Profile of Prof ERNI, John N 陳錦榮 - The Education University of Hong Kong


Chair Professor	Department of Literature and Cultural Studies
Dean(HM)	Faculty of Humanities

Contact

ORCiD

0000-0003-0609-7512

Phone

(852) 2948 7970

johnerni@eduhk.hk

Address

10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong

Website

https://pappl.eduhk.hk/rich/web/person.xhtml?pid=286326&name=ERNI, John N

Scopus ID

6507542336

SDGs

3 - Good Health and Well-Being
4 - Quality Education
5 - Gender Equality
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Research Outputs


Scholarly Books, Monographs and Chapters Erni, J. N. & Striphas, T. (Eds.) (2022). The Cultural Politics of COVID-19. New York & London: Routledge. Erni, J.N. (2022). Color Charts: A Cultural Chronicle of Non-Chinese Ethnic Images in Hong Kong Cinema. In M. Hjort & T. Nannicelli (Eds.), A Companion to Motion Pictures and Public Value (357-381). Massachussetts: Wiley Blackwell. Erni, J.N. & Zhang, Y. (2020). Ethnic minority youth as digital cultural participants: Toward a critical indicator study. Sunny Sui-kwong LAM, New media spectacles and multimodal creativity in a globalised Asia: Art, design and activism in the digital humanities landscape (3-24). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7341-5_1 Erni, J.N. (2019). Law and cultural studies: A critical rearticulation of human rights. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315575377 Erni, J.N. (2019). The antiecstasy of human rights: A foray into queer cinema on “homophobic Africa”. Mette HJORT, Eva JØRHOLT, African cinema and human rights (256-279). USA: Indiana University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017773891103410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2019). W v. Registrar of Marriages (2013). Howard CHIANG, Global encyclopedia of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) history (1713-1716). Gale. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017965129603410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2019)。種族劃分主義。朱耀偉，《香港關鍵詞：想像新未來》 (233-244)。中文大學出版社。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017413313703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Henderson, Lisa, Erni, John N., Hogan, Mél, and Christian, Aymar Jean (2018). A dossier on making and doing. Adrienne SHAW, D. Travers SCOTT, Interventions: Communication research and practice (273-283). Peter Lang Publishing. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017991114603410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N., Zhang, Y. (2018). In with expectations and out with disappointment: Gay-tailored social media and the redefinition of intimacy. Rikke ANDREASSEN, Michael Nebeling PETERSEN, Katherine HARRISON, Tobias RAUN, Mediated intimacies: Connectivities, relationalities and proximities (143-156). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315208589-13 Erni, J.N. (2017). Introduction: Affect and critical multiculturalism in Asia. John Nguyet ERNI, Visuality, emotions and minority culture: Feeling ethnic (1-9). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53861-6_1 Erni, J.N. (2017). Sex and freedom in the chatroom: The Hong Kong golden forum as method. Yiu-Wai CHU, Hong Kong culture and society in the new millennium: Hong Kong as method (33-58). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3668-2_2 In J. N. ERNI (Ed.) (2017). Visuality, emotions and minority culture: Feeling ethnic. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53861-6 Erni, J.N., Ho, L. (2017). Happy campers: “All about us” and self-representation. John Nguyet ERNI, Visuality, emotions and minority culture: Feeling ethnic (93-110). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53861-6_7 Fung, A. Y. H., Erni, J. N., & Yang, F. (2017). Asian popular culture review. Toby MILLER, The Routledge companion to global popular culture (481-491). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203081846-54 Erni, J.N. (2016). Afterword: On meta-media for trans-Asia. Daniel BLACK, Olivia KHOO, Koichi IWABUCHI, Contemporary culture and media in Asia (225-230). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991007148969703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2016). Internet sex chatting and “vernacular masculinity” among Hong Kong youth. Julia COFFEY, Shelley BUDGEON, Helen CAHILL, Learning bodies: The body in youth and childhood studies (105-122). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0306-6_7 陳錦榮, 何建宗 (2016)。若隱若現：香港電影的非華人形象（1970至2010年代）。手民出版社。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017866260203410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library 陳錦榮、何建宗和楊春 (2016)。香港電影的另一面。陳錦榮, 何建宗，若隱若現：香港電影的非華人形象（1970至2010年代） (4-12)。手民出版社。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017866260203410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2015). The dis-encompassed: On the precarious politics of citizenship management. Terence Patrick MURPHY, John Nguyet ERNI, Between literary and cultural studies: Asian explorations (1-18). Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Murphy, T. P., Erni, J. N. (2015). Between literary and cultural studies: Asian explorations. Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Erni, J. N., Leung, L. Y.-M. (2014). Understanding South Asian minorities in Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991002390199703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2014). Marriage rights for transgender people in Hong Kong: Reading the W case. Deborah S. DAVIS, Sara L. FRIEDMAN, Wives, husbands, and lovers marriage and sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and urban China (189-216). Stanford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780804791854-011 Erni, J.N. (2014)。女孩的空間。香港藝術中心，創意全記錄：影像無國界 (31-33)。香港藝術中心。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991004407489703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library, https://allaboutus.hk/2014/tc/blog/?p=134published version Erni, J.N. (2014)。從懲罰到寬恕。香港藝術中心，創意全記錄：影像無國界 (28-30)。香港藝術中心。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991004407489703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library, https://allaboutus.hk/2014/tc/blog/?p=132published version Erni, J.N. (2014)。權力和真實性。香港藝術中心，創意全記錄：影像無國界 (24-27)。香港藝術中心。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991004407489703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library, https://allaboutus.hk/2014/tc/blog/?p=130published version 陳錦榮 (2014)。不陌生的陌生人：香港少數族裔的陌生化。文潔華，粤語的政治：香港粤語的異質與多元 (117-132)。中文大學出版社。 https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017307819403410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2013). Law, embodiment, and the case of ‘harbourcide’. Jeroen DE KLOET, Lena SCHEEN, Spectacle and the city: Chinese urbanities in art and popular culture (227-242). Amsterdam University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wp73q.17 Erni, J.N. (2013). When Chinese youth meet Harry Potter: Translating consumption and middle-class identification. Anthony Y.H. FUNG, Asian popular culture: The global (dis)continuity (21-41). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203581278 Erni, J.N. (2012). Chan Pak-keung, Danny. May HOLDSWORTH, Christopher MUNN, Dictionary of Hong Kong biography (73-74). Hong Kong University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991014925059703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2012). Cheung Kwok-wing, Leslie. May HOLDSWORTH, Christopher MUNN, Dictionary of Hong Kong biography (86-87). Hong Kong University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991014925059703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2012). Mui Yim-fong, Anita. May HOLDSWORTH, Christopher MUNN, Dictionary of Hong Kong biography (330-331). Hong Kong University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991014925059703410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2012). Who needs human rights? Cultural studies and public institutions. Meaghan MORRIS, Mette HJORT, Creativity and academic activism: Instituting cultural studies (175-190). Hong Kong University Press. https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,991017512831803410&vid=EDUHKFind@EdUHK Library Erni, J.N. (2008). Hall, Stuart. Wolfgang DONSBACH, The international encyclopedia of communication. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405186407.wbiech028
Journal Publications Erni, J.N. (2025). Re-articulating care and carelessness in precarious times: An introduction. Educational Philosophy and Theory. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2024.2442745 Erni, J.N., Pun, N. (2025). Introduction: Commoning as unthinkable politics: Hong Kong against hard times. Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2024.2442439 Erni, J.N. (2024). Between consciousness and conscience: on ‘restorative commoning’ among moderate youth. Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2024.2442448 Erni, J.N. (2024). Negative Justice: The Case of the Human Rights Museum. European Journal of Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/13675494241258972 Erni, J.N. (2022). Discerning the Human Rights Museum. European Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 2(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejsocial.2022.2.4.275. Erni, J.N. & Zhang, Y. (2022). Wild hopes: Sourcing the political vocabulary of digital citizenship from the LIHKG forum. International Communication Gazette, 84(4), 349-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/17480485221094123 Erni, J.N. (2021). Is ethnic cultural participation the answer?: A cultural capacity analysis. Situations, 14(1), 1-33. https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART002699652published version Erni, J.N. (2021). Toward a juris-cultural studies of human rights. IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies, 6(Special Issue), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.22492/ijcs.6.SI.01 Erni, J.N. & Striphas, T. (2021). COVID-19, the multiplier. Cultural Studies, 35(2-3), 211-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2021.1903957 Erni, John N; Leung, Daren (2019). The dilemma of mobility: On the question of youth voluntourism in times of precarity. Cultural Studies, 33(6), 915-943. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2019.1660691 Martin, F., Erni, J.N., Yue, A. (2019). (Im)mobile precarity in the Asia-Pacific. Cultural Studies, 33(6), 895-914. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2019.1660690 Erni, J.N. (2016). Citizenship management: On the politics of being included-out. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 19(3), 323-340. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877915573772 Erni, J.N. (2016). Disrupting the colonial transgender/law nexus: Reading the case of W in Hong Kong. Cultural Studies ↔ Critical Methodologies, 16(4), 351-360. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532708616643987 Erni, J.N. (2015). A legal realist view on citizen actions in Hong Kong's umbrella movement. Chinese Journal of Communication, 8(4), 412-419. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2015.1063526 Erni, J.N. (2014). Locating desires—screens and urban culture in Asia: Notes on the special issue. Situations, 7(2), 1-11. http://situations.yonsei.ac.kr/product/item.php?it_id=1535539152&ca_id=1080&page=1&sort1=&sort2=published version Erni, J.N. (2013). Cultural studies meets rights criticism. Communication and Critical/ Cultural Studies, 10(2-3), 238-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2013.812593 Erni, J.N. (2013). Legitimating transphobia: The legal disavowal of transgender rights in prison. Cultural Studies, 27(1), 136-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2012.722305 Fung, A. Y. H., Erni, J. N. (2013). Cultural clusters and cultural industries in China. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 14(4), 644-656. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649373.2013.831207 Erni, J.N. (2012). Who needs strangers? Un-imagining Hong Kong Chineseness. Chinese Journal of Communication, 5(1), 78-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2011.647748
Conference Papers Erni, J.N. (2022, June). Recognizing the Unrecognizable: The Case of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2022 Cultural Studies Association Conference (unattended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions), Chicago, USA. Erni, J.N. (2022, May). Art, Surveillance Culture, and Hong Kong’s National Security Law. Paper accepted for presentation at the 72nd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (unattended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions), Paris, France. Erni, J.N. (2021, August). Clashing Aspirations?: Experiences of Youth Volunteering in Times of Social Unrest. Paper accepted for presentation at The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (unattended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions), Kyoto, Japan. Erni, J.N. (2021, July). Critical Remarks at the Closing Roundtable. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Society Virtual Conference, Singapore. Erni, J.N. (2021, July). Weaponizing COVID-19: A Cultural Chronicle. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Society Virtual Conference, Singapore. Erni, John N. (2019). Open world empire: Rethinking law, culture, and rights. Proceedings of international conference: "Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference 2019", Bangkok, Thailand. https://www.pcrconference.org/pcrc2019-proceedings.htmlpublished version Erni, J.N. (2015, May). On citizenship management: The curious lives of the “included-outs”. Paper presented at The 65th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association Erni, J.N. (2014, November). The curious lives of the "included-outs". Paper presented at Monash Asia Institute's International Conference "Asian Cultural and Media Studies Now"
All Other Outputs Erni, J.N. (2016). Transgendering the law [Review of the book Transforming citizenships: Transgender articulations of the law, by Isaac West]. Cultural Studies (1031-1034). publisher. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2015.1007387

Projects


Bridging Cultures: Integrative Approaches to OBOR Music and Culture: Youth Engagement and Innovation This project combines cultural exchange, technological innovation, and educational development within the One Belt One Road (OBOR) framework. The initiative consists of two major phases spanning 2025-2026, focusing on cultural preservation and international collaboration. Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): LEUNG, Chi Hin (ERNI, John N, as Co-Principal Investigator) SDGs Information: 4 - Quality Education, 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Social Media Analytics Research Teams (SMART) Social media connects people to build relationships and friendships but also harms some users’ physical health; psychological, emotional, and social well-being; and interpersonal relationships (e.g., COVID-19 fake news, cyberbullying, internet addiction). However, scholars have not developed systematic evidence-based theories of the psychological, linguistic, and sociocultural mechanisms underlying social media use/misuse and online (mis)behaviors, which obstructs practitioners from developing effective strategies for reducing or alleviating these problems. Hence, we propose Social Media Analytics Research Teams (SMART) to cultivate a network of local and international researchers to create and evidence such theories via rigorous, interdisciplinary studies. Informed by our evidence-based theories, we will pinpoint the needs of specific social media users across contexts. We will discern true vs. fake news, stop cyberbullying, develop stronger identities, reduce fragmentation of attention, and identify mechanisms of (un)critical engagement with Key Opinion Leaders (KOL). Then, we address these needs by equipping key stakeholders with suitable technologies and tools (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI)-powered dashboards, apps) to help people productively and safely navigate social media via appropriate practices (e.g., detect fake news). Together, we will help Hong Kong stakeholders (e.g., workers, students, parents, educators, ITC designers and operators, media, mental health professionals, government officials) (a) learn and use these tools and (b) advocate for suitable policies to improve our society. Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): CHIU, Ming Ming (ERNI, John N, as Collaborator) SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education, 10 - Reduced Inequality, 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
GRF - Underprivileged Ethnic Minority Students’ Language Learning Experience in Shadow Education: A Multilingual Motivational Self Perspective This study draws on the Multilingual Motivational Self System to understand how underprivileged ethnic minority students’ language learning experience in supplementary tutoring interacts with their multilingual selves and shapes their motivational dynamics. Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): YUNG, Wai Ho, Kevin (ERNI, John N, as Co-Investigator)
Promoting the Humanities through a Multi-purpose Chinese Culture Digital Playhouse: An Integrated Portal for Play-based R&D This project aims to establish resilient digital humanities infrastructures to support sustainable teaching, research, and knowledge transfer initiatives in humanities. Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): ERNI, John N,, LEUNG, Pui Wan, Pamela, LAM, Sin Manw, Sophia, HE, Yang, Sunnie, LAU, Chaak Ming, QIAO, Shen, Maggie, YAN, Zi
Asian literature in English: Creativity, translanguaging, and language education This project aims to foreground the linguistic creativity, translanguaging tactics, and pedagogical importance of contemporary Asian literature in English, a rich body of works that has been understudied in world literature. Though undeniably imperial in its origin, literary English has become localised and reinvented by writers of Asia. Specifically, the present study poses a series of interrelated questions: What constitutes Asian literature in English now? How could this emergent repertoire be examined for its literary inventiveness and educational potential? To what extent is such literary English Asian? In what ways might it contribute to revising the categories of “English,” “English literature,” “English linguistics,” and “English education”? What is central to all these questions is a fundamental one: What are the contributions of Asian literature in English to the world in terms of stylistics, linguistics, culture and education? Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the research project brings together the ostensibly disparate insights of literature, linguistics, culture and education in order to create a set of online corpora that facilitate research in each of these areas to answer the above key research question and see how synergies can be created by juxtaposing findings from different perspectives. Methodologically innovative, the project incorporates digital humanities methods in its construction of data, processing of data sets (e.g., syntactic tagging), analysis of literary and linguistic features, and discussion of pedagogical implications. As we envision it, Asian literature in English has much to contribute to the ongoing debate on English as a global language and a medium of literary instruction in digital humanities and language education. Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): MA, Qing (ERNI, John N, as Co-Principal Investigator) SDGs Information: 4 - Quality Education, 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Multilingualism/multiglossia in GBA: From Theory to Practice The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has a long history of using various languages and dialects. The well-known language policy of “biliterate trilingualism” (in Hong Kong) and “three written languages and four spoken languages” (in Macau) shows the tip of the iceberg of the complexity of language and culture fusing and blending here. Following China economic reforms in the 1980s in tandem with the increase of population mobility, more and more regions in GBA have become multilingual/multiglossia communities in which the prominent linguistic hierarchy influences language society and education in all aspects. GBA thus provides an ideal research data culture dish on the research topic of multilingualism/multiglossia and its impact.This proposed project is built upon EdUHK’s longstanding conviction in a holistic approach and collaboration in GBA. A number of initiatives and projects at the University testify to this conviction, such as introducing the GBA curriculum to deepen students’ understanding of GBA through language tours and establishing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance for Chinese Language Education. Centring on studies of multilingualism/multiglossia in GBA, this project will further develop and consolidate the leading role of the Department of Chinese Language Studies (CHL) in Chinese linguistics and Chinese language education by initialising a program of research (including a large-scale survey, symposium and journal special issues, etc.), training workshops, new academic course and programme, and international networking. From a theoretical perspective, by taking the GBA as the entry point, it aims to promote theoretical development and innovation in multilingualism/multiglossia research and seek high-level collaboration with researchers in GBA and beyond. From a practical point of view, it will apply the theoretical findings of multilingualism/multiglossia research to language education so as to promote educational innovation and reform. Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): LIANG, Yuan, ERNI, John N,, LEE, Chi Kin, John
Human Rights Museums as Sites of Cultural Governance and Legal Common Sense .. Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): ERNI, John N,
Comparative Cultures of Care: A Converging Interdisciplinary Focus and Application .. Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): ERNI, John N,
Investigating Digital Literacy Practices and Pre-service Teachers’ Identity Construction: Pre-service Teachers’ Digital Literacy Competence and Integration of Digital Literacy Into Teaching This project will (a) assess our pre-service teachers' digital literacies, (b) accordingly design a suitable digital literacy program for them, and (c) evaluate its effectiveness Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): GU, Ming Yue, Michelle, CHIU, Ming Ming, KOHNKE, Lucas Mathias, Alfred, LEE, Chi Kin, John, ERNI, John N,
Human Rights Museums in the Transpacific: A Comparative Study of Cultural Institutions for the Histories of Difference and Resistance -- Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): ERNI, John N,