Singapore celebrates its 50th year of independence next year, but the question of what it means to be Singaporean continues to be a topic of discussion and debate.
Of late, there have been passionate reactions to criticism of Singapore by those in our midst, Singaporeans and foreigners alike. To counter British writer Charlotte Ashton’s labelling of Singapore as suffering from a “massive compassion deficit”, bloggers and letter writers to the media cited examples of people giving up their seats to those in need on the MRT or going the extra mile to help strangers in some way.
When Korean talent show contestant Stephanie Koh, a Singaporean, gave reasons for why she is not proud to be Singaporean in a self-recorded YouTube video, viewers chastised her for lacking national pride. They said she was narrow-minded in her generalisation that Singaporeans are straight-laced, non-creative “homework robots” and cited examples of creative and risk-taking Singaporeans. However, others agreed with Ms Koh’s views, and praised her candour.
These debates are a good reflection of our cultural reality. They reveal the lack of consensus on what it means to be Singaporean, while suggesting several defining features of our shared Singaporean culture. More importantly, they elucidate how, despite differing opinions, there are many Singaporeans who are quick to defend our nation against any criticism.
This defence mechanism, although not always rational, reveals some semblance of a Singapore identity: a sense of “We”. Although our understanding of what it means to be Singaporean remains fungible at best, many of us are proud to be Singaporean. As we mature as a nation, the question is: How can we continue to nurture our Singaporean identity, and foster a stronger sense of belonging and commitment to the country? Can this identity be “activated” to bind us closer together in times when our nationhood is tested or questioned?
Tending to the “cultural layer”
In 1990 – the 25th year of Singapore’s independence – the late playwright, Mr Kuo Pao Kun identified cultural development as a core necessity in the next phase of Singapore’s nation-building. He felt that the focus on economic development and rapid accumulation of material wealth had resulted in a continuing absence of a “cultural layer” in our national life.
For Mr Kuo, the “cultural layer” which could be nurtured through the arts, would be the lifeblood of Singapore, and would determine its survival and resilience. He said: “The most active agent in this core is the arts, because the central concern about the nation’s future rests on whether its people have retained and nurtured its source of creative energy – that dynamic, original impulse which had initiated and executed the making of a nation against all odds. After all, creativity is what the arts is all about.”
Mr Kuo’s ideas continue to resonate today. In her speech during the recent Committee of Supply (COS) Debate, Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh stressed that nurturing creativity in the arts and cultural sectors is a critical means of building resilience and a sense of conviction and hope in Singaporeans – values that are needed to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain world, and remain committed to a common future.
Our “cultural layer” has, in the last two decades, been well tended to. Since 1990, the Government has spared no expense in its efforts to position Singapore as a global city for the arts, and a creative industries hub. Today, a rich array of arts and cultural activities are available to those living in Singapore. In the first quarter of 2014, there was Singapore Art Stage, Mosaic Music Festival, Huayi Chinese Festival of the Arts and the official opening of the Singapore Design Centre. Local talent continues to be showcased at public “flea” markets such as the Made in SG Market and Public Market. The global achievements of home-grown filmmaker Anthony Chen were repeatedly celebrated during the recent COS debate.
Singapore has long shed its past reputation as a cultural desert. Can more be done to ensure that Singaporeans continue to gain exposure to and benefit from our cultural vibrancy?
A repository of our creative output
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong stressed in Parliament the importance of bringing the arts and culture “to everyone and everywhere”. The Ministry has since done this in various neighbourhoods across the country through the PAssionARTS Festival and organising activities like singing, street art and photography.
However, there is currently a dearth of readily available information about the arts and culture in Singapore, which could be addressed through the creation of a comprehensive public repository or portal containing accessible information about the activities and achievements of our creative citizens. For instance, if someone was interested in catching a play tonight, they would have to trawl through several websites to compile all the available options. Similarly, one would have to dedicate a significant amount of time to find out the total number of activities and achievements by our local creatives for any particular time-frame.
Creating an information portal and repository for the arts and culture in Singapore would facilitate easy access to a wide variety of options; heighten awareness of the dynamic range of work produced by Singaporeans; promote our vibrant arts and cultural landscape to all; and encourage collaboration through the identification of common interests. More information would support the current post-creative industries shift towards a more inclusive and participatory approach in arts and cultural policy-making. Finally, it will ensure that our “cultural layer” is not just a forgettable garnish or superficial coating.
As the Singapore population becomes more diverse and as the needs of its citizens evolve, Mr Kuo’s thinking on Singapore’s “cultural layer” is all the more relevant. As he referenced, failure to consistently cultivate and maintain our “cultural layer” could lead to acts of intolerance in personal, familial, community and national affairs.
Enabling more public knowledge of our homegrown creative talent, and promoting their works as platforms for exploring aspirations and anxieties are ways in which the arts and culture will be able to facilitate empathy-building, greater understanding and respect for others.
It is timely to think of new and innovative ways to celebrate the arts and culture in Singapore, for the opportunities they hold in bringing people together and nurturing the conviction that everyone here has a shared future. Singapore needs this, to look forward to the next 50 years and beyond.
Dr Hoe Su Fern is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, NUS. This piece was first published in the TODAY newspaper on 3 April 2014.
Photo credit: PAssion Arts Facebook