-credits to www.talkingcock.com
Geert Hofstede defines culture as the "collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another..includes systems of values and values are among the building blocks of culture".
This made me think about Singapore's culture? What is it exactly? Do we even have a culture? Many people have the misconception that Singapore does not have a bona fide culture ironically, due to our culture diversity.
I beg to differ. I feel that owing to the fact that Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people of different races live harmoniously and interaction among different races is high, our culture is, as the Singapore Tourism Board has painstakingly been promoting- unique! It is not the "leeching" off of other countries with rich cultures as some people perceive it to be, but the fusion of the cultures of various ethnic groups such as the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian races, and making it our very own.
As reflected by the comic, we have come up with our own language- Singlish! Our own colloquial/creole language(a stable language that originates seemingly as a nativized pidgin) fundamentally English due to the British colonialization, but now loaded with substantial influences from the languages of the various ethnic groups. Interestingly, a book- The Coxford Singlish Dictionary as well as website has been created and dedicated to celebrate our culture as well as to aid non Singaporeans in understanding us better, as well as to increase effective communication between Singaporeans and the world(tourists for instance).
Similarly, thanks to our multi-racial society, we have the privillage of having and being exposed to all kinds of different cuisines and foreign delicacies that have been "localised" and invented new "fusion food" to call our own. For instance, from the above comic strip, "Supperman" the Chinese superhero is shown ordering roti prata- a local favourite created by the fusion of local Malay and Indian culinary skills.
"Rojak" is another food that Singaporeans have come up with that i feel represents us. It is a fruit and vegetable salad dish. The term "Rojak" is Malay for mixture, and also used as a colloquial expression for an eclectic mix, and in particular is often used to describe the multi-ethnic characteristics of our Singaporean society.
A sub culture prevalent in Singapore is our tendency to be "kiasu" or the fear of losing out to others. This word is often used in describing our social attitudes, our constant fear in losing out in our highly competitive society- the pressure of having to do well not only in exams but other non-academic achievements as well, in order to compete in our increasingly competitive and stressful society. Growing up with this mindset and belief that if they do not be "kiasu" brought on by teachers, parents as well as society in general, causing these students to become ambitious businesspeople, with the desire to be on top in terms of wealth and prestige, regardless of whether the most prestigious careers are aligned with what they really want.
Another pervasive Singaporean phenomenon, is the use of tissue packets to "chope" or reserve seats in food courts or hawker centres. This use of an artefact to "mark one's territory" is a social cue that Singaporeans (not all) have adopted to ensure that they have a space to sit and eat due to lack of space at crowded eateries. Even though I understand this logic behind the "choping" of seats, I still find it kinda weird at times and wonder if this kind of culture should be encouraged.
Imagine you are a tourist happily walking into a food court to try some local fare and you see this strange scene.
You then shrug it off and take a seat, thinking that Singapore is such a clean, well equipped place that free tissue paper is provided even at public food courts...until some auntie returns with a tray of food, gives you a killer look, points at the packets of tissue and chases you away.
Talk about culture shock.
No too long ago, the Singapore Discovery Centre introduced these interestingly designed tissue paper packets as tribute to this local phenomena.
I don't know if I should laugh or shake my head.
Should we really reinforce this kind of culture?
11 comments:
Of course we should encourage such expressions of creativity! Just because they don't have reserving tables with tissue in Mamma Mia, High School Musical or One Tree Hill doesn't mean that its wrong.
Its UNIQUELY SINGAPORE, just what the tourism board wants.
Besides, public swimming pools in Japan/Korea have a special chemical that turns the water purple if someone pees in it. I didn't see that in the OC, so is it wrong?
HAHAHAH!
You've got a point, but "chope-ing" stuff isn't very socially gracious don't you think? (:
Neither is choosing the sex of your baby. Parents are always telling their children that the early bird gets the worm. What are we teaching our kids? Give way to someone who got there later?
Hmmm...I can't fight you there, but i think we can do better then portraying ourselves as a "kiasu" nation. I think beyond or "kiasu-ness" there are other more glorifying/ gracious things which make us Uniquely Singapore. (:
All nations are kiasu. No one wants to lose. Unless say you live in a Sitcom world where the wrongs right itself.
Why is there a shame attached to Singlish, choping seats, and Kiasu-ism. Its NATURAL.
The human body has evolved over thousands of years to crave high calorie food to make sure we stay alive. Is that kiasu-ism? Sure as hell, and its also Kia-Si-ism.
By todays glitzy Hollywood "laid by 13" standards, its crass. But if it keeps me alive, I'd pick that over anything, anyday.
Like my Ah Bak.
OKAYS YOU WIN.
BUT i didnt disagree with the singlish part, i think thats a good representation of us which makes us unique. AND, i still think there are other more glorifying/gracious cultures that we should look to.
YA LOR!
HAHAHHA(:
I used to be disgustingly (of course im not disgusting myself! duh!)prejudiced, for lack of better word, against what we termed "cheena" Singaporeans- yes, shamefully being one myself as well. Charis, you understand that!!! I embraced the "westernized" culture and saw it as a more "superior" system in many things. Ouch I know, how revolting! Then I came to realise (it's never too late) the unique-ness of OUR VERY OWN "culture", in which I had always failed to associate myself with! And ditto that, Charis, we are a fusion of many cultures improvised, and that makes it OUR "culture". And to be very honest, I have only recently started appreciating how our educational system actually put us through the learning of two languages, how many people in the west actually speaks 2 fluent, although 'a bit rojak but still nice anyway (lah)' language, like ourselves?
ps that was a interesting comic!
and, to clarify (after reading through my posts I have realized that i might have had some sentence structure errors), im not "cheena"! No, I say I am not.
See? I still have to be defensive right!
Guess what? I just did a topic on this in school too!
Alright, I do agree with you Charis and I don't think it is very nice of us to always and keep portraying our "kiasu" side to foreigners. We should know our limits. Yes that makes us unique but it doesn't have to become a social norm isn't it?
Personally I don't think that it the 'Chope-ing" of seats in food courts is a nice thing to do. Be considerate to other people. No doubt it is different from other countries but there isn't a necessity to do so just to secure your seat yeah?
Talking about being "kiasu' also leads to the point of the stressful education system in Singapore. If everybody is eying for the first position, what kind of culture or system are we trying to portray to foreigners?
I guess we got to know our limits too (:
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