Political Grievances and Aspirations Flooded 2019 Hong Kong Protest Art

Burdan, Jacqueline

Item

Political Grievances and Aspirations Flooded 2019 Hong Kong Protest Art

Burdan, Jacqueline

Abstract

This paper is an analysis of the contrasting discourse that Hong Kong and Mainland China aretrying to control the narrative of 2019 Extradition protests. The paper will give space for theanalysis of the causes of the different protests since the handover, the 2003 sedition bill, 2012educational program, the 2014 umbrella/Occupy Central protests and the 2019 extradition bill allsupported by China. The analysis will take into consideration the one country, two systemsapproach that China maintains and the concepts of Hong Kong citizens national identity, howsocial media plays a part in organizing the protests, how elements of art and theater play a role inprotests. There were no “leaders” of the protest movement and some protests over the decadeswere more successful than others, example, the 2014 Umbrella revolution fizzled out after 79days but the 2012 educational protests were successful in preventing Chinese culture from HongKong schools. The 2019 protests are still ongoing even amid the Covid-19 virus, at times it flaresup even with social distancing. Hong Kongers are passionate about their identity politics but inthe end Beijing will bring Hong Kong in the fold sooner than 2047.$$sl-0