photography

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.