HSUHK | CCCO

GEN1023 Cultural Hong Kong: Discovering the Vibrant City

Department
Social Science
Semester
AY2023/24 Sem 2
Method
Lecture 3 hours
Cluster
1 (Humanities)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education

Exclusion

Nil

Module Description

This module aims to explore the cultural uniqueness of Hong Kong as one the world’s vibrant cities in Asia. It serves as a gateway course that introduces students to the multi-disciplinary approach to understand Hong Kong. Students can gain essential facts and fundamental knowledge on the nature of local history, culture, society and economy through classroom activities and experiential learning such as off-campus field studies and visits. This module provides students with both popular and scholarly materials that deal with various aspects of Hong Kong before and after 1997. It also enables students to develop regional and global perspectives on Hong Kong’s future development prospects.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. Demonstrate knowledge on the historical contexts of Hong Kong;
b. Assess how the unique culture makes Hong Kong distinct;
c. Examine essential domestic cultural and social topics; and
d. Critically analyse the future development prospects of Hong Kong from regional and global perspectives.

Module Content

  1. Hong Kong: Past and Present
    1.1 Geographical Landscape of Hong Kong
    1.2 Pre-1997 Hong Kong under British Rule
    1.3 Post-1997 Hong Kong SAR: Development and
  2. Hong Kong Culture
    2.1 Folklore, Traditions and Festivals
    2.2 Canton Pop: Film and Music
    2.3 Food and Cuisines
    2.4 Hong Kong as part of the Lingnan Culture
  3. Cultural and Social Landscapes of Hong Kong
    3.1 Historical Sites and Heritage
    3.2 Cultural Diversity and Communities
    3.3 Cultural and Eco Tourism
    3.4 Rural vs Cosmopolitan Hong Kong
  4. Well-being of Hong Kong
    4.1 Topics on Social Development
    4.2 Hong Kong as an International Financial Centre
    4.3 Asia’s World City: Greater Bay Area and beyond

Assessment Methods

  1. Presentation (20%)
  2. Test (30%)
  3. Project (50%)

Text & References

Textbooks:
1. Hayes, J. (2012). The great difference: Hong Kong’s new territories and its people 1898-2004 (Vol. 1). Hong Kong University Press.
2. Ingham, M. (2007). Hong Kong: A Cultural History. Oxford University Press, US
3. Louie, K. (Ed.). (2010). Hong Kong culture: Word and image (Vol. 1). Hong Kong University Press.
4. Tsang, S. (2004). A Modern History of Hong Kong: 1841-1997. Hong Kong University Press.

Reference materials:
1. Cheung, E. M., Marchetti, G., & Yau, E. C. (Eds.). (2015). A companion to Hong Kong cinema. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Chu, Y. W. (2013). Lost in transition: Hong Kong culture in the age of China. State University of New York Press.
3. Mathews, G. (2011). Ghetto at the center of the world: Chungking Mansions, Hong Kong. University of Chicago Press.
4. Smart, A., & Charles, F. C. K. (2023). Hong Kong Public and Squatter Housing: Geopolitics and Informality, 1963–1985. Hong Kong University Press.