All contents related to 2019 CCHU course are placed and archive here.

Category: 2019 Blog

Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City, Lecture 1 Architecture, Film & the Modern City

Reading Response: Walter Benjamin

Posted on u3582792

The main point I focus on is Benjamin’s proof that reproduction works lack authenticity, which is an important characteristic of the artwork. Benjamin reasoned that the reproduction work is independent of original work and hold characteristics different from original artwork. I think it’s fully conceivable since the song sung by a chorus could be originally only available in open space like church, but now could be recorded and be enjoyed in a private room. This really makes a big difference in the aesthetic perspective of the song. This opinion also suits the quintessence ranging from physical duration and historical testimony

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City, Lecture 1 Architecture, Film & the Modern City

Reading Response : Walter Benjamin

Posted on u3580585

Walter Benjamin explored the rapid production of artwork and argued that technology has changed the perception of people on how art is viewed and experienced under different circumstances. Originally, artwork was associated with traditions, heritage, and aura. However, mechanically reproduced artwork changed these views and is mostly characterized by repeatability. Artwork was used for ritual practices by the Greeks to represent their cult and as a means to reach God, something they couldn’t physically touch. In the modern days, due to mass reproduction of artwork, the social use of artwork have changed to political practices, losing not only its aura

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Cat Links 2021 Blog, Architecture, Film + The Modern City

[READING RESPONSE] WALTER BENJAMIN

Posted on shenao27

A heart-stricken fact revealed by the author which impressed me a lot is that these days the upheaval in technological reproducibility is eroding the eternity of art works, as well as the eternal values accompanying them, shattering the ground of some common virtues that cherished by people for thousands of years. In antiquity, art existed in fusion with ritual functions, accentuating their cult value, their existence as an approach to the divine, a justification of the world, the nature, and ourselves. Together with the low reproducibility, many artworks, particularly sculptures, are made uniquely for eternal use, to worship forever, whose

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City

Reading Response: Roland Barthes

Posted on calebwhw

Barthes has made an interesting description of movie theatres and how these theatres of movie images caught audiences’ attention. He named out a number of elements that have basically transformed a plain black box a place that made everyone in their seats concentrate their eyes onto the screen or even evoke emotions from the characters’ point of view. The element of “darkness” was one of my favourite descriptions, as my understanding to his “darkness” is more than being optically dark but also how the such a dark area changes one’s emotional state when watching a movie, or even more, digging

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City

[Reading response] Barthes and Benjamin

Posted on daeun

Two readings Barthes, R. (1986). Leaving the Movie Theatre 1975. In The Rustle of Language ( and Benjamin, W., Jennings, M., Doherty, B., Levin, T., & Jephcott, E. (2008). The work of art in the age of its technological reproducibility gave me an in-depth insight into their view of film. Both of them reflects on how our experience of watching the film and what changed the quality of experience. For example, in the Barthes’ text he explains the importance of lighting and sound as a tool of conveying tension to audiences. This brought me to a point that in the times of pandemic, how would directors overcome

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City, Lecture 1 Architecture, Film & the Modern City

Reading Response: Roland Barthes

Posted on u3568795

After reading the text “Leaving the Movie Theater”, it inspired me two things to be thought about. Why would I go to the cinema and watching movie instead of watching it at home. What’s the purpose of it? From the perspectice of Barthes, “he goes to movies as a response to idleness, leisurem, free time” which is the most common statement I heard before. However, I would say it’s because I want to appreciate a movie which is directed by a famous director or acted by my favourite actor. Because there are vavious methods of relaxing yourselves due to the

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City, Uncategorized

Reading Response: Roland Barthes

Posted on u3579796

Barthes’ writing about the happenings in cinema allows me to reflect on the purpose and significance of watching movies in the cinema. Despite not being able to enjoy and experience the cinema during the pandemic, the reading serves even more important to remind us why is cinema important. Barthes emphasized on the ‘darkness’ inside cinema which is not only visually dark but also atmospherically silent, such condition allows us to truly immerse into the movie, reducing the distant feeling due to surrounding activities, noises and distractions. Nowadays, cinemas are being considered less and less important as technology allows us to

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Cat Links Architecture, Film + The Modern City

Reading Response: Roland Barthes

Posted on u3578557

The section that left the deepest impression on me was the author’s insistence that the cinematic experience cannot be replicated with televisions or, more recently, laptops and smartphones. According to him, the lighting, sound, and the little bits and bobs that one sees in a cinema contributes greatly to the experience. For me personally, what with the COVID situation and all, I found that I have been missing the overwhelming sound coverage that is very difficult to replicate at home. In cinemas, especially if one is watching action movies, the volume is often a little too loud for comfort. So

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Cat Links Workshop 2

[MOOD BOARD] Filter

Posted on Chan Ue Yin Monique

  The mood board is basically the subject I would like to present in my video. With the rapid development of network spreading, communication and transmission of information become more convenient in an unprecedentedly efficient manner. People can instantly receive real-time reports about the pandemic. However, it also poses a danger to the general populace as the cost of spreading rumours for individuals seems to be nothing during such a period of panic. Meanwhile, social media platforms pour fuel to the flames by mongering fear and hatred, giving rise to confrontation.   Chan Ue Yin Monique 3035691729

Cat Links Workshop 2, Workshop 2 Costumes, Characters & Urban Situations

[Mood Board] High-tech city

Posted on Lau Hiu Fung

In the past, people need to use about three months to discover SARS is a coronavirus. Today, scientists only spend three days to find out the DNA sequence of the COVID-19. It shows that our technology grows exponentially. I believe that people already need not to wear a mask outside in 2021, because the vaccines are probably invented and used to save people. Also, the city will become more harmonious as we can see different people help each other during this epidemic. The streets become lively, more shops are open, and everyone has a higher hygiene awareness. For example, there

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