IF YA SMELL WHAT THE HOCK IS COOKING??!!

Memories...

Sunday, May 06, 2007

A SINGAPORE CULTURE...?
--------------

You noe, something has been bothering me for quite some time.

It started from last year actually, when i was thinking of applying for another overseas Youth exchange conference. Back then, i was flipping through the application form, and i took a special note of this section, where "applicants have to prepare a cultural performance reflecting that of their home country's culture." It got me thinking for quite long, and quite deep bout what what kind of performance can best reflect Singapre culture.

Fast foward to the present, and ditto again. Me, Tim, and Dinesh gotta put up a cultural performance representing Singapore for the Global Youth Symposium, and i have been cracking my brains real hard (at the top right hand corner of my mind) with regards to what performance to put up.

Actually, the bigger question behind this issue is really about what is "Singapore's culture"? We pride ourselves always as being a "hubber", but what is it that really defines who we are, and reflects who we are and what we believe in? A physical manifestation of that which can be reflected in a cultural performance is not as easy as it seems.

Most likely the 3 of us would probably sing. I was thinking maybe i can sing a Chinese song, Tim can do an English one, and Dinesh a Malay song (haha ironically he's not a Singaporean) to sorta reflect the multi-racial element of Singapore.

But its strange isnt it? I just feel that when people ask u what engulfs Sg's culture, the 1st things that seem to come to yr mind are => kiasuism, rojak, people always in a mad rush, self-centredness, pragmatic, and of coz good food. Minus-ing the good food apart, it seems that initial impressions of Sg culture arent really that favourable..

I wonder what do others think? Maybe some of u can try asking yourself this question of what is pure Sg culture? And if anyone got good suggestions of what kind of cultural performance i m all ears haha. =)

P.S. I oredi got some wild suggestions from some pple: dress up as Merlions and do a Merlion dance (plus drink a few bottles and puke for the special effect) .....enact a scene on the mrt where pple dunno how to wait for passengers to come out before chionging in..enact a scene where pple queue up to buy 4D and Toto...chiong and dance happeningly on stage (coz we are supposedly rated as 2nd best Nightlife in the world, after Italy)...

The Incredible Hock