[Reading Response: Katarzyna Ancuta]
Due to the rapid development of society, a large number of people migrate from rural areas into urban areas resulting in rapid urbanization. Movies about ghosts were made at that time for this reason. Cities redevelopment was based on the interest of global capital rather than people, so a lot of apartments were built, they were seen as a commodity for profit rather than a home.
In Hong Kong, high-density rows of apartments, densely packed with small windows and a plethora of rooms have become a unique feature. They are rented to low and middle income groups, many of them short-term renters, they come and they go. Ghost movies try to reflect the loneliness of human beings through the loneliness and homelessness of apartment ghosts. The ghost acts as a agent to help illustrate two common social problems, namely alienation among tenants and the marginalization of the lower and middle income classes.
Zhang Yiwen 3036101745
You have summarized the author’s focuses well – the commodification of housing and how it leaned towards capital rather than people. I also appreciate how you involved the social conditions of HK related to our housing problems to respond to the reading. Quite an inspiring piece of writing with strong abilities in summarization.