What is Singapore Culture?

Like how Ivy mention in her post, using local films to depict Singapore culture, I’m also going to bring in local films which act as a reflection of the true-blue culture in Singapore.

So, firstly, what is the Singapore culture? Typically, everyone will go on the 3ks, namely, the kiasu, kiasi, kia zheng hu. ( meaning, scare to die, scare to lose, and scare of the government.) I’m not trying to be sarcastic here, but that’s the thought that runs through the minds of most Singaporean.

When I flip through the papers, I laugh at the thought of those campaigns, teaching us how to be ‘Uniquely Singapore’, how to ‘the don’t know how many million smile’ and the ‘let’s be part of the casino era.’ You do realize that even on MRT tracks, we need lines to get us in queue, although I don’t deny the fact that I stillget pushed back into the cabin when I tried exiting the train at times. ( the lines doesn’t work )

So, I suppose, the Singapore culture will be to abide the law and do whatever you’re suppose to? This is often shown in Jack Neo’s film, productions like just follow law and I no stupid. So do you think that’s really our culture? Perhaps, it’s the surface only, my dear.

As a ardent local short film fan, I came across many alternative films in Singapore, depicting something that shows hints of Singapore culture in a more alienated and subtle yet colourful Singapore.You watch Royston Tan show, you see the unspoken and sometimes colourful side of Singapore, things like hooligans ( 15 ) and the traditional culture ( 881). Other shows like moveable feast by Kevin Tong show the multi-racial places and faces of Singapore’s culture, on a different note and perspective. Though some other local flims like pleasure factory shows the ‘not so glam side’ of Singapore red light district, it still adds in the hints of colourful culture we have in Singapore.

Hence, in a positive sense, these short films shows different side of Singapore – how Singapore embrace people from all walks of life, of different background, culture and religion ( like how the pledge goes). Because of this unique nature, we mutate, forming our very own colorful culture, that are often being mistaken. Perhaps we’re too practical and immerse with the rat race, that we failed to appreciate the true-blue Singapore culture, and fall upon the ugly side of what we call, the ugly Singaporean.

Assignment 6 - photo analysis

Canneslions 2007 Press Lions Winners Category - Bronze

Advertiser: Indian Association for the Promotion & Adoption of Child Welfare

An non-profit organization concerned with the escalating issue of orphans and abandoned children in India.

Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai.

Ad type: Public Awareness Messages

In this ad: Sign: A hugMeaning: Love Code: A way to establish closer relations

Semiotics

1. Pierce’s triadic model

Sign vehicle: the form of the sign = hug Sense:the meaning made by the sign =close relationshipReferent:what the sign ‘stands for’ = love

Iconic The photo of two people in embrace resembles a hug, so it isan iconic sign.

Indexical The embrace between the two subjects is affected by the proximity between the both of them, so it is a sign of proximity. Symbolic The embracing of two individuals symbolises love in a conventional manner.

2. Sayssure concept dyadic model Signifier ( form ) and the signified ( concept) are inseparable as a white dove and peace. They are intimately linked in the mind by an associative link that triggers the other. Sign could not consist of sound without sense or of sense without sound. He used the two arrows in the diagram to suggest their interaction. The bar and the opposition nevertheless suggest that the signifier and the signified can be distinguished for analytical purposes. The sign is the whole that results from the association of the signifier with the signified In visual actions, it shows hug. Signifier HugSignified Love It is difficult to explain the distinctions between the two as the signifier and signified are almost identical in a photograph.

Denotation

the surface or literal meaningencoded to a signifierAn embrace denotes the actof clasping tightly or fondly in the arms.

Connotation

An embrace means love, affection, adore, liking, care or even concern.However, in our culturalcontext, it connotes an amicable and intimate relationship between two individuals.

Types of Tropes:metonymy metaphor irony synecdoche

From our shared experience and culture, we often perceive adults as the ones showering love and concern on a child.This ad works effectively through irony as it stimulates the viewer tothink of adoption in a different light.The key message of the ad is effectively brought out with a fitted match between the image and tagline.

Reading the Images: §Colour §Lighting & Special Effects §Kinesics §Costume/Attire §Target Audience – Affluent Indians residing in Mumbai,capital of India §As an Indian residing in Mumbai… §As an Indian residing in other parts of India… §As a foreign national…eg. Singapore

Code we interpret that hugging between a child and an adult = parental love culture = hugging means love, affection, friendliness Technical codes Colour – grey Lighting and special effects – central gradient with concentrated lighting in the middle, behind the boy. The colour is alittle gloomy, but with the glowing central gradient, it acts as a grain of light ( hope). Social codes Expression – show a sense of happiness and love. Clothing – Westernise clothing Because Mumbai is the city of India, the target audience of this ad is more for the educated blue to white collar workers. Hence, the talents in the ads will then be dress in western clothings rather than their traditional costume, so that their target audience can relate it better. Kinesics

the body language itself is self-explanatory. It portrays a loving relationship between the two individuals. The facial expression shows a set of warmth, bringing the viewers into the picture itself. the non-verbal behavior relates to the movement ( hug)

Self-assessment : I personally like this ad alot, because it's subtle, yet, it triggers the us to think about the usual stereotype we have, that it's always the adult showering us with love. NO! We, as kids, can shower with our parents with love to. In this scenerios, it breaks the old stereotype that when it comes to adoption, its always the child that gain LOVE. However, in this ad, it talks about how the kids himself can bring in LOVE to the family. Something different, out of the box, like how the dove ad work ( campaign for beauty). It's always nice to trigger and tickle a certain thoughts in the viewers.

I personally like paul's and meimei's presentation. ( Yes, he can be abit OVERLOADING! HAHA). I like how they study cardology, and how JACK and QUEEN = scandals, and how its only rightful that KING and QUEEN should always be link together. It makes sense, and how the ad uses stereotype to tickle the minds of the viewers. It's creative, and their analysis is interesting. Never did I know realise that each pattern in the cards ( eg. spade, hearts, diamond, 'tree') has a subtle connotation to it.

qiyi and i

Analysis:45/50

Execution: 45

TOTAL: 90/ 100

paul and meimei Analysis:4850 Execution: 4750 TOTAL: 95/ 100

Assignment 5 : Creep - edited (aftermath of tutorial) haha.

Choice 1 :rail lives ( real life)

Before I start explaining anything, I must say the tutorial was really a tough one. It nearly killed all my brain cells. So, what's realism can be a form of expressionism, or formalism, and it all depends on your view on each pictures. Oh well, out of the tons of wonderful pictures we reviewed today, I am very impressed with the Snail picture done by Jillyn. Simple, intriguing and nicely frame. My picture, on the other hand, did not have a strong concept. sigh~ i was in total disappointment. haha. But thank god.. Karen save me! She helped me to place my shots, and I finally got a set of nicely fitted shots for Realism, Formalism and Expressionism. She came out with the little boy, who lost his way in life... and finally, did he find the path in life, the destination that he yearn to go.

Realism As literal as the shot can be, I give it a realistic snapshot. I want my viewer to be able to see what I was seeing ( or put it in another manner; what i want them to see), in this realistic picture. It shows a long stretch of track, as in the 'REAL WAY' tracks of life. It is a wide shot, and it tells you what I am shooting - a rail way track.

Formalism

This shot was done at a very low angle, capturing a limited view of the track. I want to portray the path in life, where the chains markts the different transitions in life, the stones' the obstacles and the 'no finishing line' track represent the uncertainty in life. I change the contrast a little, to a little rusty reddish look, because red represents life too. If this picture is to stand along, it might take a while for viewers ( though not very long) to see what that picture is all about. It's a little abstract, and the rough rusty texture just gives off this creepy feeling. In addition, the angle of the shots gives off the feeling that an individual ( like what karen has mention, a little boy searching for light in life), as he is trying to creep off this stretch of uncertainty, and explore a whole near experience in life.

Expressionism

Mr Reddy mention that my concept's not clear, and that is why, I'm confuse myself. I wanted to portray modernity vs tradition. But he said that the train itself is actually a modern transport, which is true.

Hence, I thought of the path in life and I thought my pictures can portray that.I want to express this then, that in one's life, we usually have to make many decision in life that will bring us to the different routes in life. , in the midst of the 'real life', where the individual is searching ( since he is lost), he manage to find an alternative in life at the junction of the railway, and set to search ( creep - look for ) a better path in life.

Decipher this: I name this picture ' rail life' because i see the tracks as life, and it just brings us onto a trip in life round the world, where, we search for new entities in life. There might be obstacles, there might be challenges, or even lost ( like what karen has mention )but we still need to have the courage to move on the tracks and learn about our future - explore. And at times when we are lucky or we meet certain junctions in life, we have a new alternative, a new form of 'transportation'( car to railway train

Self-assessment /choice 2 ( 87/ 100) : Aesthetic 18, Concept 17, Creativity 16 Effort 18,Technique 18 Alright, I shall compare my artwork with the snails pictures. I think I seriously lose out to her in terms of both the concept and creativity. I will give Jillyn's work 92/100, because I think her shots are intriguing... simple yet creative. It speaks volume, and in a certain way, it puts one in pensive mode actually. I like Ivy's one too, but perhaps because i don't really appreciate abstract art, i took me a while after she presented, that i realise, 'hey, it's a good piece of artwork!' I will give her 90/100 for the concept she has. How the triangle works, how oppression behind those bars speaks about the fear of that MR TAN creeping through those bars to escape from the loan shark. haha. That's very nice!

As for my pictures, I like the way i talk about life. I always have this intriguing thought about life. Often, i love to wallow in 'sorrows' about life, its therapeutic.Hence, i like the way i potray life as railway tracks ' real life', and how, at the different junctions in life, that we decided to take an alternative path which might bring us to the different destination i life.

Choice 2 : defeat oh victory

**( it's just an extra shot, but i would prefer to hand in the first choice.)

Realism As literal as the shot can be, this shot is a straightforward transparent view when i first enter the place, taking the picture from the sides. It gives the viewers 'my point of view' at that time, that all i see was a stretch of tombs.

Formalism I did this shot with a poppy on top of the engraved tombstone.It shows the names engraved on the wall, and the engraving leads you on to the red poppy flower, which is glowing and attracts a certain attention. Red symbolizes love and danger, which at the same time, fits the story behind all these brave souls. They fought a dangerous battle for their love ones, and now, the only thing that is left, is their spirit in us, and the love for all mankind. Expressionism 9 represents danger and urgency, and here, the tombstone that i decided to take was number 9. It just reflects how the india army had to risk their lives then to save the country. I decided to focus only on the engravings and took off all the plants that were blocking the shots. I wanted to portray serenity...hm..but yet, with hints of mellowness in the picture - as though it allows viewers to reflect on their lives and for a moment in time, wallow in sorrow. My emotion for mankind who have fought the war is strong. That's why I've always long to be a war photographer, and how, that perhaps the price of such passion, is that it leads to a deep engraving in one's live.

Decipher this : I love the Kranji war memorial, and oh wells, i didn't choose a graveyard because it's creepy. It's actually a nice place to shoot during the golden hours. ( it was raining that day, so well...) anyway, in my perspective, creep has another meaning, it meant 'defeated'. Yes, the picture itself is self-explanatory,a defeated war. Yet, I feel, ( another meaning for creep - reach) out to people out there, that the sacrifices made by man was worth I love this set of pictures, and i think it leads on to another of Shakespeare's play - Macbeth.

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale..."

Assignment 4 : The day after

The Topsy Tumbling

* After looking at Mei mei's blog, i decided to 'steal' the idea ( but i cited my source okie! haha) using this set of marking scheme for my artwork- Aesthetic,Concept,Creativity,Effort and Technique.

Decipher this: I was actually out to do my montage, with my grandma as the model. But she went screaming, saying that it's not right to shoot her when she's sleeping ( that's the only time she's still), that her soul will be captured in the camera. So i give up, reading the papers when i came across the recent earthquake in Singapore.

So I thought, yes, why not do a montage of a flat that perhaps, will be out of proportion after a serious earthquake. Wanting to stretch the digital technology, I thought i should just make the flats out of proportion, giving it a messy feel. Somehow, I feel that the flat is transforming, and hence, it applies to the concept - the day after.

We never know what will happen tomorrow in our lives, and having a chance to play with a montage that allows us to stretch our imagination - the cause and effect rule.

Comments: I was telling the class that I decided to show part of another building because i want to frame the shot properly. It doesn't give off that 'emptiness' feel, and it fits the ' can you take a shot like this without using montage' criteria. Okie, in a way, I'm trying alittle too hard, and I should have played with different colour tones and angles ( like how Ivy and Jialin has done), i was too rigid and mechanical. The class told me to take a few more scenery sky shots so that i can add on to the white background. I think it works. Will do a reshoot soon.

Self-assesment ( 89 out of 100 ):

Aesthetic 18, Concept 18, Creativity 17 Effort 18,Technique 18 I think the best montage was done by Ivy. I like Ivy's concept, on how she portray the different transitory stage in life. Moreover, with the idea of standing under the sun with the camera capturing all the planes, I thought she should get like 20 for her passion and efforts! I will give her like 95/100 for her works.The shot that she took cannot be replicated using a single camera shot, and I thought the different details ( eg. the sand, the trees and the size of the planes) was intriguing.

In addition, I thought Ivy's picture fits one of Shakespeare's famous quote " All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. " The planes ( if there will be seven), portrays the life of humans, as they learn to escape from the reality of life. in the different stages of life, from naive to manhood.

I gave myself 89 for this assignment, because the montage that I've came out with has this little subtle intriguing idea behind it, about the destructions in life by mother nature... and what might happen the day after.... How things might have change, and how life can be actually quite unfair ( the different proportions in a montage).

Not too subtle though... like Ivy's ( and hence, i lost the 6 marks to her, in the creativity field) .I like Ivy's works because its always so subtle, and yet, intriguing to the minds of human. I like the way she frame her shots too, like how it brings the viewers into the picture and out, of the frame.

Assignment 3 : Change

i remember my childhood...

but i know the feeling will never come back again...

in the phrase of adulthoodit's the deceitful feeling that lures us away to joyto peril...

to pain

to vain effort...

and till we realise that nothing in this world can outlast the sea, the earth and all men.

........

the glow in life goes darker..dimmer..

as it expires...too soon, as it expires before life itself

Introduction to my photo essay : I've always have a passion for photojournalism,( beside the fact that I suc* at stills and candid shots ), and I love to capture the true moments in life. I don't like snap shots, and I would rather interact with my subject and wait for the right moment before I do my very first snap. I'm a fan of Wayne Umehara's works , and also an ardent fan of Jame Nachtwey, one of the most famous war photographer. And hence, that's perhaps the reason why I decided try the photojournalism style;in which the photo dominates and speaks for the copies, for this photo essay. In this photo essay, I decided to touch on the inner most secrets in human - FEELINGS. And I'm bringing in the perspective " each age has it's own views on life" I've choose to portray the two groups of people - the young and innocent; the old and wise. The reason is simple, because these people leads a simple, mundane life.

Comments: I've got rather good comments for this photo essay ( finally! although there wasn't much commotion and everyone was just like nodding; which I hope it means GOOD. haha.). The comments they gave was that my pictures gave off a mellow dramatic feel with hints of emotional reflections hitting upon them. Although I understand that some classmates of mine prefers my shots to be in colour, but because some of the old folks shots are shot in slr black film, the only colours pictures that I have will be the children and outdoor pictures. Hence, to keep it consistent and to fit the topic on feelings, I thought keeping all my shots black and white will be nicer.

Self -Assessment ( 8 /10 ): Of course,I'm bound to lose to our dear friend Paul! haha. He's very good with clean nice stills and the way he capture his subject is just ..great! ( I give him 9.5) If I were to compare myself to his shots ( those portraits), I think I would have lose out the colour details that he's able to portray. But what I feel that I might be strong in, is that I like to go up close and personal with my subject. I usually go close up, while Paul's shots are more wide. He's more of a still person actually, and I love his stills =) As for the rest, it's rather tough for me to gauge my standards with theirs, because most of their shots are stills. Meimei's picture( I give her 8.3) are nice, clean and sharp ( and she can frame very nice pictures), but because I'm not a fan of candid shots, I feel she didn't manage to capture the true essence of some pictures. ( But I'm actually glad that she cried while presenting, it shows that she has put her heart into her works- PASSION! )

Assignment 2: Exposure

1. Estate of colours ISO 500; Shutter 1/40; Apperture; F25

Decipher this: I am trying to portray the idea of a colorful community within the estate. Comments: I understand that the background and foreground doesn't fit well. It's like planting plants at Shenton way. Oh wells, but I thought the contrast of the fruits with the modern buildings would turn out nice. Mr Reddy did point out the fact that the lamp post is abit distracting. I will try to redo a few more shots and see if it will look better.

2. Nostalgic ISO 500; Shutter 1/80; Apperture; F8

Decipher this: I went to ransack my grandma's collection of different utensils, and as usual, I love to document my picture. I try to give a mixture of both old yet contemporary feel for my picture. Perhaps, it will set us thinking, the number of times we head back for dinner these days. Nostalgia, I suppose.Comments: They said my pictures are way too documented and it seems too unreal. Although the contrast and colour does succeed in bringing us into the emotional aspect, there is still room for improve ( as mention by many) that perhaps, on of the point is to be natural and never document your pictures unless you can do it naturally. The placement of chopstick is a good example. It's abit off the picture - distracting.

Self Assessment (85 out of 100): I think overall, my capsicums' picture was rather well-received. However, I think I like the picture of a scenery shots that shows a orangery sky. I like the way how he plays with the exposure and shuttle speed to create that 'moving clouds' effect and it did brings me to a point that I thought that image was so real. Another picture that I deem as one of the better ones was the 'stairway to heaven'. Although Mr Reddy did comment about the sharpness and contrast of the picture, I think that the picture is worth mentioning, because i personally like it alot.

Re-shoot (Oriental Chimes )

Decipher this: I was out with my camera on mid-autumn, so I thought why not do a long exposure shot since I'm out with my tripod. And well, it turns out that I like the effect, something oriental, not so much in focus because of the glaring direct light 'emitting' out from the lantern. It gives off a very 'wong kar wai' flim style feel. The darkest innermost secret in human that are burning within them. Comments: I didn't get a chance to show this in class, because it was a re-shoot after the assignment. I will rate this about 8.7/10. It's special in a way, not cliche shots, and yet, it brings off a mysterious oriental feel. Hence, I've decided to choose oriental chimes and estate of colours as the final copies.

Assignment 1 :

You’ll make your first photogram that talks about you.

1 .My midsummer night's dream

Decipher this: I name this picture after a famous romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, 'midsummer night's dream'. The play focuses on the search for love, and the jealousy of man in love. The main props in the play is the magical flower ( hence, i use tulip) that causes the queen to, ironically, fall in love with a donkey. Hence, I thought purple will be the best colour to portray jealousy. It gives off a mysterious yet melancholy feel to the picture, and with the additional layer of a texture paper, it gives the picture a more '3-D' effect. Comments: I'm surprise that most people like this picture, because they say it gives off a very melancholy feel. Though the stalks is not showing, but somehow,being a fan of Shakespearean play and a fan of purple, I think this picture really speaks alot about myself. I understand that the contrast is a little too harsh, but the picture didn't turn out well when I lowered the contrast - it looks quite sloppy then. So perhaps, I think i shall just leave it as it is, till i have better inspiration for a better picture. Self Assessment (8.8 out of 10): I think if I were to grade it then myself, it would perhaps be 8.8 as compare to most other photograms.Most of my classmates prefers this to the needles natheless to say. They like to rough texture ( which then i use some texture paper to go over the purple paper), and the way the tulip is being place -not too rigid. As compared to Jialin, whose artwork was well-received, I feel that her photogram is special in the sense, it's not just about getting the right clean scan like most people hope to achieve. I've seen mike's and meimei's photogram, and I realise many people love to create clean, bare space in their pictures. I agree it's very nice, but I thought Jialin was rather creative in her artwork because she dare to try out new stuff.. that is- the movement, the colours and how the light in the scanner works. She creates more space for creatvity. I give her 9.3/10. My photogram lack the 'movement' and hence, i rate myself 8.8.

2.Needles natheless to say

Decipher this: 'Natheless' means 'nevertheless' in old english. Because its so clear to viewers that the picture is just about needle and threads, I name this picture ' needles natheless to say'. I'm a minimalist and I've this thing for simplicity. This was actually my first choice prior to 'midsummer night's dream.' However, because of the shadow, the picture doesn't give off a radiant clear white background, but patches of dark shadow which causes the print to lose its attractiveness. Comments: Classmates find it a little too dull and 'on your face'. They thought that it was too simple, and there wasn't much of an abstract art for viewers to decipher. It's too plain, too simple, and it seems like to them that the items were being documented.