Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GP Notes 2010 (Essay)
GP Notes 2010 (Essay)
Content Page
1. Media
a. New vs. Traditional
b. New: narcissistic?
c. Government Censorship
d. Profit-driven Media
e. Advertising
f. Private life of public figures
g. Celebrity as a role model
h. Blame media for our problems
i. Power + Responsibility of Media
j. Media ethics
k. New Media and Democracy
2. Science/Tech
a. Science and Ethics
b. Government and scientist role in science
c. Rely too much on technology?
d. Nuclear technology
e. Genetic modification
f. Right tech for wrong reasons
3. Arts/Culture
a. Arts have a future in Singapore?
b. Why pursue Arts?
c. Arts and technology
d. Uniquely Singapore: Culture
4. Environment
a. Developed vs. Developing
b. Should environment be saved at all costs
c. Are we doing enough to save the environment?
d. Main reasons for environmental problems nowadays
5. Religion
a. Religion divides more than it unites
b. Religion and politics
c. Science and religion
6. Terrorism
a. Can terrorism ever be eradicated?
7. Sports
a. True purpose of sports nowadays
b. Sports and Media
8. Foreign Aid
a. How effective is Foreign Aid?
9. Migration
a. Is migration/having foreigners good?
10. Subjects
a. Literature
b. History
c. Mathematics
d. Universal language
11. Businesses
a. Business morality
b. Charities as businesses
12. Democracy
a. Good vs. Bad
13. Social Issues (only stats provided)
a. Gender
b. Family
c. Equality
14. Governance
a. World Governance
15. Others
a. Cooperation
b. Education
c. Crime
d. Liberty or Security
e. Consumerism
1. Media
Utility
User-friendly with whole range of in-depth technical guides but
serve as a distraction, hopping from link to link
Distractions due to sheer variety of content and multimedia can be
both especially tempting and exceptionally deadly
Clear psychological difference to reading a novel manuscript off a
laptop screen and actually cradling the hardcopy edition in ones
hand (simple sentimentalities?)
Conclusion:
Enabled the flourishing of individual expression, to the extent of
narcissism
New media is but a neutral tool; how we use it will determine
Regulated (political-BAD):
Morphs into a powerful tool to influence peoples beliefs and values
Sends chills down a liberals spine
Magic behind oligarchs, juntas, emperors, authoritarians abilities
to rally the support of the people behind them
Suppress all information that may jeopardize a governments
position
Devoid of all diversity
Robert Mugabe: corrupt president of Zimbabwe forced all news
broadcasting firms to close down, allowing only the governmentregulated news firm to disseminate info
Rwanda: Genocide was propagated through state-backed radio.
Extremist Hutu group took control.
Circumscribed the variety of information
Government dedicated to serving the good of the people, unaware
of Zimbabwes atrocious human rights record
Chairman Mao censored any dissenting views criticizing his reign
Indonesia and Taiwan: demonstrations, riots, and needles bloodshed
Kills off certain aspects of artistic creativity through selective choice
of content and hence might be said to be an insult to the
professional judgement of the producer of the piece
Acutely aware of shock effect on the public created through grisly
images and shocking, eclectic (free) perspectives on established
issues
Stir up emotions over a humanitarian crisis, one inevitably uses
fottage of cadavers, mutilated and burnt
Lamabaste an entity or concept, one can choose to adopt and
acridly acerbic tone
Media conveys information conducive to public debate. If
government restricts this, stunt social growth and awareness by
limiting information available
China: government blocks web addresses that contain opinions or
sentiments that are anything short of in praise of them (online
criticism is blocked, limits to what newspapers can print). Still
forbids extensive coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests of
1989 where hundreds of students protesting peacefully were
brutally massacred. In light of its deplorable human rights record, it
is not difficult to see why the Chinese government has so much at
stake it risks sparking off massive public outcry. Modernising
rapidly, still persists with unethical means of suppressing dissent
Susceptible to influence of lobby-groups.
E.g. The film Cut by local film maker Royston Tan was supported
by MDA because it encourages debate on censorship.
Freedom of Speech:
I disapprove of what you say but Ill defend to death your right to
say it Voltaire
Freedom of speech is fundamental to a democracy as it creates
educated and mature individuals that are able to make informed
decisions
National Security: prevent enemy from acquiring information of military
value
White House reporters said they were given very limited information
regarding the cost, the length and the possible risks in the military
attack on Iraq
Media literacy
Tools of censorship tend to work as a blunt instrument. Filtering
software isnt particularly selective. By filtering the words hate,
software will certainly screen out most hate Web sites but may also
block access to valuable and legitimate resources such as sites
dedicated to anti-racism, Jewish culture, war museums etc.
Forbidden fruit effect
A critical analysis on the media will inspire youths to question why
violence is so prevalent in our media today
Help them to realize that media is not a reflection of reality but
rather a social construct
White House report that media literacy empowers young people,
not only to understand and evaluate the ideas found in popular
culture, but also to be positive contributors to society, to challenge
cynicism and apathy and to serve as agents to social change
enhances rather than curtails young peoples intellectual growth
and their development into critically thinking adults
Censorship cannot achieve this
1d. Profit-Driven
Intro
Manifestations of what extremely parochial motives can do to
transform a medium that should serve multiple purposes
Profit driven: inextricably bound to the economic context and
financial imperative of the media industry
Govt regulated: devoted to perpetuating specific sets of values and
beliefs
Eventuates in the ending of all variety, choice and vibrancy
Ludicrously stilted motives
Profit driven: keep using same formula, no creativity
Modus operandi of mass media is governed by corporate sponsors
Television shows are produced so that a certain number of
audiences watch the advertisements during commercial breaks
Corporate sponsors pay broadcasting firms based on number of
people they expect to watch the show
Trite (commonplace, hackneyed) banality (predictability) and lack of
innovation in media: cookie-cutter programmes
Falling standards and tastes of the broadcasting
The wildly successful birth of Survivor cemented the place of reality
TV in our culture today
Spurned many other reality TV shows ranging from Amazing Race to
Fear Factor whose formulaic (rigid), insipid (dull) nature makes the
discerning viewer queasy with its monochromatic excesses of catfighting, sex and cheap sentiment
The Bachelor has spawned Joe Millionaire, Average Joe and Who
wants to be a Millionaire
Invariable formula, attract millions of viewers
Bland and utterly unpalatable
Profit driven: target group always the same
Target largest group of people in society with abundant purchasing
power to maximize revenue
Cater to tastes of the majority
Social groups which are deemed unlikely to purchase advertisers
products are unfortunately marginalized
Include disabled and elderly who have limited purchasing power
and are deemed to be less overwhelmed by consumerist desires
In contrast, teenagers and young adults are the motivation behind
shows produced today
Firms have long been cognizant of the baffling appeal of violence:
proliferation of violence
Music lyrics (Eminem Kill you), video games (Grand Theft Auto),
movies (only one in five violent movies rated R).
Reduced to nothing more than a few painfully ubiquitous themes
1e. Advertising
General Stats:
In 1880: Global advertising expenditure was $30million
In 1910: $600million
In 2000: $120billion
By 2006, by the most conservative of estimates, $600billion
Coca-Cola spent $234 million in advertising in USA alone
Macdonalds spent $2 billion in advertising
There is nothing inherently wrong with advertising
Corporations have the right to publicize their product to the public
and the public has the right and desire to know what is out there in
the market
Advertising accounts for 60% of newspaper and magazine
production and almost 100% of electronic media production
However, advertising has deviated from its original purpose of informing
the public about new products
E.g. Use of photoshop
E.g. Sex sells Agent Provocateur lingerie got sexy pop icon Kylie
Minogue to ride wildly on a mechanical bull and challenge the men
in the cinema to stand up to prove to everyone that they were not
turned on
E.g. Terms and Conditions of financial advertisements always
printed in small font
E.g. Use of empty but colourful language such as new and
improved, or part of a complete meal for fast food when it is
actually only healthy when eaten in extreme moderation
E.g. Before and after photos for slimming advertisements. In the
before photos, the person usually slouches, is pictured in full view
and is clad in unsuitable clothing. In the after photos, pictured in
half view with more attractive clothing. Increased attractiveness is
thus attributed to weight loss.
E.g. Fast food usually photographed in warm light so that it looks
healthier. Corn flakes on cereal boxes look permanently golden and
crispy because it is held not in milk but in white glue. Similarly,
sesame seeds are super glued on to the burgers for photoshoots.
Audience themselves have become the product
The media captures the peoples attention and sells this attention to
the firms. Firms use this attention to advertise their products. Thus,
contrary to conventional wisdom where advertising is all about the
firm trying to sell products to the public, the audience themselves
have become a valuable commodity to the advertisers
E.g. A 30 second advertising slot during Oscar Ceremony costs
$US1million as it promises 60% of American female viewership
Overexposure has caused desensitization and advertising messages work
into our conscious
Since firms want a constant supply of viewers who want to purchase their
products, it is in the interest of the advertisers to create a sense of
inadequacy rather than a sense of self-satisfaction
Since one has to be confident before he starts to think of society,
advertising causes selfish mindsets
E.g. Bust enhancement advertisements link a womans confidence
solely to the upkeep of her looks
Stealth advertising has caused us to lower our guard
E.g. ABS used prime news time to advertise Touchstone Pictures
movie Pearl Harbour as both ABS and Touchstone belonged to
Disney
Product placement
E.g. The movie Tomorrow Never Dies earned a landmark $1million
from advertising with James Bond seemingly preferring to use BMW
motorcycles and Omega watches
E.g. In the movie Runaway Bride, FedEx was featured with the
punchline wherever she goes, shell reach there before 1030am
E.g. Reebok sued Tristar pictures for $10million for a movie in which
the protagonist preferred Nike to Reebok
Questionable cultural values being advocated in advertisements
Narrowing concept of feminine and masculine beauty: Handsome
men generalized to be muscular, athletic, chiseled and toned while
beautiful women are seen to have above average breast size, long
legs, long hair and white complexion.
Consumerism and materialism: Advertisements seem to purport
that one can achieve a happy, satisfactory life by buying the right
products.
Advertising has been used intelligently and responsibly in the promotion of
important causes
The Body Shop: Promote female empowerment and environmental
awareness. Printed advertisements about missing children on all her
Body Shop trucks to help the police in their search
2005 international campaign for Dove: debate about beauty:
challenges the preconceived notions of what makes a woman
beautiful
For 1:
Behaviour we often condemn as morally degrading is part of their
private lives
All-invasive nature of reporters and photographers eager for the
next big scoop, be it Zhang Ziyi frolicking topless with her Israeli
fianc or Amy Winehouses latest entrance into rehab, have
rendered this demarcation between the public and the private
impossible for celebrity
E.g. Vanessa Anne Hudgens scandal: Declared as befits her image
as a wholesome, Disney-endorsed starlet, that she wishes to be a
role model for girls. Nude photos scandal. Parents whose children
are ardent fans of the High School Musical franchise dismayed and
condemn her BUT Hardly her intention & human and fallible
Celebrities, by virtue of the other privileges they enjoy, should bear
greater social responsibility as equal exchange
Media just as culpable (for seeking attention-grabbing story to
ensure wider readership) for deliberately sensationalizing these
negative behaviours
Parents play a role
Not to advocate a kind of Big Brother mentality
Immediate influence of the surrounding moral environment probably
has the most impact on a child or teens behaviours
What are right values and how or why they should be espoused
Compare political figures
Commit illegal acts or influence youths in extreme ideology
Exceptional qualities of leadership, advocacy or enlightenment on
various social issues
E.g. Mao Zedong stir youths in 1960s Cultural Revolution: lasting
damage especially to the cultural and societal fabric of China
Amount of negative influence politicians could wield is much greater
than celebrities as they are the ones ultimately charting the
progress of a state
Stirring fervent youths in the wrong direction, such as acts of
terrorism or violence could cause lasting damage to generations of
youths and even their societies
Giving young people too little credit to suggest that they are the
helpless victims of a media onslaught, able only to succumb to
media influence without any resistance
Todays youths do not have to accept the stereotypes reinforced by
pop songs or movies; free to challenge the value systems and
morally-suspect messages presented to them
Like all other industries, media industry ruled by forces of supply
and demand
If youths choose to buy magazines that promote materialistic
superficiality or decide to watch reality shows that glorify violence
Against 4: Generalization
The media encompasses everything from The Asian Wall Street
Journal to Teenage Magazine and includes both documentaries and
mindless sitcoms alike
Only a section of the media responsible
Also problems other than those commonly cited by critics of the
media: academic stress, social politics, a dysfunctional family
situation or even financial difficulties
Hardly blame depraved television programmes
Range of problems faced by young people is vast and media only
implicated in a small portion of those problems
Medias role one of influence rather than causation
Putting aside question of the medias culpability, if we still hold it fully
responsible, against all logic, inevitably attempt to tackle problems by
merely censoring and diluting the media. Root of problem remains
unacknowledged.
The media remains a convenient scapegoat; but to persecute a scapegoat
is to remain unaware of the truth
For 4:
Effectiveness of energy sources: nuclear energy 80%, wind and
micro-algae production only provide energy at efficiency levels of
20% and 40% respectively
Marry the concepts of environmental conservation and continued
economic development
Against 4: Nuclear weaponisation is severely detrimental to global stability
and highly undesirable given ethical concerns and political risks involved
Cold War: tens of thousands of nuclear warheads instilled worldwide
fear for four decades
End of Cold War in 1989: sign of hope for humanity BUT also
brought about notion that any further pursuit of nuclear technology
was an attempt to ruin newly-founded state of global stability
E.g. Pyongyangs 2007 nuclear test & Tehrans insistence on
pursuing peaceful nuclear research embargoes, threats of war,
UN sanctions, political isolation
Nuclear weaponisation now seen as bordering on a belligerent
action against the rest of the world
3. Arts/Culture
3a. Arts have a future in Singapore?
Intro:
As a disclaimer to his appearance in the beloved classic Much Ado
About Nothing, well-known local thespian Adrian Pang implored his
audience to not judge him by his television work
This dismissive, almost shame-faced attitude, lamentably depicts
the general consensus regarding Singapores fledging arts scene
Tide of common perception changing slowly but surely
Government active encouragement + growing receptiveness of
people towards arts
Singapore arts scene increasingly influential
Last few decades determinedly striven towards making its
presence felt
From interviews with popular stage actress Emma Yong enjoying a
full page coverage in local newspapers to the construction and
renovation of iconic buildings such as the Esplanade and the
National Arts Museum that have irrevocably altered the local
landscape healthier than a decade ago
Private sector and government, under the auspices of the
substantially-subsidized National Arts Council, have in no minor part
helped to lure international acts from overseas. The British staging
of The Tempest and the Indian remaking of Hamlet: The Prince of
Clowns
Common perception and prevailing majority mindset casts a shadow on
this lofty prospects
As Adrian Pangs disclaimer illustrated, the arts in Singapore are still
very much limited to the filtered-air domain of the affluent and
Western educated
In contrast, the stereotypical local heartlander is expected to enjoy
his lower-rung fare Jack Neo movies and Channel 8 Dramas
instead
Pander to majority appetites and do art that is not necessarily
challenging to his craft
Common perception is doggedly fixed against the arts as a viable career
choice, advocating instead professions such as engineering and science to
put food on the table
Distressing trend of local artists moving overseas to further their
passions after finding it impossible to ply their trade in Singapore
Fashion designer Andrew Gn decided to move overseas to find
success and the open-armed receptions in the Parisan catwalks that
are not available in Singapore
Government has realized this problem and has expanded its art promotion
policy to funding and supporting local talents, especially budding ones
Newly-minted School of The Arts, proudly occupying eleven storeys
of building at the heart of the business district
Generous funding from the Arts Council (Piano virtuoso Abigail Tans
piano classes are fully subsidized)
Increasingly receptive to the Arts
Democratisation of the Arts through HeARTbeat, bringing the arts to
the public
Increasing instances of people collecting Asian Art, which are priced
from a reasonable few hundred dollars, is so dramatic that it has led
to the construction of the Tanjong Pagar Distripark to keep this
burgeoning collection
Ashley Isham turned his back on European acclaim to re-establish
his headquarters in native soil, speaks volumes of the growing
receptiveness towards the arts in Singapore, something that the
sold-out status of acts such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera can
certainly attest to
History has shown that there has been a strong correlation between
growing affluence and a thriving arts scene
E.g. Emma Yong credited her freedom to pursue her passions to her
parents ability to support her financially
Not pressurized to choose bread-and-butter professions should their
calling lie elsewhere
Conclusion:
Important to recognize the presence of local artists and artworks
that Singaporeans can genuinely be proud of bands like Electrico,
acts like the ever-charming Dim Sum Dollies and films like Glenn
Goeis The Blue Mansion as improvements on stereotypically
substandard Mediacorp broadcasting
SM Goh Chok Tong once declined labeling Singapore as a First World
Nation because she lacked the artistic and cultural developments
If sales revenue from the sale of CDs plummet because the public
opts for the cheaper alternative of free downloads, then the artist is
deprived of both the will and the resources to make a new album
Malaysian artists, for example, frequently allege this as the reason
why domestic music industry cannot take off
BUT in response to growing concerns of copyright breach, a
matrix of intellectual property law has arisen to preserve artists
incentive to create, in tandem with the recording industry of
Americas crackdown of illegal file-sharing services
Preservation of classics
Restoration and reconstruction of damaged prints from the Italian
Renaissance, currently exhibited in Americas National Gallery of
Art. Impossible without the precise tools and substances that
technological advances have given us
Development of colour fixatives has been a godsend for colourpencil artists. Absence of such fixatives, pencil pigment flakes off
easily diminishing the vibrancy of even the most meticulously
coloured masterpieces within months
Birth of some new forms of art
Digital art: Adobe Photoshop
Provide fertile ground for artistic inspiration: the Bauhaus
movement and the doctrine of new internationalism in twentiethcentury architecture argued for a consideration of houses as
functional living machines and drew inspiration from the
construction of multi-storey flats, carparks and state buildings
Marcel Duchamps masterpiece the urinal, which embodied a
rejection of the aesthetic process would have been impossible
From a Marxist perspective, developments in the technological
base led to the artistic superstructure growing even richer and
more interesting
Communication revolution and accessibility of e-texts have benefited the
literary tradition
Allowed writers access to other writers works and ideas with a click
of the mouse
Allows meeting of many minds and the literary movement is surely
richer with such dense interaction
Post-structuralist Julie Kristeva maintains that all literary texts are
tissues of past citation, allowing authors access to other works is
absolutely essential
Technology has influenced Arts content
We already know that computer technology has enabled the
diversification of art forms, but in terms of actually permeating the
concerns of artists, technology has also played a key role
Exemplified in the proliferation of art dealing with the issue of
scientific progress and whether this bodes well or ill for the future of
mankind
4. Environment
Intro:
Several events have brought the issue of environmental
conservation to the forefront
Documentary An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore brought the issue
to the masses
UN commissioned a study on climate change that concluded, rather
worryingly, that climate change is affecting the environment more
than the wildest of projections from barely a few years ago and is
set to accelerate in the foreseeable future
BUT with current economic crisis, voters no longer consider global
warming a priority. 42% of Germans now worry about climate
change, down from 62% in 2006. Australia, 53 percent still consider
it a pressing issue, compared to 75% in 2007. Americans rank
climate change dead last of 21 problems that concern them most,
according to a January Pew poll.
2010, Canadas Prime Minister Stephen Harper, blasted climate
change as a sideshow to global economic issues, canceled the
meeting of environment ministers that has preceded the G8 or G20
summit for every year but one since 1994.
Merkel slashed green-development aid, Obama cooled on his plan to
cap emissions
Economic Costs
Slower economic growth due to the need to phase out
environmentally unfriendly but economically-useful tools employed
by the economy such as coal-powered power plants
Added costs needed to increase the energy efficiency of machines
and tools
Need to treat harmful economic by-products
Profits decrease, economic growth suffers, job losses as they
become less competitive.
Leads to social costs (crime rates, SOL, breakdown of family unit,
increasing poverty)
Political cost:
Main factor why economic preservation not widespread today
1 In todays mostly capitalistic world, politicians often ride into their
office on a ticket sponsored by large corporations with vested
interests
Profit-seeking firms often hope that politicians they sponsor will
implement policies that allow them to make more profits
Bid to conserve environment by increasing operating costs certainly
will not go down well with corporate sponsors
You do not bite the hand that feeds you, ruin political career
E.g. US presidents have well-publicised links with large firms, hence
hesitation in implementing policies to save environment
5. Religion
Heaven Gate followers poisoned themselves so that they could take the
UFO to heaven before the gates of heaven closed
E.g. President George Bush uses Christian rhetoric to garner support for
his policies so does Osama Bin Laden
E.g. In 1600s, Christian Church grew so powerful that people started
paying money to church to buy their way to heaven
E.g. Some Christian fundamentalists believe that technology is
disrespectful to God and thus refuse to get any treatment for their
illnesses
6. Terrorism
Conclusion:
Terrorists are a multifaceted, complex group of people supported by
states or groundswells of disenfranchised people and cannot be
viewed simplistically as homogenous groups.
7. Sports
Recent FIFA World Cup, FIFA doubled the fees they typically charge
for the rights to broadcast the World Cup. Did not take into
consideration the ideals of the universal sharing of sport and global
participation
Sports have also served as a backdrop for companies to advertise
their products
Wimbledon: Maria Sharapova and Nike criticized when shots of
Sharapovas underwear, which revealed the infamous Nike Swoosh
logo when her skirt lifted during the tennis match, were posted on
the internet
8. Foreign Aid
Against 2:
Foreign aid is merely a short-term measure that ultimately falls flat.
Years of channelling money into the African continent has seen little
success in poverty alleviation
Foreign aid seems to be ineffectual and does not deserve to be
continued
Over-reliance on foreign aid
Most Latin American and African economies remain unsustainable
and are likely to collapse should foreign money suddenly be
withdrawn from them
Age-old maxim: Give a man a fish, and he is full for a day. Teach a
man how to fish, and he is full for life
Foreign aid that is not accompanied by social reform initiatives and
economic restructuring guidance futile
For 2:
But this only proves that we need to make aid more effective
Aid has been instrumental in countries like Kenya and Nigeria where
funds have been allocated to fuelling the growth of small-scale
cottage industries, such as providing better heating and cooking
stores or installing better systems to harness the energy from rivers
Developed nations possess the technical expertise and capital for
these start-up technologies
For 3:
Against 3:
Other policies counteract the effects of aid (jeopardize the interests
of the receiving nations that further exacerbate poverty and
intensify their domestic problems, directly and indirectly)
Protectionist policies imposed hand-in-hand with aid
Import tariffs and subsidies to local farmers by US and EU cannot
compete fairly farmers lose their jobs and continue to be trapped
in poverty
Against 4:
Not all countries have altruistic motives when providing aid
Donor country also hopes to have something in return
E.g. Japan: Aid heavily skewed towards those in East Asian
countries, which they have extensive commercial ties with
US: direct aid to regions where it has concerns related to national
security (Middle East) (Israel three billion dollars in aid: nearly all
goes to military credits)
Osbourne if aid is not particularly given with the intention to foster
economic growth, it is perhaps not surprising that it does not
achieve it
Purchase products from donors: recipient have to use these
precious uncompetitively priced imports
Inter Press Service: Cut value of aid by 25 to 40 percent
E.g. Aid for Africa to fight AIDS. Insist that anti-drugs from US are
bought when money could be better spent on cheaper generic
medicine for common flu
15000 dollars on anti-AIDS drugs, 350 dollars on generic drugs
annually
Some clauses that come tied with the aid are even more sinister
African Growth and Opportunity Act: Clause which states that if a
country is eligible for this aid, has to refrain from any actions that
may conflict with the USs strategic interests
Used this clause to garner support from the UN security council for
the invasion of Iraq
Message was clear: either you vote for us or you lose your aid
Conclusion
To end off, let us consider this. United States provides the largest absolute
amount of aid in the world. This supposedly huge amount, however, is a
mere 0.39% of USs GDP. Of this 0.39%, more than half goes to the middleeast countries to buy weapons. And of this minute amount of money that
actually comes to your country, some of it is wasted due to the
inefficiencies of tied aid, some of it goes to the pocket of the dictator in
power and even more goes back to the donor herself. And whatever the
amount left, that is if there is any left, will have to be divided amongst the
millions of people who are the ones who really require this aid.
At the end of the day, we have to admit that aid is sometimes not as
effective as it seems. People often argue over how some countries have
yet to make the 0.7% of GNP mark for foreign aid. The problem, however,
lies deeper. Aid and politics just dont go hand in hand. As Cornelio
Sommaruga, President of the ICRC remarks, humanitarian endeavour and
political action must go their separate ways if the neutrality and
impartiality of humanitarian work are not to be jeopardized. If foreign aid
is to become effective, it needs to be free of politics. Yet, without politics
there will never be any significant foreign aid.
9. Migration
10. Subjects
10a. Literature
Intro:
Incessant nagging of parents to read more, read widely
Why should I, wanting nothing to do with writing in my future
career, immerse myself in the writings of Milton and Shakespeare if
I am not to produce any novel of that calibre in my lifetime?
Lit, encompassing fine writing in the forms of literary novels, plays
and poetry, has a lot to teach to readers.
Do not judge a book by its cover humble novel can
For 1:
Purpose of lit: like other art forms: try to communicate
Author, playwright, poet: ideas, opinions or thoughts to share or has
something about their culture or a fraction of history to
From other people: learn things, expand our horizons beyond the
shadows of our Platos caves, assimilating various ideas to gain
maturity of thought ourselves
For 2:
Intrinsic in every piece of lit is human nature
Characters, their emotions, their thoughts form the very basis of
a piece of writing
Even in writings that do not involve human characters animal
forms, for instance we find human thought processes, along with
our cultures, being imposed on these non-human characters
Think about what the human psyche really is about, glean particular
insights about the human character
Shakespeares Othello: fallibility of man thanks to his innate sense
of pride, greatest strength, if in excess, can be ones greatest
weakness
Character-building: step back, examine ourselves, bettering
ourselves
Holistic education: strength of character
Othello: warning about mans pride: be more wary and strive
towards humility
For 3:
Expansion of ones knowledge
Representative of the cultural backdrop of the novel
2007s bestselling novel, The Kite Runner, while engaging us in a
poignant story of two child characters, exposes us to a part of
Afghan culture cannot learn in other lessons
Give us a birds eye view of our world allowing us to zoom in on
any particular country and be immersed in their culture
Dont live behind closed doors of his residence
For 4:
Lit inevitably gives us insight into the particular niche area that a
story belongs to, be it history, current affairs and even science
For 5:
Develop emotionally
Evoke a myriad of emotions in its readers, from shock to surprise to
empathy
E.g. War poet, Wilfred Owen, written from variety of voices but most
commonly from common soldier. Allow us to step into the shoes of
British soldiers who fought in First World War. Experience suffering
outrage disillusionment
Sensitive to the feelings of others, enable us to empathise with the
plights of others
For 6: Develop socially
Lit invites readers to get in touch with the story, with the characters,
culture and history that are intertwined with and embedded in the writing,
and ultimately, lit invites us tog et in touch with ourselves
10b. History
Should we study?
Intro:
Question arises fundamentally because of societys preoccupation
with advancement and the betterment of the human condition
Social undercurrent that seems to approve of progress and
invention, underlying perception that looking into the future and ...
infinitely more relevant
Thesis: Abandon our myopic views
For 1: Unlocks the secrets to our roots, our heritage and our culture
Progress in our journey of self-discovery and our search for identity
a journey that is quintessentially human
Insight into what takes place before our existence, what trials and
tribulations our forefathers faced, overcome present
Humans, we face the perennial question of Who am I?
E.g. SEA understand why our culture is very much influenced by the
West, be it attire or architecture colonialism in pre-war years
E.g. Singapore strive to be democratic and socially stable
Reaction to autocratic colonial rule and rigid totalitarian impositions
of the Japanese during the Occupation
America concerned with liberating countries such as Iraq and
Afghanistan that are perceived to enslave their people to
unreasonable demands due to the Civil War in the past
For 2: Not only contextualize the present but also foreshadow what is to
come in the future
Past has a knack for repeating itself
E.g. American Revolution mirrors French Revolution (decades
before)
E.g. Modernist movement at dawn of 20th century Industrial
Revolution of 19th century: city population was diluted by an influx of
peasants and country-folk
Colonialism neo-colonialism
Substantial empirical evidence: uncanny similarities
E.g. Politicians recognize that grievances such as social inequality
and a lack of rights led to numerous revolutions strive to be
democratic, liberal, fair
Pivotal to the process of civilization, years of progress and social
evolution not wasted and we are not catapulted back into the
vestiges of time
E.g. Xiao He, a high-ranking official in the Han dynasty, refused to
destroy the historical records of the despotic Qin dynasty when the
Han came in power
For 3: Exposing us to ideas and abstract notions (impractical but of
paramount impt)
History is fundamentally about a clash of ideologies (democracy vs.
fascism, communism vs. capitalism etc.)
Conflicts!
Change only constant but contention is just as worthy of being
branded as a constant, or at least consistent, feature
From ancient Greece, military might was deemed central to the
empire, which warred against other states to build up its empire
Chinese empire unified under Emperor Qin only via numerous wars
NOW: Current generation holds two world wars within span of past
century alone
Bloodshed and destruction and most poignantly futile aggression,
as bemoaned by numerous war poets of the First World War like
Owen and Sassoon seem to attest to the Hobbesian idea that
humans are innately aggressive creatures, prone to conflict and
inflation of harm
Impossibility of greater peace continue finding areas of contention
to extrapolate into long-drawn conflicts (NOW: ascension of religious
fundamentalist groups such as Hamas attests to this trend)
Salient characteristic of mankind is a will to power
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
Hitlers Third Reich commanded the elimination of the Jewish race,
gas chambers
In a similar fashion, Stalins rule was characterized by repeated
purging of dissenters so as to entrench his totalitarian rule
Willingness of men to exercise violence or annihilate them
Such acts of cruelty speak strongly against an innately moral
human fabric
NOW: N. Korea and Myanmar similarly intransigent in their brutality
Fundamental self-interested behaviour of humans!
Contradicts the imperative for humans to act in a more moral and
altruistic manner
E.g. Foreign policy: guided by national interest (Cold War: rich
collection of engagement with states for strategic interests in their
respective spheres of influence, but what is morally revolting is the
irresponsible disengagement after no strategic needs are served
any longer) US, after training militants like the Al-Qaeda in
Afghanistan, promptly disengaged, budding terrorist group
Economic history: Colonisation of Africa and import of African slaves
Tendency for mankind to compromise on the well-being, natural
rights and peace of , speaks volumes about continuation of similar
actions that defy our sense of what is honourable
NOW: economic crisis: selfish nature of humans. Betrayal of trust by
financial advisors that irresponsibly packaged sub-prime loans as
promising investments has undermined the moral fabric of the
financial system
Events and trends in history that point towards greater, more promising
human development
E.g. Slavery was abolished after a long-drawn battle that advocated
the equalization of rights between Whites and African-Americans
Gender bias dramatically eradicated or reduced
Exert pressure for change
Global cohesion
Limited understanding characterized relations between great
powers in the past
NOW: Formation of the League of Nations and then the United
Nations: strong symbols of a cooperative world order
**NOTE: History of country not = History as a subject. History of
country includes culture/architecture**
10c. Mathematics
Intro:
Mathematics is a discipline whose utility is seldom questioned in the
modern world, given its ostensible impact on our lifestyles
Intellectually satisfying
Tap the left brain, which focuses on logical thinking, reasoning and
problem solving
Think actively using numbers, symbols and formulae to express
things rather than basic emotions
Active harnessing of the human mind to solve mathematical
problems: satisfaction
Challenge, which one has to tackle using his intellect and thinking
skills
E.g. Sudoku, Rubik cube, well-known mathematical conundrums
Intellectual growth over the years too
Mathematics is usually studied through a long period of schooling
years: possible to compare a students level of growth at a nascent
stage with the more mature phase
Deepening in thinking skills like deduction and reasoning
Wide range of applications
Beyond the temporal comparison of abilities or the satisfaction of
solving a mathematical problem
Transcendence from the paper world of Cartesian planes and
random triangles to the actual application of concepts
E.g. Golden ratio, considered the formula for aesthetic beauty.
Used in many forms of art, from the Egyptian pyramids to paintings
like Da Vincis Mona Lisa
Some even try to link the structure of the Petrarchan sonnet, a
popular poetic form, to the golden ratio
Science: Math dictates the proportionate manner in which the world
operates. E.g. derivation of Newtons law of motion greatly assisted
by his study and founding of calculus
Softer sciences: econometrics, the study of economics using
concrete mathematical figures in preference to baseless
hypothesizing
But are these mere impractical applications?
Study of Quantum Physics, the works of La Grange and La place,
even Schrodinger, serve to explain how minute particles of the
earth operate and little application
Astronomy and positioning of planets seem to afford little practical
application
But this serves to broaden our minds, exposing them to events that
cannot be fathomed through lifes experiences while unlocking both
gargantuan and Lilliputian alternative universes that we strive to
master
But if we do not do applied math, is math of little practical use?
Especially true for students who simply cannot understand how the
many graphs, equations and geometrical figures they encounter can
possibly help them in their lives
Most immediate part of life which involves mathematics is in
counting money and spending it, cannot be classified as a study
The mathematical applications for the solutions of daily problems
are oftentimes not observed because average person lives and
behaves by instincts and approximations
E.g. running late, David Beckham, Carly Patterson times her fall
whilst somersaulting in mid-air, Michael Jordan
11. Businesses
12. Democracy
Counter 2/thesis: Fine in principle and fine in practice for most situations
In these cases, democracy was forced. People need to embrace the
ideals of democracy before democracy can work. If Sunni minority
refuse to acknowledge elections, it is not democracy which fails but
the people which failed in implementing it.
Different cultural and political contexts: Asian democracies are, by
necessity, a different model from western democracies
FINE IN PRINCIPLE?
Thesis 1: Fine in principle (good, fair, practical) but too simplistic/idealistic
Good: Respects and walks hand in hand with openness, freedom
and capitalism values which are
Fair: Upholds justice, promotes equality, maintains a system of
checks and balances and recognizes the mutual symbiosis of state
and people
Practical: Not overwhelmingly complex as in Marxist society
America usually used as benchmark in measure how free a state is
but there are limitations to this.
Therefore, fine in principle
Antithesis 1: Propoganda
Noam Chomsky, Propoganda is to democracy what the bludgeon is
to the totalitarian state
Just like how totalitarian regimes use force, violence and oppression
to prevent people from revolting against harsh and unfair
treatment, democracies often use propaganda to convince the
people that the government is doing a good job, hoodwinking the
public into believing what the government wants them to believe
E.g. US
In principle, democracy assumes that people are well-informed and
are not apathetic
But this is a false assumption!
Winston Churchill, the best argument against democracy is a fiveminute conversation with the average voter
Antithesis 2: Tyranny of the majority, interests of minority groups are often
neglected
Voting system results in the will of the majority being imposed on
the unwilling and often oppressed minority
E.g. In France, African immigrants who are a minority are often
discriminated against and are forced to work long hours with low
wages and to live in appalling conditions
In principle, democracy talks about people power but it is actually
only about power of the majority of the people
Antithesis 3: Small vocal group is often able to express its options best and
thus will of the majority is not respected
13a. Gender
13b. Family
13c. Equality
14. Governance
15a. Cooperation
15. Others
15b. Education
Intro:
Define: Education is about imparting and acquiring skills, knowledge
and beliefs through teaching and learning
Many Singaporeans feel that education is all about securing a good
job and a good lifestyle in the future. However, education has much
broader socio-political, economic and humanistic purposes.
2006: Singapore spent $5.2 billion on education, 19.3% of budget
and 3.9% of GDP
From a purely pragmatic perspective, education helps an individual make
a living and makes the individual more useful and more relevant in society
Basic education is essential education and is crucial especially in
developing countries. Benefits include reduced diseases as people
learn about hygiene and nutrition, reduced unwanted pregnancies
and reduced violence as people learn to use non-violent ways to
resolve conflicts
Beyond basic education, education promises to give people the
power to reason, the capacity to make informed judgments, the
ability to solve problems and the vision to think clearly and
imaginatively: various academic disciplines teach us frameworks to
understand the world
A man who has basic literacy can probably get a job, order food and
open a bank account. Someone with a higher educational level can
probably get a better job, order more decadent food and have a
fuller bank account
The speed at which countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia
and South Korea have developed from their previous Third World
economies as compared to their African and Latin American
counterparts is in no minor part due to the regimented way in which
basic literacy and basic education are enforced.
Even in ancient China, the Imperial examination system was
implemented in the Han dynasty to evaluate and choose officials to
rule the country
Singapore is increasingly moving towards an education that focuses
on technology, lateral thinking and creativity to meet the new
demands of the unpredictable and complex modern day economy
Education also socializes individuals to establish social order
Conformity to a common socio-political value
America uses education to inculcate respect for individual freedoms
which is the basis of American democracy. Similarly, Singapore uses
education to inculcate hard work which is intrinsic in Singapores
meritocratic society
In order to create a gracious society that respects the collective
rights to everyone, it must teach its people to be socially
responsible and conform to basic social norms. For instance, in
Singapore, moral education is taught from young which teachers
youths that spitting in public is a health hazard and that
discrimination of any sort is absolutely intolerable