social science and policy studies

"...much of the best social research is inspired by an urge to understand, illuminate and explain, rather than by a compulsion to provide policy solutions." Young, K., Ashby, D., Boaz, A., & Grayson, L. (2002). Social science and the evidence ­based policy movement. Social Policy and Society, 1(3), 215-224. 

一直接受補助

那些以政府應該扶植文化為擋箭牌、不求精進、靠著補助的保護傘存活的活動與機構，碰到市場競爭機制，一定會死掉。

令人皺眉的圖說

一窩蜂

一窩蜂趕流行、一窩蜂吃葡式蛋塔、一窩蜂吃甜甜圈、一窩蜂模仿北京奧運鳥巢建築風格、一窩蜂蓋博物館、一窩蜂蓋觀光工廠、一窩蜂賣鳳梨酥、一窩蜂蓋大學、一窩蜂開銀行、一窩蜂小吃店牆上要講故事例如老闆的心路歷程、一窩蜂一顆養生五穀歐風枸杞麵包五百元、一窩蜂舉辦節慶。

後來，一窩的蜂都死了...

Theaters in West End

"Commercial theater in the West End of London can survive due to millions of tourists that understand the English language, but this is unlikely elsewhere in Europe."
--van der Ploeg, F. (2006).The Making of Cultural Policy: A European Perspective. In A. G. Victor & T. David (Eds.), Handbook of the Economics of Art and Culture (Vol. Volume 1, pp. 1183-1221)

IN THE LONG RUN

"In the long run, we are all dead."
Then who cares about the development in the long run? Especially for politicians who are only in office for a few years.

小情調

最近偶然看見網路上台灣人的反省：台北（還是台灣，忘了）總是搞些「小情調」的東西：諸如咖啡館的咖啡杯和擺飾（這個是我特別感冒的）。我以前一直對台北搞這種東西覺得很厭煩，但是因為整個城市都在賣這個東西，遂也不好說什麼。明白了，這個叫作小情調...

台灣的求生之道，可能也只能從 五花八門的 小情調 出發了。不然呢？