In our world today, I think this quote is true: Anything that isn’t digitised will eventually die out.
Well, obviously historians will be very much bothered by this. In their museums, they have relics from a time way before computers. So what gives me justification to say something like that?
Well, in our present day, especially in Singapore, there are whole varieties of cultural artefacts that will slowly become extinct, becoming only tourist exhibits, to be seen and no longer experienced. And today, these cultural artefacts are disappearing before our very eyes.
The reason that I’m talking about only Chinese cultural artefacts is because I’m most familiar with them. I’m talking about the Chinese temples, lion dances, getais, puppet shows, Chinese Operas, and other aspects of traditional Chinese art.
To just state generally what these things are, these are remnants of the culture that our immigrant forefathers brought with them as they came to Singapore. These things are essentially pieces of cultural China that they brought with them. You might be thinking, since these arts are still flourishing in China, why should we bother about preserving them in Singapore? That’s a rather good question, and I think that my attempt to answer them will be rather pitiful and fall far short of an actual justification.
Yes, these arts are still flourishing in China. That’s why performing troupes from China come down to Singapore regularly for some art performance or another. The reason that I want to highlight this little cultural nugget is because these artefacts of culture represent an immense treasure trove with which we could redefine Singapore’s identity.
I’m not an artist, nor am I a student of art history, which makes me rather unqualified to make statements like these. But I feel that the old parts of Singapore, both intangible and tangible, should be thrown away that easily just because of their age. We talk of our ‘Asian-ness’ so much that we hardly give attention to what it actually means. Redefining our traditions might be a place to start redefining ourselves.
We should start first and foremost, by going digital, make it available to everyone on the Internet. Set up communities who are dedicated to the preservation of these arts. Have a generation of art students interested in them and allow them to gradually redefine these arts with contemporary interpretation. Have national recognition for traditional arts and recreations. Better yet, suggest how these traditions can be revitalised today. Can we fuse them with Western ideals?
For those who didn’t know, Curse of the Golden Flower, yes – that movie with jay Chou and Gong-Li’s boobs – was actually a rehashing of a play written by a Chinese playwright written in 1934. The message is still the same, but the settings have changed, and made for a modern audience. We need more mishmash like that if traditional arts are going to have a foothold in our iPOD era.
Thats for something else. There are really just so much to be seen, felt, experienced in Singapore... Sphere: Related Content
1 comment:
Come, there is something that won't die out! And you store a lot of it in your house!!! It's... BOOKS! Moron. Ask yourself why you don't like to read e books and you understand why not everything can be digitized. Foo!!! In addition, I don't see signs of any major symphonic bands or orchestras dying out. Yes they might have shit like electric pianos but most people would settle for a real one. If they have the money.
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