Leading the Way
Guide dogs for the blind are making a comeback in Hong Kong. Two groups are training a new generation of guide-dogs by enlisting the help of "puppy walkers" who help young dogs learn how to socialise with humans and navigate around the city. Varsity finds out what it takes for a puppy to become a guide dog.
Covering the Community
With the spread of the internet, newspapers around the world are suffering from falling advertising revenues and shrinking circulations. District newspapers, which were once an important source of local news and information in Hong Kong had nearly all disappeared by the end of the 1980s. But a renewed interest in community and neighbourhood in community in the city has led to revival of district papers. Varsity meets the people behind them.
Crowdfunding makes dreams come true
Crowdfunding, already popular overseas, is making inroads in Hong Kong as a way to raise money for charities, artists, filmmakers, programmers, entrepreneurs and others interested in creative projects. But can it really succeed here? Varsity talks to people who have managed to fund their projects through clicks on the internet.
Sound Art – More than Noise
In a noisy city like Hong Kong, it is easy to block out the different sounds that make up our auditory experience. Varsity meets a group of artists who are trying to teach Hong Kongers to listen again, and to find the art in sound.
The Unsung Heroes of the Music World
Not all singers perform for fame and fortune. Demo singers are unknown and usually uncredited, yet they are often the first artists to interpret and and record a song. While backing singers provide the harmonies that can complete and elevate an arrangement. Varsity lifts the veil on these unsung heroes of the music industry.
Flash Mob Takes off in Hong Kong
From a seemingly spontaneous mass performance of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" in Mong Kok, to an apparently aimless pillow fight in Central, to a mass gathering to call for the elimination of violence against women - flash mobs have become increasingly popular in Hong Kong. Varsity finds out how something that started as a sarcastic commentary on urban hipsters turned into a way to connect people and raise social awareness.
Playing with Shadows
Chinese shadow play, involving intricately cut out puppets made from cow and donkey hide, are thought to have originated more than 2000 years ago during the Han dynasty. Varsity meets a Hong Kong shadow play master who is attempting to keep this ancient art alive by incorporating modern storylines, introducing modern characters and training a new generation of puppeteers.
In the Mood for Cheongsam
From the "World of Suzie Wong" to "In the Mood for Love", the cheongsam or qipao is an iconic garment that symbolises Hong Kong femininity in the popular imagination. Here two very different cheongsam collectors tell Varsity why they love these figure hugging Chinese dresses.
Cultural Crossover in Yau Ma Tei
If Hong Kong's local cultural identity has been experiencing something of a renaissance in recent years, then Yau Ma Tei is central in the revival. The area has long been known for its authentic yet low-key local flavour. This has attracted an influx of cultural workers and artists who are inspired by the sense of community in the neighbourhood.
Collecting Childhood Memories
It's not just the faces of children that will light up when they unwrap toys this Christmas. Varsity meets the adults whose passion is to collect old toys. For them, the toys are not just mere objects for play but the key to childhood and collective memories.
