Living with Myths in Singapore
Read the Content Page and Chapter 1: Singapore as a Mythic Nation here.
Singapore is a mythic nation, where our ‘reality’ and ‘common sense’ are conditioned by a group of influential myths. Our main myths are examined in this collection of essays and thoughts on the social ramifications of myth-making: The Singapore Story (that our nation has a singular story), From Third World to First (our story of success), Vulnerability and Faultlines (the threats we still face despite success) and A Deficient People (the threats exist because people remain immature).
Myths build social consensus but also marginalise crucial stories, perspectives and possibilities that don’t fit the main narrative. Should we teach our students to be good citizens by telling them one unifying narrative of Singapore, or many varied narratives? Have we always said no to social welfare, or to the casino? Is liberal democracy necessarily a threat to social stability? Have Singaporeans historically been apathetic, ignorant or irrational?
The contributors to this book believe that knowing, and debating, how we live with myths will help us to better understand Singapore today, and to imagine its future. Here they share the robust discussions and debates which took place from 2014 to 2015 even as Singapore celebrated 50 years of full independence.
Living with Myths in Singapore
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Reviews
[This book] offers us the intellectual tools to boldly leap beyond the boundaries of ‘manufactured realities’ – in the spirit and tradition of the political lions of Singapura, past and present. — Associate Professor Lily Rahim Zubaidah, The University of Sydney
Living with Myths is a valuable scholarly text about Singapore’s political and social mythologies… It is a sign of the quality of this book that so many of the contributors – and all of the editors – are young, independent-minded Singaporean scholars who are carving out distinctive, critical and new fields of scholarship for themselves. — Michael Barr, Asian Studies Review
As Singapore moves into the next phase, it will be necessary to clear away the cobwebs in the mind which make ‘hard truths’ easy. This book is thus much needed for a new ‘culture of critical thinking’ to emerge, most importantly the citizens’ initiative and creativity and the emancipation of their minds. The current simplistic narrative has to be replaced by many new perspectives and interpretations. This is what this book begins to do. It is a must read! — Tay Kheng Soon, Akitek Tenggara
By laying bare some of the myths that undergird our present society, this volume provides a valuable starting-point for contending with harmful narratives, conceiving better policy and connecting with a community that has begun thinking seriously about these issues. Its insights can help us to be more truthful to those we serve, and to ourselves. We owe them, and ourselves, as much. — Theophilus Kwek, Mekong Review
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Attunement
Is life hustling you out of tune? As the week roars by, we invite you to a slice of attunement penned lovingly by our authors, friends, and yours truly. Freshly delivered weekly with care. Intimacy guaranteed. Read selected letters below.
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