albert intro

Albert Wei-min Tang
probing Culture via
Language, Media and Sister Arts

Albert Tang, a Fu Jen Catholic University alumnae and senior lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies, has been teaching English, Culture, and Media in his alma mater for over a decade.

After Albert obtained his undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature (drama par excellence), He then pursued his postgraduate study in visual media and critical theory. After finishing a master thesis on "Semiotic/ Ideological/ Textual Analyis of TV Commercials", he later continued his doctoral research in comparative literature, focusing on issues in the field of Chinese Cinema(s) and Cultural Studies.

As a connecting bridge for cultural exchange, Albert has briefly worked for several translation agencies (translator and interpretor), China News (aka Taiwan News, journalist and editor), and Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee (chief receptionist, chief editor for special TGHFF annual album, coordinator of cross-strait affairs), before he obtained full-time teaching position in Fu Jen.

Besides listening, speaking, reading and reading, Albert keeps improving his command of English proficiency through translation and interpretation (plus performance, reception). Since his graduate study era, he has translated several critical western publications, relevantly theoretical ideas and new disciplinary ideas, into Chinese. As coordinator and conference organizer, Albert also edited several conference anthologies. His translation contributes significantly in the field of media and Cultural Studies in the post-Martial Law epoch. For example, one of his book (Cultural Studies: Interviews with Stuart Hall, by Meta-publishing Co.) has won top 10 best book Prize awarded by China Times Book Prize in 1998. (see book cover on the right)

In addition to English, Albert has learned Deutsch (German) for some year, first in Deutsch Kultur Zentrum, and later in Fu Jen campus. Albert also audited one-year Latin course given by a German Vater in sophomore year, and took one-year French (reading and conversation) in senior year. He is lucky to either participate in or take lead roles in several dramatic presentations in his college life. He then received more intensive and strict training in oral communication, body movement, and audience persuasion. Intriguingly, Albert's mother tongue "should" be Fukien (Taiwanese), but thanks to the language policy in his childhood, he didn't have acceptable command of his native language until he served the army. He also listened to Hakka radio programs for many years before he found himself partly biologically "Hakka" in 2000 (mother side), and very likely owned "Hakka" identity in 2007 (father side).

Albert has traveled to some countries in this "McLuhanian"global village. He has been to tribal communities, such as UK (London, Stratford-on-Avon, Oxford), Holland (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hague), West Germany (Hamburg, Berlin, Koln, Sturtgart, Munich), Luxemberg, Belgium (Brussel, Liege), France (Paris), Austria (Wien aka Vienna, Linz, Strassburg), Italy (Rome, Florence), Vatican (the Holy See), Greece (Athens), Jordan (Anman), Bahrain (Persian Golf), Tailand (Bangkok), Hong Kong, Macau, PRC (Beijing 10+, Shanghai 10+, Congqing, Chendu, Xichan, Kunming, Guanchou, Canton, Tienjing 2, Hanchou, Chende, Xian) , USA (LA, Austin, NYC, DC, Baltimore, Boston), Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Montreal), Australia (Sydney), Guam, Singapore, Japan. He believes that walking for over 10 miles is more useful than reading 10 thousands volumes. He usually attends international conferences abroad and sometimes undergo research trips to special archives. (Albert pictured in Beijing University, 2005)

Albert likes to combine his research interest with his teaching. He currently offers courses like Chinese Cinema(s), Popular Music, New Media Arts, Literary Media and Cultural Studies, Media Research Methods. He has been awarded Excellence Teaching Award(FJU), Creative Teaching Award(FJU), Fu Jen Research Award(FJU), Father Chang Se-heng Academic Award (Fr. CSH Foundation, two times), Senior Teaching Award (MOE)

Albert has served as Chair of Mass Communication Department, SOCE, Chief of Academic Section, SOCE, Chief of Curriculum Section, Secretariat of Academic Affairs. He also worked as project coordinator for "English Corner" under the Excellence Teaching Program, MOE. He helped produced, among other training programs, Penalty of Piety, a unique English radio documentary of the Beginning of Fu Jen Catholic University in 1925. He is also the founding Secretary-in-chief of Cultural Studies Association (Taiwan) from 1999-2000.

Albert likes seeing thought-provoking, idea-stimulating films, be it features or documentary. Currently he owns over 1000 copies, domestic and abroad, including some rarely found productions. Besides, he has a personal library which houses books ranging from English, Chinese (both traditional and simplified), Francaise, Deutsch, to Japanese publications. He not only bought books through on-line bookstores, like Amazon, ABE, Kongfz, etc., but also visiting used bookstore regularly for historic documents. You can take a look at Chinese Cinema(s) and Cultural Studies, his Virtual Library, by clicking Ang Lee's Lust, Caution book cover. He is still updating his archive and is trying even harder to extend his collection in the future.

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