This course aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the culture-led urban development phenomena and provide them with relevant theories and practical knowledge. It includes four sections: Section 1 introduces a variety of cultural phenomena or icons, especially those related to Hong Kong (e.g., the master storyteller Louis Cha [Jin Yong], filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, sinologist Jao Tsung-I, and martial artist Bruce Lee), and see how they promote urban development. Section 2 describes the urban history and cultural heritage of Hong Kong and Mainland China, with relevant discussions conducted in the tutorials. Section 3 introduces the multi-faceted concepts of cultural preservation and conservation, displays the disciplinary foundation of this topic, traces its history, and discusses the rationales and developing tendency. Section 4 is highly practical, teaching students a variety of methods in providing consultation and policy advice for culturally led urban development projects. Various practices that constitute a culturally led strategy will be discussed, such as how to identify and interpret cultural heritage, how to conserve living heritage in the urban environment, and how to connect heritage with the contemporary world. Topics also include how to balance archaeology and cultural tourism, how to market heritage through appropriate consumption of the past, how to develop creative cities and cultural facilities, and how to revive historical districts.

Time : Wed 12:30 – 15:15
Venue : T.C. Cheng Bldg 207
Course Instructor : Prof. PENG Peng
Language of Instruction : Putonghua and English