“Swipe Tap Love” is
the current modern romance TV drama broadcasting on TVB Jade Channel at
weekdays 8:30 pm – 9:30pm time slot, starring Priscilla Wong (黃翠如) and Raymond Wong (黃浩然). There are in total 20 episodes from the plot
where the story has proceeded to episode 12 at the moment. The drama is about
the relationship issues faced by two pair of couples (Raymond Wong & Elaine
Yiu and Tony Hung & Priscilla Wong) in the modern time of Hong Kong.
The main reason for me
choosing this TV drama is that the story of “Swipe Tap Love” focused on some
social issues that commonly faced by Hong Kong residents now days, for example the
stereotypes on gender roles, the long working hour problem, the redefined ways
of communication by smartphones and the problems that come along etc.
One of the focus of
this drama on struggles and feelings towards the sending and receiving of instant
messages have drawn big attention from younger generations of the post 80s, who
have been influenced the most by the popularization of smartphones and instant
message applications. Posts can be found easily on social websites like
Facebook and Internet forums, discussing numinous of the Priscilla Wong’s character
spoken lines and remarked them as so called proverb ‘金句’.
Gender role issues
Gender roles
constitute an integral part of identity and define the social behavior of Woman
and men in the society. (Cheung, 1997, P. 201) Male are required to be the
breadwinner of the family where female should be supporting, such stereotypes
are still prevalent in Hong Kong society. (Cheung, 1997, P. 206) However, due
to economic consideration many of the Hong Kong female chose to go out and work
rather to stay and be a housewife.
In the Drama, Raymond
Wong and Elaine Yiu acted as a married couple with opposite gender roles.
Elaine Yiu is a doctor who work for long hours and have no time taking care her
daughter. Oppositely, Raymond Wong is a designer who helps taking care of the
daughter in a detailed manner. Elaine Yiu was struggled with her role within
the family, considered she not being a caring mother and a supportive wife. Elaine
Yiu and Raymond Wong went divorce eventually.
Smartphones redefining
inter-personal communication and relationships
According to the technological
determinism approach, Thorstein Veblen suggested that technologies determine our
way of living. Same as the popularization of mobile phone in 1990s reshaped the
way of communication in Hong Kong, smartphones is one recent example of new
technology impacting Hong Kong resident’s living and culture. Many of the scholars
have been concerning the texting culture among young generations, and have raised
discussions of weather instant message damaging communication and
inter-personal relationships.
In the Drama, Tony
Hung and Priscilla Wong acted as a couple that has been in a relationship for 4
years. Priscilla Wong was experiencing loneliness due to the absent and late
reply of Tony Hung’s instant message, and was suspecting him of having an
affair with another female after peeked on his instant message record.
“Swipe Tap Love” tried
to relate current social issues into TV drama, leading to discussion and review
on the living in Hong Kong. However, the story is suggesting that the miss-matching
gender role in family wouldn’t last. I personally feel disappointed but I am
still looking forward for the ending.
Cheung, F. M. (1997).
Engendering Hong Kong society: A gender perspective of women's status. Hong
Kong: Chinese University Press.
(570 words)
Wong Sheung Him Curtis (10488495/21238515)
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