The National Taiwan Museum in Taipei has opened a new exhibition exploring how media shaped public opinion from the colonial era through democratization [1].
The display provides a critical look at the intersection of government control and civic resistance. By tracing the transition from state-mandated propaganda to underground activism, the exhibit highlights the role of information access in the island's journey toward a democratic society.
The exhibition features more than 200 artifacts [1]. These items include government propaganda tools used during the colonial era and the period of martial law. The collection also showcases pro-democracy underground publications that challenged authoritarian rule through clandestine distribution networks.
Curators designed the experience to illustrate the evolution of communication technology. The artifacts show how successive governments utilized media to maintain control and how activists later adopted new technologies to bypass censorship, a struggle that defined the transition to modern Taiwan.
Visitors can view a variety of historical media, including radios and newspapers. The exhibit specifically contrasts the polished messaging of state-run media with the raw, urgent nature of protest flyers and independent pamphlets used by dissidents to mobilize the public [1].
The National Taiwan Museum said the goal is to show how media was used as a tool for both oppression and liberation [1].
“The exhibition features more than 200 artifacts.”
This exhibition underscores the historical struggle between state censorship and the freedom of information in Taiwan. By documenting the shift from state-controlled narratives to the rise of independent media, the museum contextualizes the current democratic landscape of the region and the lasting impact of the 'underground' press on political mobilization.
