EdUHK Prof Mette Hjort Champions Cultures of Care for a Flourishing Hong Kong
In a flourishing community, care should extend beyond interpersonal relationships, manifesting across various societal domains including film, healthcare, culture, and education. As an expert in cultures of care, Prof Mette Hjort, Chair Professor of Film and Media Studies of the Faculty of Humanities (FHM) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), challenges prevailing norms that often prioritise productivity and commercial outcomes.
Through her groundbreaking research on cultures of care, Prof Hjort explores how care can be thoughtfully integrated into motion pictures, healthcare, culture, and education to foster a more caring Hong Kong, generating ethical, cultural, social, environmental, and health benefits. As Hong Kong increasingly embraces care-centred approaches across various sectors, Prof Hjort's research aims to contribute meaningfully to a more flourishing society where care becomes a fundamental value, rather than an afterthought.
Current Landscape: Public Discourse on Cultures of Care
Hjort notes that conversations around cultures of care in Hong Kong are steadily gaining momentum, with pioneering organisations in the creative arts sector leading the way. "The public discourse on this topic is increasingly robust in the city," she observes, highlighting Tai Kwun's significant community engagement initiatives—particularly their 2025 project With a Song in My Heart. The project thoughtfully unites musicians, cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers through expressive jazz performances to share their challenges and experiences on the journey of battling cancer.
"While Hong Kong acknowledges the value of creative arts for wellbeing, we haven't yet developed a comprehensive public understanding that cultural interventions can sometimes serve people's needs more effectively than pharmacological approaches," she reflects. "The recognition of culture's healing potential is growing, but considerable work remains to fully integrate this understanding into our healthcare approaches and public consciousness."
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