[ Lemna Salon ] “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?”

EVENT DESCRIPTION

“A Performing Introduction to Love and Peace Culture” by Hong Kong Aesthetics Magazine

Date: 20 Nov 2022
Time: 14:30-16:30
Speaker: Hong Kong Aesthetics Magazine
Price: $120 (plus min charge of 1 drink)
Venue: (Lemna of the alchemist) G/F, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Registration: https://forms.gle/7RAAEvuGdTwJu6JeA

About “Hong Kong Aesthetics”
Hong Kong Aesthetics is a local literary magazine run by university students and fresh graduates. The team publishes a quarterly literary magazine and organizes events to promote cultural knowledge, aiming at digesting classical works, people and trends at a beginner-to-intermediate level for readers interested in entering the world of arts and literature.

About Event
“What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?”

In the 2003 film Lost in Translation, the protagonist Bob Harris was a has-been Hollywood star struggling with his midlife crisis. Hinting at his dowdiness, the production team chose the 1974 pop song Peace, Love and Understanding for him in a karaoke scene with the young female lead. ‘Love and Peace’ was once a stylish slogan for youngsters in the 60s to 70s, but now it has long become an out-of-date value. Fans of the culture are often labelled as ‘leftards’.

Back in the post-WW2 times, there was a community of American young people rebelling against the social norms. Under the backdrop of the anti-war movement, they formed a counterculture lifestyle. Voluntarily becoming a rover and celebrating the ‘love and peace’ slogan, they protested ethnocentrism and the Vietnam War by withdrawing themselves from the social construct. Known as the ‘hippies’, they actively took part in social movements and peaceful protests. They made use of music to spread their beliefs, and the success inspired the rise of ‘world music’ afterwards.

The hippie culture has always been controversial. Once a counterculture, now it is often regarded as the dominant culture. Perhaps it is a good time to look back to the ‘love and culture’ when we are facing a war that attracted global attention. Is this ideal invented by the baby boomers still worth us following? We would like to revisit the culture from the perspective of music history.

Our event is divided into two parts. First, it will be a performing introduction to the rise and fall of the hippie culture. Then, there will be a discussion section, where we will explore the modern value of the ‘love and peace’ culture through the lens of cultural critique. The event is suitable for any audience and can be enjoyed relaxingly without background knowledge. Join us and experience the atmosphere of authentic world music and ‘love and peace’ culture!

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER