In January 2008, I will present my research paper at the International Seminar on Culture, English Language Teaching and Literature organized by Universitas Katolik Soegijapranata in Semarang. For more information about the seminar, you can click http://www.unika.ac.id/letters/index.html. Here's the abstract of my paper.
Abstract
There are several ways how to understand culture – and also politics – in one country. One way is to look at the media that become the backbone of communication between the state and the people. The powerful media can be used to form the people’s understanding on “narratives” created by the state. The narratives on politics, freedom of the press, development, and economy are constructed in such a way that people cannot but accept what are presented through the media. Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew – and also his successors – understood the powerful media could bring about for Singapore’s culture and politics. That is why Lee – and his successors – used the media to build and form Singapore’s culture in the first place. Singapore’s ethnic and cultural diversities – which consist of the Chinese, Indians, and Malays – are regarded as a potential conflict if the state fails to set up a “common denominator” for all Singaporeans. Based on this ground, Lee and his successors figured out what to do to cope with this problem. Lee and his successors came to a conclusion that Singapore government should make use of the media to spread the idea of Singapore culture of which characteristics are pluralistic, cosmopolitan, and meritocratic. The media have contributed to spread the so-called rujak language – or widely known as Singlish – a unique Singaporean English blended with Malay and Indian. Singapore’s broadcast media policy – radio and television – are deeply influenced by Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of the city state. The media have been used to construct good narratives on Singapore’s culture and politics. So was the beginning of the making of Singapore’s culture and politics.
Abstract
There are several ways how to understand culture – and also politics – in one country. One way is to look at the media that become the backbone of communication between the state and the people. The powerful media can be used to form the people’s understanding on “narratives” created by the state. The narratives on politics, freedom of the press, development, and economy are constructed in such a way that people cannot but accept what are presented through the media. Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew – and also his successors – understood the powerful media could bring about for Singapore’s culture and politics. That is why Lee – and his successors – used the media to build and form Singapore’s culture in the first place. Singapore’s ethnic and cultural diversities – which consist of the Chinese, Indians, and Malays – are regarded as a potential conflict if the state fails to set up a “common denominator” for all Singaporeans. Based on this ground, Lee and his successors figured out what to do to cope with this problem. Lee and his successors came to a conclusion that Singapore government should make use of the media to spread the idea of Singapore culture of which characteristics are pluralistic, cosmopolitan, and meritocratic. The media have contributed to spread the so-called rujak language – or widely known as Singlish – a unique Singaporean English blended with Malay and Indian. Singapore’s broadcast media policy – radio and television – are deeply influenced by Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of the city state. The media have been used to construct good narratives on Singapore’s culture and politics. So was the beginning of the making of Singapore’s culture and politics.
