My TakeWhat a National Day music video says about the state of Hong Kong
- The mass wearing of masks has been a telling story about the city, as it has evolved from being a symbol of rebellion and revolution, followed by its mandatory use as a public health measure during the pandemic, to become a sign of social compliance and obedience for schoolchildren
It shows two masked schoolgirls playing what appears to be a traditional Chinese dizi flute. Granted, every one of the more than 400 students from 41 primary and secondary schools featured in the clip wears a mask. But the pair have to wear two masks, one covering the mouth and a second the instrument, a transverse flute from which saliva droplets may presumably escape at the mouthpiece. That’s overkill, isn’t it? Covering the instruments seems to defeat the whole musical purpose.
Presumably, all the children have been tested and are Covid-negative. In the video, they sing, dance, play instruments in groups and solos, and perform martial arts, recitation and calligraphy. They aim to promote patriotism and traditional Chinese culture as part of national education for all schools.
But if I were from Mars, I would have thought the clip was a public promotion for the wearing of masks as protection, and all the songs and dances are just background accompaniments. Come to think of it, that may have been inadvertently the underlying message for social compliance and obedience.
To be sure, people everywhere still wear masks. But it’s striking how different people and societies approach their wearing differently, under diverse norms and rules.
You can probably tell the recent history of Hong Kong in terms of mask-wearing. In 2019, during the citywide civil unrest, wearing masks was a symbol of rebellion and revolution, and to disguise your identity from police. The violence and riots got so bad the government tried to outlaw the wearing of masks during protests.