In Cheng’s passage “In Search of the Ghostly Context”, Cheng mentions the state of “homelessness” in different historical, social, and cinematic context to elaborate on characteristics of Hong Kong’s urban space and public housing. A notable feature in these contexts is the various depictions of Hong Kong’s housing estates. As the living space for most lower-middle-class Hong Kong inhabitants, public housing estates act as primary stage to convey ordinary working-class people’s livings and their socially marginalized life experience. Some productions entitle these housing estates with negative connotations such as entrapment and imprisonment from narrow walls and corridors. Though the housing estate is the physical base for its inhabitants, its inhabitant density and poor condition do not provide the inhabitants the sense of belonging and secured livelihood, which echoes with Cheng’s concern on “homelessness”. Cheng further discusses the historical background behind the housing estates and cites from critics to identify earlier government’s lack of concern and intervention on social public welfare, which rises awareness of today on urban planning.
Jingni Xie, 3036104307
You have summarized the reading very well, highlighting key concepts including ‘marginalization’, ‘homelessness’ and ‘social classes’. Yet, it is important to include your personal thoughts here. Has the reading material triggered your own thoughts? For instance, why do you think ‘ghosts’ are used to deliver those messages but not other human characters?