ART & CULTURE

Exclusive Interview: JACE CHAN on Her New Song “I’m Tired”

https://youtu.be/myWVu7OZcyE About the Rare 29-Year Saturn Return The Saturn Return is a fascinating and mysterious astrological concept. Saturn completes its orbit approximately every 29.5 years. In other words, each person’s Saturn Return happens around the age of 29, marking a significant time of personal growth. This period often brings noticeable changes in relationships and can be a pivotal turning point in various aspects of life. “I didn't set specific goals based on age or year, but coincidentally, everything happened during this period.” JACE remarks. Regardless of whether Saturn is influencing her, JACE took this crucial juncture to leave her record company and reinvent herself as an independent singer-songwriter. You might have heard about her over the past two year...

Cath Wong: Praise Me Loudly If You Doubt Life An Exclusive Interview on Her New Song《黃言》

Cath Wong has a unique philosophy, which she calls "Wong's Philosophy": Be willing to endure hardships; don’t focus solely on immediate gains. Be kind; others' attitudes should not influence your principles. Recognize and praise yourself; after all, surviving is already an incredible feat. "I’m quite stubborn. What might seem like trivial principles to others are philosophies I will adhere to for life," Cath asserts. In line with this, she recently released a new song, 《黃言》, a self-praising anthem. During our interview, I asked her to list three things she deserves praise for. After some thought, she said, "I think I sing quite well, I cook decently, and I write songs pretty nicely." Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, and she sounded slightly reserved. "In the past, ...

A Fond Farewell to Oneself: The Living Funeral of Mizunoe Takiko

Japan's First Woman to Host Her Own Living Funeral On February 19, 1993, 500 people gathered at the Tokyu Hotel in Tokyo to attend a living funeral for the esteemed entertainer Mizunoe Takiko, who was about to celebrate her 78th birthday the following day. As the "deceased," Mizunoe began the ceremony with a speech: "To be able to see my own portrait and flower-adorned altar while still alive is truly a blessing." Thus began this unprecedented event. "I just want to hug Takiko one more time," actor Nishimura Ko offered his eulogy in front of Mizunoe’s portrait, while Mizunoe herself, seated in a wicker chair beside him, burst into laughter. A year prior, Mizunoe attended a memorial concert for the musician Imaizumi Takao, where she was inspired by producer Ei Rokusuke to organize he...

Androgyny in the Spotlight: The Dream and Downfall of the Takarazuka Revue

Stardom vs. Academia When someone advises you to focus on your studies rather than chasing stardom, they might be onto something. Reality shows that becoming a star is significantly more challenging than getting into a prestigious university. Take, for instance, the University of Tokyo, Japan's top institution, with an acceptance rate of 22%. In contrast, the acceptance rate for the renowned Takarazuka Revue, a theater troupe blending song, dance, and drama, is a mere 3.7%. There's a catch, though: you must be female. Founded over a century ago, the Takarazuka Revue is an iconic all-female musical theater troupe. Each year, thousands of girls from across Japan vie for a spot at the Takarazuka Music School, with only about 40 to 50 making the cut. Once admitted, they undergo ...

How to counter Artificial Intelligence bias?

We frequently discuss the revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence (AI) as numerous entities, ranging from governments to corporations, rush to harness AI in various sectors like recruitment, policing, criminal justice, healthcare, product development, and marketing. Generative tools such as Chat GPT have also become a staple in our daily digital interactions. However, Ruhi Khan, a researcher at the London School of Economics (LSE) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), casts a spotlight on a critical issue: despite the strides in AI, its embedded gender and racial biases significantly endanger women. Khan is championing a worldwide feminist movement to confront these challenges by promoting awareness, inclusivity, and regulatory measures. But does AI genuinely harbor ...

Harmony in Essence: The Symbiosis of Women and Nature in Ecofeminism

From the dawn of time, the natural world has been esteemed as the “Mother of Nature”, a moniker that transcends simple designation to deeply affirm the intrinsic bond between women and the wild. This unique kinship, spanning the annals of time from archaic matriarchal societies to our contemporary era, is a recurring motif across diverse cultures and legends. In the rich tapestry of myths both in the East and the West, women have consistently been portrayed as custodians, healers, and creators of the natural realm. Take, for instance, Demeter in Greek mythology, consort to Zeus and the goddess of harvest and fecundity, who infused the earth with vitality and bestowed upon mankind the wisdom of agriculture. In Hindu lore, Parvati, the mountain goddess and sister to the Ganges deity, emb...

Marina Abramović: Five Rhythms Born from Pain

As the dawn of 2024 breaks, it brings to a close Marina Abramović's retrospective at The Royal Academy of Arts in London, a half-century culmination that epitomises a transformative era in Western performance art. Announced back in 2020, this collaboration heralded Abramović as the first female solo exhibitionist in the venerable 255-year history of the Academy. Originally envisaged as a retrospective, the exhibition, beleaguered by pandemic-induced postponements, evolved under Abramović's visionary guidance into a dialogue between her artistic epochs, challenging the very notion of retrospection. In the intervening years, a maelstrom of creativity and introspection swirled around Abramović. Boris Miljković’s 2020 film “Homecoming - Marina Abramovic and Her Children” offered a cine...

【WHY NOT BOLD】Baring Souls and The Naked Truth – interviewing Hong Kong Life Model Club

Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/_ki23G4rPos 人們說你要離開這陣營,我們無不覺得吃驚因為這不是你的個性,你生來是露體狂小丁 《露體狂小丁》— Forever Tarkovsky Club The Bare Utopia “I am not inherently drawn to nudity,” Siu Ding admits with a hint of shyness. “To wear or not to wear, I see it as a choice of freedom and a state of being.” The duo Ho Shan and Ah P form the band “Forever Tarkovsky Club” (永遠懷念塔可夫斯基) notable for their song 《露體狂小丁》. In reality, Ding is a seasoned life model., reflects on the humour and positivity she has brought to the term “exhibitionist” (露體狂), once used in jest by friends. “It's about redefining a concept from a negative connotation to a positive light,” she shares. Would a world without the need for clothes be ideal? “The perfect state,” Siu Ding says, “would be where people on the street...