Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong
Master of Design
School of Design
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
SD 5002 Design and Culture
Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong
Subject Leader
Laurent Gutierrez
Co-Presenters
Dr. Valerie Portefaix
Student
Lo Ching Man
09682926G
fayelcm@hotmail.com
Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong
Introduction
From 1990s, the term collective memory emerged in the Hong Kong society. It is commonly used in the community and the media nowadays. People are growing interest in preserve the objects related to our collective memory, such as the Star ferry Pier, the Queen’s Pier, Lee Tung Street. Also recently the Wing Lee Street in Sheung Wan, the shooting location for the acclaimed film “Echoes of the Rain”. Originally the plan was to preserve just three of the 12 tenements on the street, but now it is confirmed to preserve all areas in response to the public’s request.
Besides the historic and cultural landmark, there are many places, events, people and objects which are becoming our collective memory in the public. What does it imply to our culture and identity? According to Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of HKSAR (CE’s letter to Hong Kong, January 28, 2007), “perhaps it has arisen as people reflect on their cultural identity and what it means to be a citizen of the HKSAR. The result is a growing sense of history, rooted in locality and focused on a sense of place. Perhaps it is feeling that has been gathering momentum since our Reunification in 1997, as people seek to identify with the place they were brought up and wher they work and live.” Perhaps Mr Tsang’s message is correct. There are many objects in the past. While some of them have become our collective memory but most of them were being forgetten. How does the collective memory change in response to socio-political changes? How does the design objects in related to our cultural memory? And finally how is our design products reflected our culture?
What is
School of Design
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
SD 5002 Design and Culture
Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong
Subject Leader
Laurent Gutierrez
Co-Presenters
Dr. Valerie Portefaix
Student
Lo Ching Man
09682926G
fayelcm@hotmail.com
Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong
Introduction
From 1990s, the term collective memory emerged in the Hong Kong society. It is commonly used in the community and the media nowadays. People are growing interest in preserve the objects related to our collective memory, such as the Star ferry Pier, the Queen’s Pier, Lee Tung Street. Also recently the Wing Lee Street in Sheung Wan, the shooting location for the acclaimed film “Echoes of the Rain”. Originally the plan was to preserve just three of the 12 tenements on the street, but now it is confirmed to preserve all areas in response to the public’s request.
Besides the historic and cultural landmark, there are many places, events, people and objects which are becoming our collective memory in the public. What does it imply to our culture and identity? According to Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of HKSAR (CE’s letter to Hong Kong, January 28, 2007), “perhaps it has arisen as people reflect on their cultural identity and what it means to be a citizen of the HKSAR. The result is a growing sense of history, rooted in locality and focused on a sense of place. Perhaps it is feeling that has been gathering momentum since our Reunification in 1997, as people seek to identify with the place they were brought up and wher they work and live.” Perhaps Mr Tsang’s message is correct. There are many objects in the past. While some of them have become our collective memory but most of them were being forgetten. How does the collective memory change in response to socio-political changes? How does the design objects in related to our cultural memory? And finally how is our design products reflected our culture?
What is
References: • From individual to collective memory: theoretical and empirical perspectives/guest editors, Amada J. Barnier and John Sutton. Psychology Press, 2008. • On collective memory / Maurice Halbwachs : edited, translated,and with an introduction by Lewis A. Coser. P. cm. 1941 • Hong Kong Sixties: Designing Identity, Hong Kong, edited by Matthew Turner, Irene Ngan • Video recording, Hong Kong collective memory: News magazine, TVB, 2007 • Hong Kong Crystal Bear at Berlin Film Festival: 'Echoes of the Rainbow ' location to be demolished , http://www.cnngo.com, Zoe Li, February, 2010 • CE’s letter to Hong Kong, by Mr Donald Tsang, HKT, January 28, 2007 • Cue the HK collective memory, by Hong Liang, China Daily, March 27, 2007 • Composing Hong Kong, Ma Kwok Ming, Lingnan University, 2010 • Echoes of the Rain • Cultural Imperialism, John Tomlinson, 1991 • Collective memory: The two cultures • On the cultural constitution of collective memory, Qi Wang, Cornell University, USA, 2008 • Culture, Politics and Television in Hong Kong (Culture and Communication in Asia), Eric Kit-wai Ma, 1999 • Good of Desire official website, http://www.god.com.hk • Dragon Tiger Gate (龍虎門) , Asia Film Financing Forum, 2005 • Heritage listing plan for local tea restaurants, The Standard, Nickkita Lau, December 14, 2007 • A survey on local tea restaurants culture「港式茶餐廳」文化意見調查, The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, 2007 • Building Hong Kong – redwhiteblue, AnotherMountainMan, 2005 • Identity: Community, Culture, Difference, Cultural Identity and Diaspora ,Hall Stuart, 1990 • The Question of Cultural Identity, Hall Stuart, 1992 • Making Choices for Our Future, Chapter 4 (Urban Living Space), Council for Sustainable Development, July 2004 • Opinion Research Analysis Brand Hong Kong Review, Prepared by Fleishman-Hillard Hong Kong Ltd. and Taylor Nelson Sofres, 2010 • Urban Renewal Authority website, http://www.ura.org.hk/