[Field-Homework 3] The Spot-like City

The spot-like city

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/oDlJnLBoJBE

Director: Zhang Anni 3036128858

We choose market as the subject of our video and we shoot how market works in a whole day. During the filming, it can be noticed that the market is usually built alongside municipal buildings and sports stadiums. This makes the vicinity of the municipal building a small centre of the area. As a result, the city of Hong Kong has a spot-like distribution of aggregation. By researching the relevant information, this setting is for a reason. In ancient times, people usually lived near towns in order to live and trade. The transportation near the town will be more convenient, and the daily necessities and food will be more abundant. Today’s Hong Kong has become a city with highly developed transportation and economy. But the market is still a good place to buy fresh and cheap food. At the same time, there are gymnasiums and municipal buildings near the market, which can meet the comprehensive needs of citizens for fitness, reading and purchasing daily necessities. Moreover, this three-dimensional and centralized distribution is in line with the urban characteristics of Hong Kong, that is, highly centralized and highly folded. One building has many complex functions, saves building land, and saves municipal expenses while providing convenience to the people. Therefore, Hong Kong has become such a point-like distribution of the city.

Although what is presented is just a day in the market, the span of filming is very long. And we chose multiple markets when we were shooting. We chose Shek Tong Tsui Market as the morning and afternoon shooting location and Sheung Wan Market as the night shooting location to better showcase a whole and individual day at the market. In the process of shooting, we mainly used three kinds of shooting methods. The first method is a combination of stillness and motion, in which we shoot not only shops and street scenes that are stationary, but also the walking pedestrian and the running elevator. For example, when shooting at night, we chose to set off the silence of the marketwith an elevator that was still running but not being used. Or we can compare the stalls that are not open in the morning with the crowds in the afternoon to highlight the changes of the flow of people in the market in a day. The second method is the combination of points and surfaces. We took group shots of the stalls, but captured one or two of the vendors and customers for profiling. This can reflect the liquidity and vitality of the market, but also let the shooting perspective being more varied. For example, when shooting group shots, I used a long view and a head-up view. But I use close-ups and close-ups when shooting specific tasks, so that we can show the market in different dimension. The third is the use of special lenses. When shooting the deserted market in the morning, I used a Hitchcockian zoom, which makes the otherwise loving market a little mysterious. And this is alsowhat I want to show, that is, the market day is rich in changes, not always showing vitality and vitality. In addition, with the help of the elevator in the building, smooth moving shots can be shot, giving the camera a sense of narrative.

There is no denying that the market is a vibrant part of Hong Kong. But according to the survey, there are some problems with the existing market. For example, the price advantage of the market is gradually decreasing. Compared with the scattered stalls in the open air, the price of the stalls in the market is roughly the same and slightly higher than that of the open air stalls. In addition, the lifestyle of the young generation is changing, and people’s requirements for quality of life are constantly improving. Many of the younger generation will choose more upscale supermarkets for imported and organic food. In the process of this shooting, we also found that the customers in the market are mainly middle-aged and elderly people. And the crowds are much smaller than the open-air stalls. Many hawkers tried their best to shout but the flow was limited. On the other hand, the open-air stalls are always full of people buying food. It may also have something to do with the fact that open-air stalls are closer to residential areas.

Zhang Anni 3036128858

References

Bougoure, U., & Lee, B. (2009). Service quality in Hong Kong: wet markets vs supermarkets. British food journal, 111(1), 70-79.

Coppoolse, A. (2021). Hong Kong on display: Things, time and urban space. Journal of Urban Cultural Studies, 8(1), 121-133.

Lau, K. W., Leung, M. C., & Yuen, Y. L. (2014). Old Hong Kong at risk? Past, present and future of Temple Street (Outstanding Academic Papers by Students (OAPS)). Retrieved from City University of Hong Kong, CityU Institutional Repository.

Marinelli, M. (2018). From street hawkers to public markets: Modernity and sanitization made in Hong Kong. Amsterdam University Press.

Martin, J.T., Chan, W.W.L. Hong-Kong-style community policing: a study of the Yau Ma Tei fruit market. Crime Law Soc Change61, 401–416 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-013-9496-0

Mukherjee, A. (2024). Networks, Markets and Streets: A Study of Hong Kong Market in North Bengal. In Great Transition In India: An Interdisciplinary Approach (pp. 145-160).

Tan, Y., Song, J., Yu, L., Bai, Y., Zhang, J., Chan, M., & Van Ameijde, J. The Mechanism of Street Markets Fostering Supportive Communities in Old Urban Districts: A Case Study of Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. Land, 13(3), 289. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030289

Tay, E. (2022). Street Markets of Sham Shui Po: Going on a Dérive. In: Hong Kong as Creative Practice. Palgrave Studies in Creativity and Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21362-5_4

Tieben, H. (2016). Public Space Trends in Hong Kong. A view from the New Territories. The Journal of Public Space, 1(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.5204/jps.v1i1.7

Xue, C. Q., Manuel, K. K., & Chung, R. H. (2001). Public space in the old derelict city area–a case study of Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Urban Design International, 6, 15-31.

1 thought on “[Field-Homework 3] The Spot-like City

  1. Tianzhuoyue says:

    This video essay effectively portrays the vibrant nature of Hong Kong’s markets and their central role in the city. It showcases a day in the market using different shooting techniques, while also highlighting challenges such as diminishing price advantages and changing consumer preferences.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.