Thoughts & Progress
At this point I am clueless in what the design solution is going to be. The essay writing is coming along fine, although I am a little worried that I am taking too much time with the writing.
I think through talking to people, I have gained a better perspective of myself in how I see my city now. The National Security Department was established and the funny thing is it’s basically right next door to me, them having taken a hotel that ran out of business during COVID as there temporary office.
On the surface and first impression: It’s taking away my freedom of speech, it’s limiting what I could produce as a designer and all, those are very true. Yet, a part of me recognizes that if the government doesn’t do anything about the situation, the feuds will never cease and that Hong Kong, my home would keep on breaking apart.
Focus of Project
This is not the first time I have commented on my own people, but here I am to do it again. Hong Kongers have the characteristics of providing, following and obeying orders, so basically when people that would speak their opinions openly with no consideration of consequences, different aspects and level of society or the fact that a young audience is present, the results could be very dangerous.
It’s no wonder the people that are pro-government would constantly bring up how foreign countries are fanning the flames. We all know there is truth to it, but in my opinion : Why are we not taking the time to try and establish better means of communication instead of taking extreme and even violent measures? Don’t get me wrong, I am not happy with the PRC style of rule either, but simply I don’t think meaningful discussions towards the future of Hong Kong, as a collective: what are the general directions we would like to take in establishing a better environment? How are we to define our identity as a past colony and return to our rightful government?
Citizens in major cities from Mainland China have their own characteristics: in Shanghai, they actually have this Shanghai pride, and Beijing citizens (I have plenty Beijing friends) have their own attitude. As cities, these are the things that are unbreakable by any sort of rule, it’s the confidence and sense of being that keeps them together, clear minded and there for focus on to their day to day lives while loving the place they are born in.
It’s harder for Hong Kong to achieve that, for we would always admit we are money driven and with the population so high, we have trust issues towards our fellow citizens and also everyone is pretty much stuck in their own ways and philosophies.
So this identity crisis is something I would want to take a look in to addressing or solving with my design solution.
Current State
There has been wind of how the government would clamp down on the freedom of speech and what content would be allowed on social media platforms at this point, our guess would be: anything related to the protest, anti-government and the PRC. On the other hand, it’s understandable from the HK government’s view as they are paying their best efforts in putting a stop to the esculating violence that are seen in these protests, also there is suspicion that certain groups and organisations have been taking funds from foreign parties.
1 : Communication Apps
The tech savy Hong Kong citizens then have done their research and has turned their backs on the usual social media platforms and their communicative functions, such as : Facebook, Instagram (which features their own messengers) and Whatsapp are said to not be reliable, that it is unsafe to have a history kept when having said sensitive things and that the encryption to these major platforms are full of insecurities.
2: Social Networks
For social networks , there were small attempts by citizens in turning against Facebook and Instagram, most notable in the form of MeWe, yet the lack of features and users has quickly led HK citizens in abandoning the hope for an independent social network.
This has given rise to smaller apps, specially communicative ones, such as : Telegram and Signal. These apps both advertise their ability to stay off the grid with double encryption and also holds functions in auto terminating messages after a certain period of time.
Other means of sharing content and communication also include the populat Hong Kong forum LIHKG, were the a wide range of mostly young users were known to be active in trading information and improvising ideas reguarding the protest.
3: File Sharing Methods
A method of file sharing according to Jenny (interviewed on week 7) improvised by users on LIHKG was the use of the AirDrop feature on iPhones.
This shocked me as a very smart way in dodging arrest while being able to share sensative material. One would ride the MTR (the Hong Kong subway line) and recieve a request in accepting a simple JPEG or not, and these JPEGs were basically pamphlets often writen in Simplified Chinese in explaining to confused Mainland Chinese tourists of what the whole situation is about.
Conclusion on Findings
Although I am not clear of what form “the message” would take, these are some methods in spreading an art piece, an electronic exhibition or some kind of reading material.
These are just based on facts and creative ways of spreading a message during the protest. I am not interested in breaking any laws or even coming close as to alert any authorities.
ANDY WAS HERE
ANDY was here 🤓 