초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This essay examines Guam’s popular dinner show, Taotao Tasi (“People of the Sea”), in terms of the island’s colonial history and Homi K. Bhabha’s notion of “hybridity.” Critically adopting Bhabha’s concept, the paper seeks to complicate the understanding of its theoretical significance by considering the specific circumstances of the show’s origin, development, and reception in light of the scholarly pros and cons on hybridity. Guam’s long colonial history has resulted in the loss of much indigenous language and culture, which renders the restoration of ‘pure’ traditional music and dance impossible; for Chamorros living in Guam today, hybridity is not a choice but a given condition. Blending ancient Chamorro legend and chant with Polynesian cultural traditions, Taotao Tasi presents an enjoyable spectacle to the tourists from all around the world. While the hybridity of the show’s cultural representation and commercial aspect as a tourist attraction should be critically understood, its genuine intention to introduce Chamorro culture to the audience and the economic benefits that it brings to the local community cannot be overlooked. The paper argues that the hybridity of the show, despite its cultural and political issues, can open the door to a new conception of culture that Bhabha suggests. Lastly, since Guam and its cultural phenomena have been largely overlooked in scholarship, the discussion of the show as an ‘American drama’ can contribute to the expansion of the field.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
Taotao Tasi, Guam, Chamorro, hybridity, restored behavior
