The Disappearance of Hong Kong in Comics, Advertising and Graphic Design (East Asian Popular Culture)

This book examines Hong Kong’s struggle against the disappearance of its unique identity under the historical challenges of colonialism, in addition to the more recent reimposition of Chinese authoritarian government control, as reflected in three under-researched forms of visual media: comics, advertising and graphic design. Each section of the book focuses on one of these three forms, and each chapter focuses on one stage of Hong Kong’s changing cultural identity. The articulative position of this book is on studies of visual cultural history and media communication. Its case studies will broaden readers’ own cultural knowledge for a more international understanding. __The Disappearance of Hong Kong in Comics, Advertising and Graphic Design__ advances the development of its three key subjects in terms of identity, communication and cultural politics, aiming to reach a wide range of multidisciplinary readers. Preface 6 Romanization, Names and Translation of Titles 10 Contents 11 List of Figures 13 List of Tables 16 Chapter 1: Introduction: The Unveiling of the Disappearance 17 From Imperialism to Authoritarian Capitalism: Hong Kong as a Case of Disappearance 18 References 27 Part I: Comics: The Appearance 28 Chapter 2: Tracing the Origins of Hong Kong Manhua: A Case of Culture of Disappearance 29 A Case of Culture of Disappearance 29 Tracing the Origins of “Hong Kong manhua” or “kong-man” after 1949 31 On the Studies of Hong Kong Lianhuantu 34 Mutations of Nationalism from China to Hong Kong 37 Permutations of Capitalism in the Final Journey to Manhua 45 Conclusion 49 References 50 Chapter 3: Reinventing Hong Kong Manhua: A Case of the Non-appearance 53 A Case of the Non-appearance 53 Tracking a History of Non-Lianhuantu Hong Kong Manhua Between 1945 and 1986 55 Gathering the Non-appearance and the Blurring Boundaries Through Government Efforts 65 Conclusion 76 References 77 Chapter 4: A History of Hong Kong Comics in Film Adaptations: The Appearance of Self-Identities 80 Problem of People: Manhua and Movies as Tools of Socialization 80 Persons of Chinese Race: Trapped Between Past and Present 85 Settled Residence: Fighting for Permanent Space 89 Hong Kong Belongers: Interrogations of New Identity 92 Hongkongers: Implicit Identity Beyond Words 98 Conclusion 102 Filmography: A History of Hong Kong Comics-Movies 104 References 109 Part II: Advertising: The Construction 111 Chapter 5: Construction of Hong Kong Modern Living: Household Product and Appliance Advertisements in the Pre-Television Era 112 Brief Background on the Economy of Hong Kong 112 Learning the Advertising Language of the Glorification of Inanimate Objects 115 Invention of New Needs and Objects of Desire 118 Materialization of the Modern Home 122 Housework, Mechanical Appliances and Modern Women 126 Conclusion 131 References 132 Chapter 6: Reconfiguring a New Tradition of Ideal Family Size: A Case Study of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, 1977–1982 134 The Clash of Traditional Chinese Fertility Values and Modern Advertising Ideology 134 The Background and Development of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong 136 Rethinking the Traditional Ideal Family Size 139 Projection of the Benefits of a Planned Family 142 The Ideology of the “Two is Enough” Campaign 144 The Elucidation of the Ideal Man Image in Family Planning Campaigns 147 Conclusion 149 References 150 Chapter 7: Transitory Identity of Hong Kong: A Reading of Cathay Pacific Airways Television Commercials 152 Brief Background on Hong Kong 152 Background on Cathay Pacific Airways 154 Identity Issues in Advertising and a Brief History of Cathay Pacific’s Corporate Advertising 156 The Female Service-Provider Identity 157 Fabrication of Pseudo-Western Identity 159 Representation of an International Self 162 The Stage of Asianization 165 Re-establishing Confidence, Sharing 60 Years’ Experience Together 166 Conclusion 169 References 171 Reports 172 Part III: Graphic Design: The Negotiation 173 Chapter 8: Negotiating the Marginalized Identity of Hong Kong: A Case in Graphic Design 174 The Tradition of Marginalized Identity of Hong Kong 174 Maneuvering the Notion of a Binary Relationship 180 The Collaborative Colonial City Becomes Disobedient 186 Conclusion 196 References 197 Chapter 9: An International Design Identity of Hong Kong: Colonization, Decolonization and Recolonization 200 Challenges of Defining Design, and the Word “Design” in the Hong Kong Context 200 The Origin of Colonization Design Identity of Hong Kong 205 Decolonization and the Rise of International Design Identity in Hong Kong before 1997 209 Recolonization of International Design Identity in China’s Hong Kong 212 Conclusion 218 References 219 Chapter 10: Not the Same: Rethinking Chineseness in a Global Context Through Poster Design 223 Intra-Regional Poster Design Activities as Projections of Chineseness 223 Theoretical Consideration and Studies on Chineseness 226 Rethinking the Mythification of National Discourses on Chineseness in Poster Design 227 Rethinking of Chineseness in the Authoritarian Age 234 Conclusion 243 References 245 Index 248 Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Introduction: The Unveiling of the Disappearance (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 1-11 Front Matter ....Pages 13-13 Tracing the Origins of Hong Kong Manhua: A Case of Culture of Disappearance (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 15-38 Reinventing Hong Kong Manhua: A Case of the Non-appearance (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 39-65 A History of Hong Kong Comics in Film Adaptations: The Appearance of Self-Identities (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 67-97 Front Matter ....Pages 99-99 Construction of Hong Kong Modern Living: Household Product and Appliance Advertisements in the Pre-Television Era (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 101-122 Reconfiguring a New Tradition of Ideal Family Size: A Case Study of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, 1977–1982 (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 123-140 Transitory Identity of Hong Kong: A Reading of Cathay Pacific Airways Television Commercials (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 141-161 Front Matter ....Pages 163-163 Negotiating the Marginalized Identity of Hong Kong: A Case in Graphic Design (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 165-190 An International Design Identity of Hong Kong: Colonization, Decolonization and Recolonization (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 191-213 Not the Same: Rethinking Chineseness in a Global Context Through Poster Design (Wendy Siuyi Wong)....Pages 215-239 Back Matter ....Pages 241-245 This Book Examines Hong Kong?s Struggle Against The Disappearance Of Its Unique Identity Under The Historical Challenges Of Colonialism, In Addition To The More Recent Reimposition Of Chinese Authoritarian Government Control, As Reflected In Three Under-researched Forms Of Visual Media: Comics, Advertising And Graphic Design. Each Section Of The Book Focuses On One Of These Three Forms, And Each Chapter Focuses On One Stage Of Hong Kong?s Changing Cultural Identity. The Articulative Position Of This Book Is On Studies Of Visual Cultural History And Media Communication. Its Case Studies Will Broaden Readers? Own Cultural Knowledge For A More International Understanding. 'the Disappearance Of Hong Kong In Comics, Advertising And Graphic Design' Advances The Development Of Its Three Key Subjects In Terms Of Identity, Communication And Cultural Politics, Aiming To Reach A Wide Range Of Multidisciplinary Readers. Wendy Siuyi Wong. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.