Site: Playground
Storyboard:
Synopsis
Description
This video essay conveys a message that the controls of the government and parents make the playground boring. The playground is the first choice for the children to spend their leisure time. A good playground is a place where the children can find excitement. Thrill-seeking is a necessary element of the playground. It is because the thrill induced by the challenges encourages the children to overcome the obstacles bravely. The thrill can outweigh the fear of the challenges. Learning to face the fear directly and keep going is essential to the children’s growth. They can try and know what they can do. It will give them a sense of satisfaction. However, today’s parents are overprotective. They worry that the children may get hurt in the playground. The government tightens the control over the playground. The height of the playing equipment is limited to be lower than 2 meters. The manufacturers of the playing equipment are afraid of being sued by the parents, so they are not motivated to produce playing equipment with creative designs. As a result, the playing equipment is not exciting and has limited variety. The children feel bored after playing for a while. During COVID-19, the government barricaded the playing equipment. However, the children were still having fun in the playground. They spent time with their toys, scooters, and football. The playing equipment is no longer attractive. To create a more exhilarating and interesting experience for the children, it is time for the government to develop a more interesting playground with innovative design.
Method of research
I have obtained primary sources of information by visiting the site. I have visited several playgrounds and observed the children playing there. I found out that the children would leave the playing equipment after playing for a short period. They would play with other playing equipment, their toys, or friends. It showed that the playing equipment could not retain the children. I know more about why excitement is necessary in the playground and how the government controls the playground through the secondary sources, such as newspaper articles.
Making of the video
The video consists of video clips of children playing in the playground. In the beginning, it shows the children playing happily in the playground. Then, the camera turns to some dangerous behaviors in the playground, which raise the safety concerns of the parents. Finally, it captures the children playing with their friends and toys when they could not access the playing equipment during the pandemic. Although the playground cannot bring freshness and excitement to the children, the children still spend their time there. It is because it is the only place where they can play freely. I have used close-up shots throughout the video to capture the playing moments of the children. I have sped up the video while filming the surrounding of the playground, so the audience can understand the situation quickly.
Objective and reflection
My objective is to raise the concern about the boring playground. A safe playground does not give a chance to the children to challenge their limits. The playground is a place that carries our memories and perceptions. All of us had happy time there when we were children. It is my hope that the playground will still be attractive in the future, not being replaced by the video games. The government should strike a better balance between excitement and safety in building the playground.
Bibliography
De Certeau, M. (1984). Spatial Stories. In The Practice of Everyday Life (pp. 115- 130), translated by Steven Randall. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Ng, Yupina. ‘Are Hong Kong’s super-safe and boring playgrounds failing our children?’. South China Morning Post. April 7, 2018. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2140539/are-hong-kongs-super-safe-and-boring-playgrounds-failing.
Tierney, John. ‘Can a Playground Be Too Safe?’. The New York Times. July 18, 2011. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/science/19tierney.html.
Yau, Elaine. ‘How Hong Kong’s stress on safety has made children’s playgrounds a bore’. South China Morning Post. June 12, 2015. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1820239/how-hong-kongs-stress-safety-has-made-childrens-playgrounds-bore.
‘封鎖公園設施 忽視市民需要’. 香港文匯報. November 11, 2020. http://paper.wenweipo.com/2020/11/11/FC2011110002.htm.
Poon Ho Ting 3035800904
All aspects are addressed and presented with competent depth. The video demonstrates an understanding of and the ability to apply and synthesise observations, concepts, and key issues relating to a well-identified topic. You were able to adequately identify the most critical aspects of the theme and present a competently articulated analysis and interpretation of the topic. I appreciate the tight narrative with the documented footages and the clearly-shown element of control. You maintained a good organisation of the form/content and narration. The written and verbal articulation are of competent academic standard, and adequately integrated into the overall presentation.