This reading examines key themes within Hong Kong’s cinema in the 1960s, specifically social inequality, female identity and modernization. These issues were reflected within genres such as noir thrillers and melodramas which were prevalent at the time.
In the 1960s, the female working class escalated, which was displayed in the fact that increasing female protagonists in films were used to appeal to female audiences. What drew my attention was the ‘doubleness’ of female identity. In the 1960s, several films exhibited the idea that single working woman could only be rescued from her impoverished status by marrying a wealthy man. Other films such as ‘Lady Black Cat’ and ‘Black Rose’ challenged this idea by exploring female empowerment through the female protagonists performing martial arts and such to overcome obstacles. I believe these traits of independence and resilience revealed the advancement of gender ideology in Hong Kong, resulting from the changing social landscape. Additionally, another rising topic in the era was social inequality. Inequality between the poor and the wealthy is inevitable when the city undergoes industrialization. This has led to political tensions and conflicts in Hong Kong. What brought my attention was films utilizing space to depict meanings. In the ‘Elevator Girl’, the elevator symbolized urban aesthetics which many desires. As social conflicts heighten, the elevator acts as a location for riots. I believe the widespread concern of this in cinemas shaped the social fabric of the city and had a profound impact on the lives and opportunities of its residents.
Jane Haw UID: 3036241088
Your response addresses social inequality, female identity, and modernization as the key concepts for this text. You address the “doubleness” of female identity. However, I wonder if you could elaborate on this idea further, such as the relationship between this duality and the social classes and how it influences contemporary women’s societal role.