gaze” rayed through the paragraphs and structures. He urges us the readers to pursue the ideals to bring out a better place, and encourages us to overcome the complicated reality little by little. I find conscience, in his words, and also within his handshake.
I don’t think I could ever forget his handshake. It was Formoz Festival 2006 in Taipei. Dirty Pretty Thing was in the town to rock the house, and I was one of the local crew. The press interview before the gig was set in the hotel they stayed. Iron came in the room with other two acquaintances of mine. When he introduced himself, I was so thrilled that I could only reach out my hand to him and say, “I have read your book and it inspired me!” He gave me a firm smile. I admire that innocence, and I wish it would never be gone.
Iron’s music blog: A Radical Rocker
Iron’s social/politics blog: Sounds and Fury
and they are all in Chinese mainly.
