A Journal of the Plague Year

by Cosmin Costinas (Editor), Lesley Ma (Editor), Inti Guerrero (Editor)

Expanded from a touring exhibition originated at Para Site (2013), this part-reader, part-exhibition document critically analyzes the politics of fear in the face of disease and contamination in both the historical and contemporary imagination. Scholars, artists, novelists and journalists begin by addressing Hong Kong s 200-year history of epidemics the most recent being the SARS outbreak of 2003, and then tackle the galvanizing power and varied perceptions of contagion in the context of lingering histories, myths, anxieties and memories across the world. While composing a complex picture of the Hong Kong psyche, the contributors speak from a humanistic and global perspective, pointing to the intersections of urban environments and post-colonial psychology, popular culture and racism, public health and migration, national identity and art. Included are excerpts from Taiwan writer Shih Shu-ching s literary masterpiece, City of the Queen, which vividly portrays the interwoven social relations and colonial structures during the time of the plague, among much more. A chilling but no-holds-barred look at the history of epidemics and their effect on culture.


Contributions by: Michael Berry, Natalia S. H. Chan, Cosmin Costina , Dung Kai-cheung, Inti Guerrero, James T. Hong, Austin Ming-han Hsu, Zuni Icosahedron, Finnouala McHugh, Pak Sheung Chuen, Lawrence Pun, Shih Shu-ching, Xiaoyu Weng

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2016

Reviews

[Annayu Maharani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sejak pertama, saya menghargai upaya penerbitan jurnal mini ini: Ia berbicara tentang wabah SARS 2003 di Hongkong dan ditulis oleh para pegiat budaya. Secara personal saya selalu menyukai bagaimana ilmu humaniora dipakai sebagai lensa di luar "teritorinya", dalam hal ini ilmu alam, evolusi, dan penyakit. Sejarah dan budaya Hongkong--di mana saya masing asing--dikisahkan antara lain tentang pengelompokkan wilayah oleh kolonialisme Inggris, representasi rasisme "penyakit" berdasarkan warna kulit, dan ulasan karya yang mengusung rasa ketakutan. Buku ini tidak berambisi untuk menyumbang kontribusi pada wacana SARS, dan itulah kelebihannya.