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Law, Culture and Visual Studies pp 873–889Cite as

A Tale of Many Newspapers: Perversion, Criminality, and Scopophilia in the Edison Chen Scandal

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Abstract

This chapter examines the reportage on the Edison Chen sex photo scandal in Hong Kong. Chen, a popular actor and singer, took pictures of himself and his various sexual partners, and the pictures were leaked onto the internet in late 2007 and early 2008. The incident received widespread coverage in the local media. This article examines the construction of Chen’s identities as sexual deviant and criminal in the journalistic discourse of this period. It also argues that this discourse tapped into local readers’ scopophilia and epistemophilia in its presentation of the event. It concludes by using the Chen case to highlight the need for cultural-legal scholars to scrutinise media representations of issues relating to sexual identity and behaviour.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For further articles in international presses which reflect an interest in the scandal, see Joanne Lee-Young. Vancouver media abuzz with trial of Edison Chen. Vancouver Sun, 24 February 2008; ‘Sexy photo gate’ mesmerises Hong Kong, China, and sparks police crackdown, backlash. Wall Street Journal 15 February 2008; China arrests over Hong Kong sex scandal. BBC News 20 February 2008.

  2. 2.

    We must not mix up truth and falsehood. East Week Magazine 20 February 2008, 1.

  3. 3.

    Voices call for Edison Chen to be arrested. Apple Daily 11 February 2008, A1.

  4. 4.

    Gillian Chung twice attempted to kill herself. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008, 38–41.

  5. 5.

    Voices call for Edison Chen to be arrested. Apple Daily 11 February 2008, A1.

  6. 6.

    Expert says Edison Chen is sick. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008, 50–53.

  7. 7.

    Expert says Edison Chen is sick. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008, 50–53.

  8. 8.

    Behavioral expert analyses Chen’s bizarre interests. Wen Wei Po 5 February 2008, A4.

  9. 9.

    An exposé of Edison Chen’s path to perversity. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008, 54–58.

  10. 10.

    Remembering his wild days: Edison Chen’s confession of contrition. Ming Pao Weekly 2 February 2008, 82–87.

  11. 11.

    An exposé of Edison Chen’s path to perversity. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008: 54–58.

  12. 12.

    Educationalists worry scandal will encourage voyeurism. Wen Wei Po 12 February 2008, A3.

  13. 13.

    Chan Chi Si: a major challenge to the education sector. Ta Kung Pao 22 February 2008, A2.

  14. 14.

    Material from sex photo scandal can be used to teach ethics. Apple Daily 9 February 2008, A1.

  15. 15.

    Police demand explanation from Chen. Apple Daily 13 February 2008, A1.

  16. 16.

    Voices call for Edison Chen to be arrested. Apple Daily 11 February 2008, A1.

  17. 17.

    Commissioner of Police: I will not let loose the person who took the photos. Apple Daily 14 February 2008, A1.

  18. 18.

    Full se t of pictures to be posted online. Sing Tao Daily 9 February 2008, A6.

  19. 19.

    Expert says Edison Chen is sick. East Week Magazine 13 February 2008, 53.

  20. 20.

    Sichuan earthquake takes second place to sex photo scandal in top ten news items of the year. Ming Pao Daily 18 December 2008, A25.

  21. 21.

    Mags in the clear over nude pics. The Standard 21 February 2008. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61867&sid=17694181&con_type=1&d_str=20080221&sear_year=2008. Accessed 14 January 2010.

  22. 22.

    Net friends become real friends and thwart police efforts. The Sun 7 February 2008, A2.

  23. 23.

    Several images taken inside private residence. Apple Daily 7 February 2008, A2.

  24. 24.

    Edison’s girlfriend Vincy caught in scandal. Apple Daily 10 February 2008, A1.

  25. 25.

    Edison Chen’s great act. Apple Daily 22 February 2008, A2.

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Acknowledgement

This research project was made possible by a small project grant from the University of Hong Kong. A version of this chapter was first presented at the Eighth Roundtable for the Semiotics of Law at the City University of Hong Kong, and the authors would like to thank the participants for their comments and questions. They would also like to thank Jason Tse Siu Kei for his excellent research assistance. The authors are grateful to Gina Marchetti for her insights into celebrity culture in Hong Kong and to the students in the course on ‘Law and Film’ at the University of Hong Kong in 2009 for their lively discussion of the Chen scandal. All translations are our own unless otherwise indicated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of English, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China

    Marco Wan & Janny Leung

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  1. Marco Wan
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  2. Janny Leung
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Correspondence to Janny Leung .

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  1. Recherche Droits & Perspectives du Droit, équipe René Demogue, Universite Lille, Rue Saint Louis 21, Lille, 62327, France

    Anne Wagner

  2. New York Law School, 2nd Street 435, New York, 10013, New York, USA

    Richard K. Sherwin

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Wan, M., Leung, J. (2014). A Tale of Many Newspapers: Perversion, Criminality, and Scopophilia in the Edison Chen Scandal. In: Wagner, A., Sherwin, R. (eds) Law, Culture and Visual Studies. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9322-6_39

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