the local/the foreign

It's strange, but being away from Singapore, has thrown so much more insight on the country I left then if I have never left it. Perhaps, that why it is sometimes refreshing to hear about yourself through someone else's eyes. As always, we are limited to our own points of views, and being in a place, we are blind to its beauties, its ugliness. It has long become a form of backdrop in our lives. The HDBs are but places we return to, type on our computers in. Where we take the elevators, only as a mere function. an in-between to what our day promises.

But it is these things, little things which I miss about Singapore. And never before has some of these taken for granted things about it, struck me as strange. IT is strange, because I think Singapore has lots of talents. If you guys can come over here and see the advertisements here. You'll be shocked at how bad they are. The messages are always loosely linked, you are suppose to draw your own conclusions about what the advertisements are saying about the products. And your conclusions can go both ways. Everytime it leaves my sis and I going " What? What are they saying?" The art scene here is definitely more liberal, they have many more independent places where plays, arts, performances are being produced, but if you ask me, our local art scene despite the lack of freedom and opportunities to develop freely in its own sphere has some much more potential and excitement than some of the art/performances here.

ONe question which bugs me is, why is it that when I was in Singapore, I have never seen this? Never known this? The most thought provoking is how I can be one of those people who fail to recognize that" Yes, Singapore has a unique CULTURE" instead of disregarding what we have as culture, or worse, denying that Singapore even has a culture in the first place. Perhaps, because too much of this concept of "culture" has been monopolized by the government. We are sick of slogans, national parades rammingn it down our throats about what being Singaporean means, "this is what our culture is". WE yearn for osmething more, somethign deeper than some flashy costumes and a rehearsed dance. It will work on kids, but once we've attained a certain level of critical thinking, everything becomes suspect. And what a lot of Singaporeans, our generation has done is to fling all that aside. A total abandonment or the attempt to disregard this, instead of a filtering or a search to find where this culture actually lies, if there is indeed one. Singapore is condemed to be a "boring place, where nothing new can be discovered, because that is all there is to it. WE have no culture, but this massive globalization that is happening".

In all cultures, there are creators as well as recipients of those cultures. Some of it comes from tradition, but in fact, a lot of it comes from new creations, innovations which people as a group take on when themselves as similar. There is no such feeling among SIngaporeans. No wonder, people who try to create a unique new culture, inevitably fails. Who is out there who wants to take on this 'new-ness?" EVerything local has somehow attained a discrimination that it will sooner or later become too cheesy (like local sit-coms) or too political (like local theatre) which never seems to be able to escape from political issue or too art house (like local films) which always try too hard. WE are in a death-trap. WE shout on one hand" We have no tradition, we have tossed that aside", on the other hand we secretly disbelief that Singapore can produce anythign truly genuine and new that will take off among its own people.

THe Americans are patriotic to the extent of believing that their version of truth/democracy can be exported like a commodity and will work because it is a "TRUTH" like justice, that "Democracy will promise freedom and happiness". Of course, we Singaporeans are much more cycnical or realistic. But on the other hand, they are also patriotic enough to stand up to criticize people in power should this value they hold so dear be threatened.

At the heart of it, I think Singaporeans really don't believe in themselves. And they are quick to burst little bubbles local artistes (not artist) have. Like Singapore idols--they are but that--bubbles, everyone is too quick to burst before they are given a chance to form themselves proper. And then when they do ultimately fail, we say "there we knew it", "they are not going to make it big in Singapore". Isn't it strange that so many local talents are seeking to establish themselves overseas before they gain recognition from their own people?

And I still can't shake off the image of general responses to all products local. IT's a local band? I'm not interested. LEt's watch that new Hollywood blockbuster instead. I'm not gonna waste my money on local films.---That was teh kind of Singapoer I left, perhaps, when I return it might be changed. But as always, you might have a new breed of culture creators, you still need a new group of recipients.