Link: https://youtu.be/12l5RHibn-E
Public City: Kwun Tong Promenade, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Introduction
In Hong Kong, this crowded urban city, most of us are usually comfortable in a private space. Whereas we do not know how to make ourselves comfortable in a public space. Therefore, I believe that a public area such as the promenade is important in encouraging tolerance of citizens.
In this essay, the rationale behind my video setting in Kwun Tong Promenade will be explained, and discuss how this promenade located in Hoi Bun Road facilitates the social tolerance of citizens. Furthermore, why should we not take public space as a commodity.
Methodology
I used two methods to conduct this research, literature review and field trip.
For the literature review, I used different scholars’ views to explain how the public area facilitates the social tolerance of citizens and how the public area is providing values to citizens.
And for the field trip, I visited the Kwun Tong Promenade, which in specific is the ending section of the whole promenade, as the entire promenade is length at around 1 kilometer, which will be too many things to be explained. Whereas this tiny section of this promenade can show most of the characteristics of a public area.
Literature Review
First, a public area is a “space” as it exists only when citizens take action in it (De Certeau, 1984). Therefore, the interactions between these “moving elements” becomes important. If the interactions of these “elements” become separated or even independent, the whole “space” loses its meaning at the very beginning. Although it is the “clearest expression of the urban predicament, the tension between the physical proximity and moral remoteness of city dwellers” (Bodnar, 2015), we cannot deny the fact that public space also contributed to the growth of the city. In Bodnar’s (2015) opinion, it helps form the solidarity of the society through the irresistible social interaction in public areas. Even in a more exaggerated picture, like what Low (2015) pictures, the public space integrated into “translocal spaces”, which links up different people and different stakeholders.
However, places like Kwun Tong Promenade are treated as a commodity from the government’s perspective (Chan, 2023). The importance of a public area is no longer its social value. Instead, is its money value. Which, sarcastically, the usage of this promenade is miserably low due to its inconvenience (Chan, 2023). Where both money value and social value is lost. Therefore, it is hope that the video can bring the promenade on the camera and raise your awareness.
The Video
The main character in the video first put his headphones on, sitting on a bench beside the coast, looking at surroundings. But from the beginning, it has no sound, as the headphones are the metaphor of blocking the public space between the character and the environment. In his eyes, he sees people who are pinicing, couples who are playing with their dog, people who are running through the promenade, cleaner clearing leaves. In such a space, there are different people, different elements, doing different things. But the character only wants to focus on his own feelings, ignoring the things surrounding him. However, as soon as he put down his headphones, he immediately connected to the space, which was not as uncomfortable as he thought, and started to enjoy the public space.
Reflection
In this essay, we have talked about the importance of public space. Whereas in my video, it is a metaphor that participating in public space may not be as difficult as people think. Therefore, we should acknowledge more of these public spaces and try not lose its value.
Bibliography
Bodnar, J. (2015). Reclaiming public space. Urban Studies, 52(12). 2089-2297.
Chan, E. (2023). Government-driven commodification of public space: The case of Kwun Tong Promenade, Hong Kong. Cities, 134. 104-204 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104204
De Certeau, M. (1984). Walking in the City, and Spatial Stories. In S. Randall ed., The Practice of Everyday Life (pp. 91-110, 115-130). University of California Press.
Low, S. (2015). Public Space and the Public Sphere: The Legacy of Neil Smith. Supplement: The Revolutionary Imperative: Engaging the Work of Neil Smith, 49(1). 153-170. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12189
Name: Tse Tak Chi
UID: 3036065783