Cultural industry reconsidered in 21st century Hong Kong : a study of the launch of HKTV and the TV series The election

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to understand the interplay between culture and politics in the series of issues surrounding HKTV, which consists in the interaction between cultural industry and Hong Kong people under the specific sociopolitical condition of 21st century Hong Kong. In order to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex phenomenon, this dissertation adopts a multi-dimensional approach and examines discourses and cultural texts produced by both HKTV, the television institution at the centre of the social controversy, and Hong Kong people who take an active part in the issues surrounding HKTV. The chapters are set to explore the dynamics of HKTV from different perspectives and to examine the interaction between the institution and people in various cultural and social spaces. The findings demonstrate new cultural codes produced by the television institution and Hong Kong people together, especially after the government’s rejection of free television licence to HKTV. HKTV is not only constructed as a challenger to the local television industry but also turned into embodiment of core values of Hong Kong. Whereas such symbolic significance constitutes the institution’s business strategy, people use HKTV as a cultural symbol to assert their cultural demands and identities. The study of The Election with reference to these cultural codes suggests people’s active participation lays impacts on cultural production, therefore provides new angle to the notion of cultural industry.