A Critical Examination of Taiwanese Cultural Identity Through Night Market Food Culture
This digital humanities project investigates how Taiwan's night markets function as sites of cultural identity negotiation. Through observational research and critical cultural analysis, this study explores how food vendors navigate authenticity, tourism pressures, and cultural preservation in post-colonial Taiwan.
- Cultural Authenticity: How do vendors balance preserving "authentic" Taiwanese flavors with adapting to tourism demands?
- Identity Politics: Which foods get promoted as "authentically Taiwanese" and whose cultural narratives remain marginalized?
- Democratic Heritage: How can digital tools democratize cultural documentation and amplify community voices?
- Postcolonial Context: How do night markets function as sites of cultural resistance and adaptation?
- Observational Research: Direct documentation of vendor-customer interactions and cultural performances
- Photo Documentation: Visual evidence of spatial organization and cultural markers
- Critical Analysis: Application of food studies theory, postcolonial analysis, and digital heritage scholarship
| Market | Focus | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Shilin Night Market | Tourism vs. Authenticity | Language switching patterns, dual pricing strategies |
| Raohe Street Market | Hakka Heritage & Visibility | Minority culture preservation, intergenerational knowledge transfer |
| Huaxi Street Market | Working Class Food Culture | Economic accessibility, community formation |
| Kenting Night Market | Regional Identity & Tourism | Seasonal impacts, regional vs. tourist-oriented offerings |
- Frontend: Next.js 15, React 18, TypeScript
- Backend: Next.js API Routes, Node.js
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- State Management: Redux Toolkit
- Database: PostgreSQL (Neon) with Prisma ORM
- Maps: Mapbox GL JS
- Images: Local files in
/public/images/ - Deployment: Vercel
# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/adequatej/mapping-flavor.git
cd mapping-flavor
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Set up environment variables
cp .env.example .env.localEdit .env.local with your credentials:
DATABASE_URL="postgresql://username:password@your-neon-host.neon.tech/neondb?sslmode=require"
NEXT_PUBLIC_MAPBOX_TOKEN="pk.your_mapbox_token_here"# Push database schema and seed with sample data
npx prisma db push
npx prisma db seed
# Start development server
npm run devVisit http://localhost:3000 to explore the research platform.
npm run dev- Start development servernpm run build- Build for productionnpx prisma db push- Push schema to databasenpx prisma db seed- Seed database with sample datanpx prisma studio- Open Prisma Studio (visual database browser)npm run lint- Run ESLint
- Interactive Map: Explore market locations and research findings geographically
- Vendor Profiles: Detailed analysis of individual vendors with theoretical connections
- Market Analysis: Comprehensive case studies for each night market
- Academic Sources: Annotated bibliography with Chicago author-date citations
- Responsive Design: Accessible across all devices
This research was conducted with respect for Taiwanese culture and vendor privacy. All observations were conducted in public spaces with attention to cultural sensitivity and community agency in representation.
This project is for academic research purposes. Please respect the cultural content and cite appropriately if using for educational purposes.
Researcher: John (Jed) Geoghegan
Institution: WPI Humanities and Arts Program
Research Period: 2025
Methodology: Observational Research with Critical Cultural Analysis