Comedians Vickie Wang (left) and Jamie Wang usually are not associated, however they create comedy about cross-strait tensions between China and Taiwan.
A Rong Xu for NPR
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A Rong Xu for NPR
Comedians Vickie Wang (left) and Jamie Wang usually are not associated, however they create comedy about cross-strait tensions between China and Taiwan.
A Rong Xu for NPR
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Vickie Wang calls Jamie Wang her “mirror sister.”
No, they aren’t associated, however share a reverse historical past.
Vickie, who’s initially from Taipei, Taiwan, spent a decade dwelling in Shanghai, the place she started her stand-up comedy profession, principally beneath Chinese language censorship. Jamie, who’s from Shanghai, got here throughout the Taiwan Strait and fell right into a stand-up profession in Taiwan.
They each met on the bar in a bilingual comedy membership, launched themselves to Taipei's purple gentle district and began performing collectively. His current present, An evening of straitjacket comedyit was so nicely obtained that their buddies instructed they begin touring collectively.
Vickie jokes that in the event that they toured collectively, it will really feel like one thing of a “tour of peace and reconciliation. As we tried to bridge the tensions throughout the strait, one d**ok joke at a time “.
Vickie Wang (left) is from Taipei, Taiwan, and Jamie Wang is from Shanghai, China.
A Rong Xu for NPR
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A Rong Xu for NPR
Vickie Wang (left) is from Taipei, Taiwan, and Jamie Wang is from Shanghai, China.
A Rong Xu for NPR
For Vickie and Jamie, the comedy is an efficient option to remind their viewers that the strained relationship between the 2 governments doesn’t imply that there must be stress between the Taiwanese and the Chinese language.
They talked All issues thought of host Ailsa Chang in the identical bar the place they first met.
This interview has been evenly edited for size and readability.
Highlights of the interview
On his two units of comedy confronting the stereotypes that Taiwanese have of the Chinese language.
Vickie Wang: I grew up pondering that folks in mainland China are to not be trusted, that they spit, and that they’re actually aggressive and usually are not well mannered and civilized just like the Taiwanese. And it took years in Shanghai to consciously undo this sort of stereotype and prejudice.
Jamie Wang: Mainly, like, [Chinese people] they’re the worst individuals on the earth. Like, we’re simply offended. We’re all brainwashed. And we love cash and we glance down, I don't know, people who find themselves poor.
On the stereotypes that the Chinese language have of the Taiwanese.
J Wang: I believe individuals form of have a stereotype about Taiwanese individuals the place they're, like, peasants as a result of they reside on a small island and haven't seen a lot of the world. They’re very backward.
About Chinese language residents having fewer rights in Taiwan than different residents of the island, regardless of technically belonging to the identical “nation”.
J Wang: As a result of I’m a Chinese language pupil right here, there may be a whole lot of unfair regulation in the direction of us. As such, Chinese language college students are the one worldwide college students who can not work right here. Fortuitously, this February, Chinese language individuals can get medical health insurance in Taiwan now. However for the final seven years, I couldn’t. [Most] The Chinese language are additionally not allowed to work right here, so there isn’t a method for the Chinese language to remain and reside and work in Taiwan except, like, you marry a Taiwanese citizen.
On the variations between performing in Taiwan and China.
V Wang: Once I began doing stand-up in China, I instantly realized concerning the three Ts: Tibet, Tiananmen Sq. and Taiwan. These are onerous purple strains that we should always not speak about. It’s fascinating. It means I can't speak about politics. I can't actually speak about LGBTQ points. I in contrast it to having your arm in a solid – over time, the muscle mass atrophy. And when you're out of the solid, that you must rebuild energy. And that's form of what I'm doing now. Now that I not reside in China, now, I’m additionally revenge for democracy and freedom of speech. I actually like with the ability to say what I would like.
On the results of Jamie's comedy going viral, as a Chinese language citizen who might face repercussions as a consequence of Chinese language censorship.
J Wang: I posted two jokes, they usually all went viral, clearly as a result of I'm very humorous. However one of many jokes touched the nice line. And I believed it was nice, however a whole lot of Chinese language trolled me on the Web. I’ve additionally obtained demise threats. Trolls DMd me, they have been saying, “I'm going to kill myself.” And so they're like, “You’ll be able to't. Why can't you get a visa right here.” I don't assume you possibly can ever be free so long as you might be Chinese language.
V Wang: There are lots of issues I can say that Jamie can't say. And I don't wish to speak about my Chinese language buddies, however I'm additionally very conscious that, like, there are issues that I’ve to amplify for them. And in the meantime, I can nonetheless name my very own individuals. Ever since COVID began, I've had Taiwanese buddies on my Fb feed saying issues like, “Oh yeah, they deserve it. These guys, they deserve a plague of their home.” And I used to be so, so devastated to really feel, oh my God, my individuals, who I'd wish to assume are typically respectable, type individuals, have so dehumanized this different inhabitants that they've by no means actually met. And, you already know, I really feel like having each of them on stage collectively will hopefully bridge the hole ultimately.
On the ability of comedy to assist individuals take care of tense points.
J Wang: I believe comedy is a really highly effective factor as a result of it's not, like, a debate. Comedy is like, “I make you want me. I make you’re feeling bizarre collectively. After which let me say what I’ve to say.” I believe it's a really non-hostile, very pleasant option to get individuals to hearken to you.
V Wang: When somebody laughs with you, it's the closest factor you must altering somebody's thoughts. While you chuckle with somebody, it implies that – in that second – you have got their perspective. To some extent, I agree with them. It’s a very proactive kind of empathy. And it's a really joyful form of empathy. Like, the world is on fireplace. I believe the perfect factor we are able to do is make jokes about it. I nonetheless battle to make the whole lot enjoyable. I'll get there. I’ve to determine it out, or Jamie first.
