Hong Kong popular music and media

Hailing from Hong Kong, my major research began on Hong Kong popular music, media (mainly television), sociopolitical culture, and Hong Kongese identity construction. I have worked briefly at both TVB and RTHK - I hope to bridge the media industry's practical knowledge and academic understanding in my research.

I aim to renew an understanding of Cantopop with a sound studies perspective. Cantopop culture has been overtly emphasized on the performers' appearances - it is a visual(ized) culture. My approach is to bring attention to the music’s aural roots. It should be about listening, a sonic encounter, not watching or seeing. My emphasis on active listening requests audiences to understand the music by placing it into Hong Kong history and culture. I argue that Cantopop, as a unique product of Hong Kong, evolves from, reflects, and shapes the (popular) culture of Hong Kong - it is the sound of Hong Kong.

These topics are currently on my research radar:

1. The ecology of the Cantopop–Hong Kong television industry;

2. Music television programs such as TVB’s Cantopop at 50, ViuTV’s Chill Club, and TVB–Mango TV’s Infinity and Beyond; and

3. AI Wong Ka Kui

My Hong Kong-based research was supported by:

Graduate Research Support Scheme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, at the National University of Singapore;

Honorary Research Assistantship, Department of Sociology, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; 

Asia Library Travel Grant, the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, at the University of Michigan;

Visiting Scholarship, the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, at Hong Kong Baptist University