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Events
Movie Night: Joint Security Area
Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area is an essential watch for anyone interested in ethics, conflict studies, or East Asian geopolitics. Our MAPPE gathered for a special movie night and viewed the Joint Security Area together. Set in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the film revolves around a fatal shooting that unravels a clandestine friendship between North and South Korean soldiers. While the plot hinges on a tense military investigation, its true power lies in its exploration of nationalism’s fragility when confronted with a shared humanity.
Students' reflection
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"Joint Security Area left me grappling with profound questions about human nature, loyalty, and the artificial divides between enemies and friends. The film’s four soldiers—initially nameless yet unforgettable—forge a fragile, clandestine friendship across the Korean DMZ, their bond defying political allegiances through acts of shared humanity, like saving each other’s lives. This makes their eventual tragedy all the more devastating, as systemic pressures and duty violently rupture their connection. The story forces viewers to confront whether cruelty arises from inherent selfishness or systems that trap individuals in impossible choices between survival and morality. Their fleeting camaraderie, built on whispered confessions and laughter, reveals the fragility of ideology against innate human empathy. Yet in the end, their shame and silence—unable to reconcile their actions with the people they once were—underscore the film’s haunting truth: in conflicts engineered by power, there are no clear answers."
"The film asks: What defines an enemy? The soldiers’ bond—forged in whispered confessions and laughter—exposes borders as illusions. They exchange jokes and photos, thus subverting the dehumanizing rhetoric of their respective regimes, yet their tragedy proves how fragile their bond actually was. Nevertheless, the climactic act of violence, born of fear and indoctrination, can be seen as a condemnation of systems that weaponize loyalty to erase individuality. The film doesn’t offer easy answers but forces viewers to confront the cost of division and the fragile hope that persists beneath it."
Visiting Tai Kwun
Tai Kwun, a historic cultural landmark in Hong Kong, stands as a revitalized complex blending heritage, art, and community engagement. Once the Central Police Station, magistracy, and prison during British colonial rule, it has been transformed into a dynamic space for exhibitions and performances. Visiting Tai Kwun offers MAPPE students a unique academic lens to explore themes of governance, justice, and urban regeneration. By engaging with its exhibitions and architecture, MAPPE students gain insights into the interplay between historical memory and societal values.
Students' reflection
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"Walking through Tai Kwun, I was struck by the tension between its colonial past and its present identity as a space for creative freedom. The preserved prison cells, now hosting art installations, forced me to confront the paradox of repurposing sites of oppression into platforms for expression—a metaphor for Hong Kong’s own struggle to reconcile its history with its aspirations. The space challenged me to question who defines 'justice' and how narratives of authority are rewritten over time. The magistracy’s courtroom, once a symbol of imperial control, now stands empty, its power hollowed out; yet its silence speaks volumes about the fragility of institutional legitimacy. As a MAPPE student, I grappled with how politics can either entrench or dismantle systems of power, and whether cultural spaces like Tai Kwun reimagine or aestheticize history."
Visiting Stanley
Stanley is a historic seaside town on Hong Kong Island’s southern peninsula. It is famed for its colonial-era architecture, vibrant markets, and scenic waterfront. For MAPPE students, Stanley serves as a microcosm for analyzing colonial legacies and economic transitions. Sites like the restored Murray House—a relic of British rule relocated brick-by-brick—offer tangible connections to Hong Kong’s colonial past and post-handover reinvention.
Students' reflection
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"I found myself reflecting on the layers of history embedded in Stanley's landscapes. The juxtaposition of the colonial-era buildings with the bustling market stalls painted a vivid picture of Hong Kong’s complex identity—caught between its colonial past and its modern aspirations. Visiting the Stanley Military Cemetery, I was confronted with the human cost of political conflicts. It was a poignant reminder of the fragility of peace and the enduring impact of historical decisions on present-day governance. This visit to Stanley reinforced my understanding of how historical narratives influence political legitimacy and economic strategies. The town's tranquil beauty, contrasted with its turbulent history, served as a powerful reminder of the need for thoughtful and humane governance."
Visiting Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Our MAPPE students visited the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences to deepen their understanding of the intersection between medical history, public health, and ethics. Located in a beautifully preserved Edwardian-style building in Mid-Levels, the museum offers a fascinating glimpse into Hong Kong's medical past, occupying the site of the former Bacteriological Institute, built in 1906 to combat infectious diseases like the bubonic plague. Through its diverse exhibits, including displays on contagious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, and modern medical advancements, the museum provided our students with an opportunity to explore how science, culture, and society have shaped healthcare in Hong Kong. The visit encouraged critical reflection on the ethical and societal implications of medical progress, reinforcing the connection between historical context and contemporary bioethical challenges
Students' reflection
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"My visit to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences offered me an insight into how Hong Kong's medical history, particularly its battles with contagious diseases. The 1894 plague outbreak, for instance, highlighted the tension between public health measures and the stigmatization of Chinese communities, raising questions about fairness and social justice in medical responses. Similarly, the museum's coverage of the 2003 SARS epidemic revealed the ethical complexities of balancing individual freedoms with collective safety, as well as the importance of trust and transparency in public health crises. A particularly striking exhibit was on the development of vaccines and quarantine measures, which forced me to consider how decisions about resource allocation and prioritization—especially during pandemics—are both medical and moral choices. This visit deepened my understanding of how medical advancements are inseparable from the ethical and societal contexts in which they occur, making it clear that medicine is as much about navigating moral dilemmas as it is about combating disease."
Our MAPPE students embark on an unforgettable journey to the renowned M+ museum. This exclusive opportunity is sure to ignite a sense of excitement and happiness among students as they delve into the captivating realm of art and culture. Imagine the smiles and eager faces of students as they explore the vast collections of art from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Asia, discovering masterpieces in architecture, design, and moving images. This visit promises to not only enhance their knowledge of the arts but also to create lasting memories of joy and inspiration. Witness the thrill and delight on students' faces as they embrace this chance to experience the beauty and creativity housed within the walls of M+ museum.
Visiting M+ Museum
Students' reflection
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"I’m very grateful to the Department of Philosophy for organizing this visit to M+. This visit has provided me with significant opportunities for reflection. The creation of art is intrinsically tied to the political and economic contexts of its time. By examining artworks from different historical periods and regions, one can uncover valuable insights into the socio-political and economic conditions of the artist. Art might serve as a form of resistance to the politics of its time, or it might reflect how economic conditions influence artistic thinking and conditions. Architecture is the most obvious example of this relationship. Architectural styles vary significantly depending on the economic conditions: periods of prosperity often result in grand, elaborate designs, whereas periods of economic austerity tend to yield more conservative and restrained structures. Interestingly, even the same architect may adopt differing design approaches depending on the economic cycles and pressures of their time, further demonstrating the interplay between the economy and artistic conditions."
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"I was delighted to participate in this visit to the M+ museum. The artworks on display at M+ illustrate the diverse ways in which artists from various countries and regions embed their reflections and thoughts into their creations. Many of these works implicitly express the artists' viewpoints, many of which reflect their political stances. Art, therefore, can be understood as a medium of resistance, where works that challenge the status quo frequently gain broader recognition and appreciation. This dynamic underscores the role of artists and their creations not only as cultural artefacts but also as agents of social progress, helping to shape and advance the intellectual and ideological discourse of their time. However, this raises questions about the accessibility of art and its production. Historically, art has often been associated with privilege, with the majority of celebrated works emerging from elite social groups. The relative absence of contributions from marginalized or impoverished artists suggests a potential inequality in the field of art itself. Does this socioeconomic disparity in artistic production limit the inclusivity of artistic expression, and does it perpetuate structural inequities within the realm of art? These are important questions that need further exploration. This visit to M+ has provided me with new perspectives. It has deepened my understanding of the complex interrelations between art and society, and has prompted me to consider the broader implications of such dynamics."
Visiting Hong Kong Palace Museum
To enrich students' knowledge of art and culture, MAPPE students explore the exquisite treasures at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. This exclusive opportunity let them delve into over 900 priceless artifacts from the renowned Palace Museum. Witness history come to life as many of these treasures are showcased in Hong Kong for the first time, offering a unique and immersive experience.
Students' reflection
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"The visit to the Hong Kong Palace Museum provided deep insights into the political culture of imperial China, especially the emperor's role as the Son of Heaven and the divine authority he wielded. Artefacts like imperial robes and ceremonial items illustrated such power, and the use of art and symbolism, such as dragons representing imperial authority, highlighted how culture served as a political tool. Additionally, the exhibition about the civil service examination system showcased Confucian ideals of a meritocratic bureaucracy that fostered loyalty to the emperor among officials."