I really like Ancuta’s metaphor of ghost in this context, where the reading is discussing literal ghost movies but “ghost” is also reflective of the characters’ psychological states. The reading mentions how “ghosts” can be a representation of a failed dream of economic success, very much referring to the struggling grassroots of prosperous cities. This idea also reminds me of the western novel The Great Gatsby, where characters in the working class live in a wasteland called The Valley of ashes. Ashes are metaphors for their futile efforts of trying to climb up the social ladder, which is similar to how ghosts are used in many Asian films that are trying to reflect the hopelessness of the working class in society. This is also elevated by having urban cities as a setting, as the dense population easily creates a contrast between the wealthy and the neglected struggling, hence the latter seems almost nonexistent and invisible in a city, making them “ghosts”.
Ho Charlotte Kristen 3036078613
Your response shows a good understanding of Ancuta’s idea of ghostliness and how it is reflective of the urban landscape of modern Asian cities. I appreciate your example of The Great Gatsby and how the novel constructs the class division similar to that of modern Asian societies. You can further interrogate what specific features of Asian urbanism give rise to a sense of ghostliness and how it differs with that of Western societies.