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■第38屆香港藝術節早前在香港文化中心開幕。 資料圖片
For all the complaints I have about its humid weather, March is not a bad month to be in H.K. It is after all not as hot as we can expect in the coming months, and more importantly, it is the month of the Hong Kong Arts Festival(香港藝術節), the Hong Kong International Film Festival(香港國際電影節), and the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival(香港Man國際文學節).
There may, for all I know, be other major cultural programs in March as well. The fact is that the H.K cultural scene is much more vibrant(adj.活躍的、充滿活力的)than many years ago when I went to the U.S to study. People in H.K, on their parts, have also been very responsive(adj.響應的、易受影響的)to the increase in cultural activities. In the past, one tended to see the same individuals at concerts or dances again and again. The audience these days, however, is made up of a diverse crowd. There are Chinese and non-Chinese alike. Judging from the way that people dress, one can say that they come from a wide range of economic backgrounds. And the most welcome change for me is that more and more young people are taking advantage of(phr.利用)these opportunities.
I went to two concerts of the Hong Kong Arts Festival last week, and was delighted to see many secondary school students in uniform sitting among the audience. Some of them came as a group, led by their teachers, while others were clearly there by themselves or with their friends. I am not sure whether they came because they were required by the school to go to a fixed number of cultural activities every year, but the important thing is that they were attentive. There was none of the restless fidgeting that showed that they were being coerced(v.強迫)into something that they do not enjoy. Rather, the look of concentration(n.專注)on their face is almost as moving as the music that was being played.
Regrettably(adv.遺憾地、可惜地), such orderly and respectful audience is not readily(adv.容易地)found in movie theatres. I have yet to go to any of the films of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, but when I do, I am quite ready to hear people speaking to each other even when the show is running. They may comment on what goes on on the screen, which is annoying enough, but when they begin to talk about things that are completely unrelated to the film they are watching, one wonders why they would not rather do it in some other places.
Of course, there will be latecomers too. While these people would not be allowed to enter a concert hall until there is a convenient break in the program, it seems they are free to go in and out of a cinema at any time they want. They would climb unceremoniously(adv.不守禮儀地)over other viewers to get to their own seat, not bothering to apologize even when they spill the soft drink they are holding in their hands, step on other people's toes, or bodily crashing onto their laps. As soon as they find their seats, they would proceed noisily to take off their coats and rummage(v.翻找)for the snack they have brought with them. In the meantime, they would mutter to themselves about the part of the film they have missed, or just as likely, turn to their friends to talk about the dinner they just had. And if they find the film not to their liking(n.喜好), it would not be too surprising that they would stand up and go.
I have always wondered why there is such a big difference between the etiquettes(n.禮儀)in a concert hall and a movie theater. Should you have any idea, I would be very happy to hear about it. ■kingfaitam@gmail.com
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