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Short abstract:

Established in 1903, integrating German technology and Laoshan spring water, Tsingtau Beer symbolizes cultural and colonial narratives. This study (a performance lecture) explores Tsingtau Beer's role in China's colonial history and modern identity through community dialogues and field research.

Long abstract:

This study scrutinizes Tsingtau Beer as a prism to explore the nuanced dynamics between China's colonial legacy and its journey towards modernity. The establishment of Tsingtau Beer in 1903, through the amalgamation of German brewing technology and Laoshan's spring waters, serves as a pivotal instance of technological and economic exchange, elevating the beer from a mere consumable to a symbol of Tsingtau's colonial narratives.

Investigating Tsingtau Beer's composition and history, this study aims to demystify the colonial undertones and historical reverberations that contribute to its acclaim. It endeavors to dissect how the colonial past intricately wove China's contemporary identity and technological progress through this tangible medium,which is deeply embedded in societal consciousness and collective memory.

As an immigrant from Tsingtau residing in Berlin, the researcher infuses a decolonial self-technology into the research methodology, melding the object Tsingtau Beer with the lesser-known German colonial tenure in Kiautschou. Employing community dialogues and field research during the Tsingtau International Beer Festival, with colonial echoes in the contemporary context, the study plans to delve into the personal memories associated with this colonial epoch, marked by its violence and intricate relations. Potentially aligned with the Dekoloniale Festival 2024 and leveraging the dramaturgy approach of Paper Tiger Theater Studio, the study's conclusion, through a performance lecture, aims to engage the public deeply in the intertwined narratives of colonialism and identity, as symbolized by Tsingtau Beer. This approach encourages a critical examination of colonialism's enduring influence on the societal and cultural landscape of China.