(no subject)
i saw man of letters this evening. it was, predictably, a cheesy musical, but entertaining nonetheless. not something i would pay to watch, but still enjoyable (becoz not atas enough lol).
what got me thinking was not the love story (it was marketed as a love story thingy no?), but the political climate of singapore against which the musical was set - 1955, when there were student riots protesting against british presence in singapore (was it when malaya got her independence/self-governance from the brits? was it when marshall got elected as chief minister? i know we got self-governance status in '59 but not sure what the specific events in '55 were. am ashamed to say that i've forgotten much of what i've learned, and enjoyed, in school).
the passion of the students for the cause (i.e. "british go home", "liberty and unity" etc., according to the musical) seemed amazing. granted it was a musical and a high-energy one at that, but i'm sure the atmosphere would have been equally, if not more, electrifying at that point in time. the belief in the cause, and the willingness to engage in and act upon it is something i cannot understand. i belong to the indifferent and apathetic generation of singaporeans.
what made me angry was that those same people who protested in the riots then are more or less the same people who made decisions (consciously or unconsciously) to curb this passion in young people (to not threaten their authority perhaps?). by banning protests and strikes, by making illegal large assemblies of people, by insisting on obtaining a license before public. etc. etc. by designing the university such that there are no large areas where students can gather and protest, to avoid a repeat of '55! ha.
all around the world people strike and protest and demonstrate against ideas which they do not agree with. they have a voice. watching the musical reminded me that we singaporeans had one. i'm not saying here that strikes etc. are good yader yader. of course i know they are disruptive and all, having been victims of such happenings before. i guess the point i wanted to make more was the indifference and apathy of singaporeans today. the lack of ideological, maybe political, passion and belief.
university students not happy with tuition fees hike show their disapproval by wearing ribbons. some of them. and even then, not for long. most people choose to complain about it, but not do anything. in paris students protested over a new employement legislation by taking over a university (albeit merely for a couple of hours)! haha. not the best examples i know, but you get the drift.
and of course the other point i wanted to make was how the people so engaged in fighting for singapore and justice and independence then removed such passion (yes the x-th time i'm using the word, but really, can't think of another word that sums up what i feel is lacking) from the masses.
i think i am feeling rather strongly about this because of the elections that took place 2 weeks ago, and everything that came along with it. perhaps the timing of the musical wasn't that good lol, since the musical is set in a time where singaporeans were the most politically active, which contrasted quite strongly against the total bochupness of the average chap today, even with the elections excitement. but as many critics (sofa or otherwise) have pointed out there is a slight shift towards involvement and awareness this time round for the elections. i'm not quite sure also how this musical is the perfect end to a year-long celebration of nus' 100 years - i should read the programme i suppose.
i want to read lky's memoirs again.
*** the impressions were much stronger when i was watching the musical itself. during the interval, i expressed a similar view to ktq and xela who were present. i suppose the emotions have petered out, and the entry doesn't really sound like how i envisioned it to as i was watching the show (yes, i was really thinking that i should blog about it, and crafting the entry in my head). plus i am so fatigued from my long week without a decent weekend break.
on a separate (or maybe not so separate note after all) note, ktq remarked the other day that he is bored and lacked intellectually engagement and so he signed up for language classes. i've felt like that ever since i started work, and while it was a good break initially, i am now bored. and unsatisfied. and i realised i've lost my voice. i can't even write anymore! this has to be rectified. i don't think i can live like this. or at least, i know i don't want to. ***
what got me thinking was not the love story (it was marketed as a love story thingy no?), but the political climate of singapore against which the musical was set - 1955, when there were student riots protesting against british presence in singapore (was it when malaya got her independence/self-governance from the brits? was it when marshall got elected as chief minister? i know we got self-governance status in '59 but not sure what the specific events in '55 were. am ashamed to say that i've forgotten much of what i've learned, and enjoyed, in school).
the passion of the students for the cause (i.e. "british go home", "liberty and unity" etc., according to the musical) seemed amazing. granted it was a musical and a high-energy one at that, but i'm sure the atmosphere would have been equally, if not more, electrifying at that point in time. the belief in the cause, and the willingness to engage in and act upon it is something i cannot understand. i belong to the indifferent and apathetic generation of singaporeans.
what made me angry was that those same people who protested in the riots then are more or less the same people who made decisions (consciously or unconsciously) to curb this passion in young people (to not threaten their authority perhaps?). by banning protests and strikes, by making illegal large assemblies of people, by insisting on obtaining a license before public. etc. etc. by designing the university such that there are no large areas where students can gather and protest, to avoid a repeat of '55! ha.
all around the world people strike and protest and demonstrate against ideas which they do not agree with. they have a voice. watching the musical reminded me that we singaporeans had one. i'm not saying here that strikes etc. are good yader yader. of course i know they are disruptive and all, having been victims of such happenings before. i guess the point i wanted to make more was the indifference and apathy of singaporeans today. the lack of ideological, maybe political, passion and belief.
university students not happy with tuition fees hike show their disapproval by wearing ribbons. some of them. and even then, not for long. most people choose to complain about it, but not do anything. in paris students protested over a new employement legislation by taking over a university (albeit merely for a couple of hours)! haha. not the best examples i know, but you get the drift.
and of course the other point i wanted to make was how the people so engaged in fighting for singapore and justice and independence then removed such passion (yes the x-th time i'm using the word, but really, can't think of another word that sums up what i feel is lacking) from the masses.
i think i am feeling rather strongly about this because of the elections that took place 2 weeks ago, and everything that came along with it. perhaps the timing of the musical wasn't that good lol, since the musical is set in a time where singaporeans were the most politically active, which contrasted quite strongly against the total bochupness of the average chap today, even with the elections excitement. but as many critics (sofa or otherwise) have pointed out there is a slight shift towards involvement and awareness this time round for the elections. i'm not quite sure also how this musical is the perfect end to a year-long celebration of nus' 100 years - i should read the programme i suppose.
i want to read lky's memoirs again.
*** the impressions were much stronger when i was watching the musical itself. during the interval, i expressed a similar view to ktq and xela who were present. i suppose the emotions have petered out, and the entry doesn't really sound like how i envisioned it to as i was watching the show (yes, i was really thinking that i should blog about it, and crafting the entry in my head). plus i am so fatigued from my long week without a decent weekend break.
on a separate (or maybe not so separate note after all) note, ktq remarked the other day that he is bored and lacked intellectually engagement and so he signed up for language classes. i've felt like that ever since i started work, and while it was a good break initially, i am now bored. and unsatisfied. and i realised i've lost my voice. i can't even write anymore! this has to be rectified. i don't think i can live like this. or at least, i know i don't want to. ***