Theme
The fifth wave of COVID-19 occurred in Hong Kong due to the introduction of the mutant strain Omicron into the city in early January 2022. As the number of positive tests increased from dozens to hundreds or even thousands, schools in Hong Kong also announced that they would stop offline teaching and not allow non-essential students to enter the campus.
In early February, the University of Hong Kong sent an email to students officially starting online courses this semester. This is also the beginning of the ‘ Disappearing City’ embodied in the University of Hong Kong. Due to the increasing situation of online courses and the epidemic, students from all over the country have chosen to go home, and the busy school has suddenly become sparse.
Research method
My video production location is the University of Hong Kong, and the theme I chose is ‘Disappearing City’. I photographed several landmark building sites in the school to show that the campuses that began online classes under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are very different from what I usually see. People rarely come to school, so that their lively campus has now become deserted and quiet. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s lives in many ways. As students, the place we have the most contact with is the campus. Therefore, as a major impact on our lives, the change of campus can well reflect the concept of ‘disappearing’.
Video Production
The first part of the video briefly describes the impact of the new coronavirus situation on people’s lives in recent months in the form of a horse lantern, and a screenshot of the last email shows the notice of the school’s start of online classes, which leads to changes on campus.
When I took the subway to the University of Hong Kong and walked into University Street, it was originally a crowded place, but now there are only a few people scattered people. I still remember last semester until the peak of class and class, the subway crowds will queue up all over the University Street.
Then follow the camera to see that there is only one person’s back in the outdoor chair in the corridor, which will look a little lonely at this time.
When I came to the main library, I still remember that last semester, it was rare to find a place on the first floor of the main library, but now not only the sofa discussion area is vacated, but even many places in it are only a few people. Before I came to shoot the visit, I could foresee that there were very few people on campus now, but I didn’t expect to see such a scene on the G layer of the main library.
The buildings reflected in the water and the centennial campus are only scattered around.
The video filmed some natural creatures, sunlight, plants, birds and turtles that still exist on campus. Although the people in the school are gradually disappearing, their lives are still unchanged. They exist just like they have always existed and never changed. In this kind of people are ‘disappearing’ on campus, the whole environment becomes quiet, and I don’t just run around classrooms and libraries before and only pass by the people around me. I have time and mood to appreciate the nature that has always existed around us but has not been noticed.
Reflection
To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s lives? Masks have become a necessity in people’s lives in the past three years. When I choose a canteen in an out-of-house restaurant, it seems like the only chance to see the faces of some strangers, and I actually feel a little surprised.
The school used to be the longest-lasting place for teachers and students to stay every day, but due to the restrictions on travel due to the epidemic, people are “disappearing” in the University of Hong Kong. However, the permanent buildings in the school, growing plants, living animals, and sunshine even wind still exist. What really deserves to disappear is not human beings, but the virus in this city.
Hoping the day when the virus disappears in this city will come soon.
Mgutshini, T., Oparinde, K., & Govender, V. (2021). Covid-19 (1st ed.). Stellenbosch: African Sun Media.
Batra, Kavita ; Sharma, Manoj. (2022). COVID-19. Basel: MDPI – Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/28/P2022022800559.htm
Chen Xintong 3035953141
The director show us the timeline of covid-19 and the changes and constants in HKU caused by the epidemic.
First, the director used a timeline to show us what has happened during this period time: The news and reports about covid-19 show us the arrival of the epidemic. Then, the director set his sights on HKU and show us the influence of covid-19 by sharing the changes that happen on campus. The director chose places like university street, and the main library to show these changes—these are all crowded places before the epidemic, but now there are all empty. When describing the places, the director uses the map to show the places, giving the audience a clear view of what the director has mentioned.
Then, the director show us what did not change on the campus, like the animals and plants. When I watch these scenes, I could have a feeling that our social lives have changed a lot because of covid-19, and only these things remain unchanged.
Finally, the director shows the wish that covid-19 could be over soon. I also have this wish. Hope the epidemic could end soon, and we could go back to ordinary life.
Your video is well-structured and you documented various parts of the campus during the pandemic. However, the research can be extended beyond its current scope. Perhaps you can explore the functions of the different spaces on campus in greater detail and how they are experienced and used by students. For example, you mentioned that the campus is where students come into contact with each other. You can also draw on more references in order to deepen your research.