Written by: hoito

October 19, 2009

Written by: hoito

October 9, 2009

Having read Hoito’s blog and spotted the song Greensleeves, really couldn’t help but jot a few words here in remembrance of this song - or perhaps, the so-called folk or country songs which have become a canon in their own right.
The exact year or composer of Greensleeves is unknown yet it’s popularly believed to be in the Elizabethan time. The music is beautiful enough, though as Hoito said, nowadays the reason why young Hong Kong students know about this song is probably because of the public examinations that they have to take.
Every country has its own folk-style, and it’s undeniable that some of the so-called English Oldies have become favourites in places that have travelled far and wide from the original land. In such a cultural transfer, I do feel that perhaps it’s more to do the feelings with which the songs attach rather than the connotations (if there’s any) or the socio-political phenomenon that the songs purportedly portray that appeal to the hearts of the people.
A couple of months ago I watched the live performance of ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ on youtube - I don’t intend to delve into the history of the songs or its anti-war elements, yet what touches me deeply is when seeing all the people inside the concert hall - from young to old - literally sang in a chorus…..at that moment - I guess many of them might not think about war, or any political or social events, but the mere fact that they were all there - and they all knew how to sing the song.

Written by: hiuylee

Written by: hoito

October 7, 2009

A colleague of mine is preparing GRE and I could not help but think of my grad school experiences and want to ask her a) what are you going to do with that?; and tell her b) what you might miss in grad school.

Two must-read books on your desk together with GRE: a) Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius’s “So what are you going to do with that?”: finding careers outside academia (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007), and b) Paul Gray and David E. Drew’s What they didn’t teach you in graduate school : 199 helpful hints for success in your academic career (Sterling, Va. : Stylus Pub, 2008).

Look, before applying to graduate school, it is bloody important to ask yourself this question: “So what the hell am I going to do with that?” This damn question will come to you from your family, friends, gf/bf, and your proposed supervisor(s) all the way through before, during and after your graduate school years. It is far too easy to think of hundreds of ‘model’ answer. No. 1 on the list: “I don’t know.” No. 2: “Will see.” No. 3: “Kill time.” No. 4: “I wanna be a professor.” Don’t be silly!

Written by: hoito

September 4, 2009

I always love attending seminars because they always set off my new train of thoughts on issues which I may not be familiarized with or have overlooked before, albeit they are in one sense or another related to our lives. On Tuesday the Chinese Civilisation Centre held a seminar featuring three visiting scholars’ research topics, one of which particularly drew my attention because of my long-held interest in magazines and newspapers around the globe and the language of English – its history, development and spread around the world.

The topic was ‘Western Magazines and Newspapers’ report on Chinese Pidgin English in the 19th Century’, presented by Dr Si Jia, associate professor of Fudan University’s Department of History, who’s currently a visiting scholar at the Chinese Civilisation Centre. While such newspaper reports might perhaps be of practical uses – especially for those western merchants who did trade with the Chinese, I couldn’t help but wonder was there any other reason leading to such an editorial decision?

During her talk, Dr Si cited a few publications that carried Pidgin English, such as Household Words, The New York Times, The Nation, Harpers, all of which were major publications (some of them are still occupying a prominent role in contemporary English-speaking world) in that period. These magazines and newspapers, as Dr Si told us, had collected samples of Pidgin English in late 29th century, the publication of which had acted as a window through which English-speaking readers could take a glimpse into this particular language system .

When listening to her presentation, my mind wandered to the current discussion on ‘World Englishes’ and how such a notion has become an arena through which national characteristics, or perhaps more accurate to say, cultural (including linguistic) characteristics being brought into literary work. While it is certainly a treasure trove for linguists to delve into, for the interest of the wider reading public, these ‘linguistic’ features have emerged as footprints on which the cultural, social and political development could be traced. Isn’t it?

Written by: hiuylee

August 28, 2009

Starting from this month, the Chinese Civilisation Centre organizes series of research seminars weekly. At the time of writing this entry, Professor Zhou Zhenhe has just finished four of his talks on topics about language, Shanghai City and political geography. For one who loves maps (like me), Professor Zhou’s talks were really fascinating. For example, he has made use of maps to show the changes in the cityscape in Shanghai as well as the political structure of Qing Dynasty’s territorial geography. From the maps of Shanghai over the past decades, one can see how ‘new cities’ (French Concession, British Settlements, etc) can be built beyond the ‘old/well-established’ city, and how modernization drive set in along these developments. In another instance, a comparison was made among maps showing the boundaries of Han, Tang, Yuan, Qing Dynasties, and how these were related to the dynasties’ stretching their muscle to faraway places, thus revealing the political and military might of these dynasties.
Also an expert on language contact, Professor Zhou has shared with us his knowledge on Chinese Pidgin English (CPE), the development of which is closely related to the history of China’s interactions with the foreign countries especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Professor Zhou will give his last talk next month (Sept), so if you’re interested, please go to the CCIV website http://www.english.cciv.cityu.edu.hk/website/?redirect=/seminar/zhou_zhenhe/index.php for the details, which will be announced later.

Written by: hiuylee

August 25, 2009

Starting from this month, the Chinese Civilisation Centre organise series of research seminars weekly. At the time of writing this entry, Professor Zhou Zhenhe has already finished four of his talks on topics about language, Shanghai City and political geography. For details of upcoming research seminars, please go to our homepage: http://www.english.cciv.cityu.edu.hk

Written by: hiuylee

August 17, 2009

Is the phenomeon that hordes of youngsters flocking to the Book Fair to get the photograph albums featuring ‘pseudo-models’, as captured by various news media, the only feature of the local reading public? Are Hong Kong people so oblivious of the beauty of the various literary works - both in Chinese and English -that all of them turn their back to them?

As a local Hong Konger, and one who loves reading literature and who have many friends who share similar interest irrespective of their occupation, somehow I’m baffled by how the image of the general population in Hong Kong has been labelled, constructed and moulded. I guess for many who love to read a page or two while travelling on MTR, or who would like to indulge in the fantasy of the literary world before going to bed at night, probably feel such a habit/leisure activity is nothing worthy of boasting. Yet, it is exactly this humbleness which is overshadowed by the voices of the more vocal ones, and subsequently, the picture which they portray, namely, how money-minded Hong Kong people are, how nonchalant they are towards literature and culture.

I have to admit that I probably also carry my own prejudice and perhaps my own wistful thinking, but then, every time when I read something that seems to promote the idea that only the very few elites or an esoteric group of writers/scholars can speak out for the rest of the literature-reading public, I really want to say, literature is not as a small-circle activity as you may have thought.

Literature is something that your imagination or fantasy lies, it can also be something that lead you to reflect on your lives and the people around you. Or perhaps, it’s simply a form of entertainment, which you can seek enjoyment or consolation from. There’s no need to make it sound aloof indeed.

So, amid all the talks and advocacy of the establishment of a literary museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District, let’s not forget what literature stands for.

Written by: hiuylee

August 3, 2009

For those who are interested in the early Sino-Portuguese trade of Chinese ceramics, the current exhibition on this very topic at the CityU Gallery is one that shouldn’t be missed! The exhibition, which showcases the changes in the variety of porcelain merchandise from 16th to 17th century, is part of the ‘China Westward’ research project initiated by the Chinese Civilisation Centre in 2001.

Like the previous exhibition in 2003, most exhibits are shards as procelain is brittle and difficult to preserve. However, it is precisely the fact that these broken pieces have survvied all those centuries that has given us a glimspe into this period of rigorous cultural exchange and trade. Many exhibits were recovered from land and underwater excavation sites in Macau, showing the important role which Macau played in the export of Chinese porcelain to the west.

For details of the exhibition, please go to CCIV website

Written by: hiuylee