Pseudo-model finds cultural seminar a bit too tricky for words
Pseudo-model Chrissie Chau Sau-na found questions from a cultural academic too tricky to answer in a seminar at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology last night.
The seminar, entitled 'Unscrambling the Chrissie Chau Phenomenon' drew about 400 students and staff, mostly male, and another 200 members of the public who viewed a telecast in another hall.
After a brief talk on eroticism and pornography by guest speaker and seminar host Dr Li Siu-leung, associate professor with the department of cultural studies at Lingnan University, Chau fielded questions.
But about 10 minutes into the seminar when Chau, 24, started speaking, 30 people left.
When asked about why she sold her sexy image on a life-sized cushion which some have likened to a sex toy, Chau, who was dressed more modestly than usual, said: 'The product met the demand in society. But I can't control how the media talked about it. And I myself like the product.'
In the 90-minute seminar, Chau's most frequent reply was: 'It's too tricky'.
The seminar invite had drawn heated controversy since it was announced last month, when the university gave the model the opportunity to take part in the first of a series of seminars under the theme 'Knowledge Unlimited'.
Figures in political, commercial and other arenas, including former civil service secretary Joseph Wong Wing-ping and popular mainland writer Yu Dan, would also be invited.
Professor Cheng Shiu-yuen, the dean of science at HKUST, said the seminars aimed to stimulate thought and discussion over the deeper meaning behind the Chau phenomenon, as well as youngsters' mentality, values and popular culture in Hong Kong.
Chau had featured in MTR and slimming advertisements before her racy photo album, which was among many by various pseudo-models, that drew controversy at July's Book Fair. Some said the photo albums were inappropriate for the fair.
