Changing Landscape of Singapore

Environmental Possibilism and Determinism

2008-04-29T11:56:00.002+08:00

Somebody emailed and ask me about Environmental Possibilism and I thought I'll share the answer with every one.

According to him, the textbook wrote that re: Environmental Possibilism,

"the physical environment provides the opportunity for a range of possible human responses and that people have the discretion to weigh and choose between these option."

The opposite would be Environmental Determinism where we are limited and influenced by the environment. Wikipedia wrote that Environmental Determinism believes that the physical environment "influenced the psychological mind-set of individuals, which in turn defined the behaviour and culture of the society that those individuals formed"

For example, if faced with water shortage,

Environmental determinist will probably say "oh no.. ok we can't do anything about it so let's try to save water and live with the problem" Or say for example people become nomads to live with the water shortage.

Environmental possibilist will probably say "lets proactively try to find ways to overcome the water shortage" and in the desert example, they'll probably say let's build a well in the desert or some form of water-capture device.

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Singapore uses technology as a solution to all our environmental limitations. So you can say that Singapore's way of seeing the environment is a possibilist one because they do not feel limited by the environmental constrains. They can overcome it with their own actions.

But at the same time, if you look at another chapter, they think that by having all the heritage and cultural buildings in Singapore, it'll rub off on the people of Singapore and in turn make them more cultural - that's environmental determinism - thinking the environment will influence you.

Past year exam questions

2008-04-12T11:39:00.002+08:00

For those who have yet to download the past year exams questions, I've compiled questions from 2003-2006 for you. You can download it from here.

Remember to look through the questions and try to see if you can answer them!

There will be 6 questions in exam but choose ONLY 3!

Download Tutorial 4 Slides

2008-04-07T11:57:00.002+08:00

A few students have asked for the tutorial 4 slides to be made downloadable.
You can now download it from here.

Exam Details

2008-04-01T15:22:00.001+08:00

Date: 5 May 2008 (Monday)
Time: 9-11 am
Venue: MPSH 1 A/B

The exam makes up 50% of your total grade. See you on the day!

Exam Tips

2008-03-29T16:34:00.003+08:00

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The 2nd objective of Tutorial 4 states "to provide a platform to discuss how to answer essay questions and refine techniques in answering them" and this powerpoint is a very clear and comprehensive guide in helping you answer essay questions. I've also included the exam format. Will be going through this in Tutorial 4.

I am still thinking if I want to do a powerpoint for the concepts of Landscape of Globalisation. Leave me a comment if you want me to compile it into a powerpoint.

How do you know it's a national monument?

2008-03-29T15:32:00.001+08:00

In Singapore if you see the above sign outside a building, it indicates the place as a national monument.

S'pore will have an Indian Heritage Centre at Serangoon Road

2008-03-27T21:13:00.001+08:00

Channel NewsAsia
27 March 2008

SINGAPORE: Singapore will have an Indian Heritage Centre soon along Serangoon Road.

This was revealed by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who is in India with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Touring the National Museum of India together with Mr Goh and the Singapore delegation, Dr Balaji said that Singapore already has a Malay Heritage Centre and a Chinese Heritage Centre.

An Indian Heritage Centre will reflect the country's diverse ethnic make-up and history.

Dr Balaji said that the recent Nalanda exhibition was possible with the help of the National Museum of India, as it loaned some of its Buddhist relics to Singapore.

And closer cooperation with the museums of India will once again prove useful as India can offer advice in the setting up of the Indian Heritage Centre. - CNA/vm

Ed's Notes: Is this a byproduct of social integration? Since we already have a Malay and Chinese heritage center then we better have an indian one as well. What next? A eurasian one surely.

Getting back your midterm

2008-03-27T12:02:00.003+08:00

For those who are curious and for those who actually asked me, you will be getting back your midterm test back around the last week of the semester.

Tutorial 4 is now on IVLE

2008-03-26T15:29:00.003+08:00

If you haven't downloaded already, Tutorial 4 worksheet is now available on IVLE! Students from the Odd Week classes, remember to come for tutorial next week (31 March)!

Readings for the week:
Lectures 7, 8, 9 and 10
Textbook Chapters 8, 9 & 10

We will also be discussing exam tips so do look through some of the past year questions and familiarize yourself with the format.

Is the HDB fulfilling the needs of Singaporeans?

2008-03-24T14:12:00.002+08:00

Right after the tutorial today where we had our debate on public housing, I came across this blog post on tomorrow.sg with the above title.

"Is the HDB fulfilling the needs of Singaporeans?" by Leong Sze Hian, TheOnlineCitizen, 17 March 2008

It's not quite talking about nation-building but it does talk about some of the issues that challenges the public housing system today.

Potential Absentees: take note!

2008-03-24T11:48:00.002+08:00

If you have not already seen this on IVLE:

Request to attend another tutorial
Pls note that such requests will not be entertained unless you have an MC or a written official proof explaining why you cannot attend your original slot.

Simply too many of you are requesting for alternative tutorial slots with invalid reasons. I would suggest that unless you are sick or have real urgent or important situations which you cannot change otherwise, it'd be best for you to come for class.

If you have class, test or presentation after my tutorial, just let me know and you can leave early.

Otherwise if you are absent without MC or official proof, you would not be allowed to makeup for tutorial and will be marked as absent.

Don't forget that tutorial attendance contribute to your grades.

Tutorial 3

2008-03-17T10:17:00.001+08:00

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Tutorial 3

2008-03-16T11:20:00.004+08:00

Tutorial 3 starts this Monday for the Odd week classes. Remember to download the tutorial worksheet from IVLE! Read your textbook for more clues and prepare your answers before the class.

See you all in tutorial!

Suggested Readings
For more information on Singapore's Conservation of Built Heritage, visit the Urban Redevelopment Authority's conservation division website.

Suggested list of new national monuments

2008-03-14T16:04:00.008+08:00

I've compiled a list of new national monuments from the 5 tutorial groups. It would appear that the most popular proposed national monument would be:

Changi Airport control tower!

Every tutorial class suggested the Changi Airport control tower! Most feel that it is the first thing people see when they arrive in Singapore. However, according it national monument status means that we would never be able to tear it down. Also, are most of you proud of the control tower as being able to instill national pride in Singaporeans? But the control tower is usually depicted in the children's drawings during art competitions. Is it a symbol that has been inculcated in us? Is national pride today more related to our economic success rather than the achievements and contributions of our forefathers?

Some of the other interesting suggestions include:

1) Haw Par Villa
2) Esplanade
3) Merlion (the Eiffel tower of Singapore? Chapter 7 in Textbook)
4) Clifford Pier
5) Singapore Flyer
6) Fullerton Hotel
7) SAFTI Military Institute
8) one room HDB flats or old HDB estates - can these be monuments?
9) Kallang Stadium
10) Pasir Panjang port - similar as airport?
11) Monetary Authority of Singapore
12) Civilian War Memorial - controversial?
13) Tanjong Pagar KTM Train Station - Malaysia or Singapore's?

What kind of national pride are we instilling through monuments whose significance focuses on economic success and development?

How about choosing a monument that only has significance to any one particular group? Would choosing monuments that has equal significance and national pride to all of us being more fair? Is economic development the only collective source of national pride that we all share? Is multiculturalism not a source of national pride? Are there national monuments that represents multiculturalism in one site rather than having 4 different monuments representing 4 different ethnic groups?

What are your thoughts?

Tutorial 2 Slides

2008-03-14T16:00:00.000+08:00

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2008-03-11T15:12:00.003+08:00

Managing The Tortoise Island:
Tua Pek Kong Temple, Pilgrimage, and Social Change in Pulau Kusu, 1965-2007

Speaker:
Chia Meng Tat Jack,
Department of History,
National University of Singapore

Chair:
Tan Shiling Cheryl,
Department of Sociology,
National University of Singapore

Date:
Monday, 24 March 2008

Venue:
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Blk AS7, Level 6
Research Clusters Meeting Room A
Time: 3.00 – 4.30pm

Abstract:
This essay examines the Guiyu Fushangong Tua Pek Kong Temple龟屿福善宫大伯公庙and religious activities in Pulau Kusu as they intersect with the larger forces of social change, state management, and development of the Southern Islands since the independence of Singapore for the period from 1965 to the present. It contends that the state’s interest in the economic potential of the Tua Pek Kong Temple, and the attempt to seek profit from its religious activities in particular over the last two decades, has very much affected the temple and contributed to the commercialization and “touristization” of the island. The state authorities have tried to reduce the autonomy of Pulau Kusu, exerting more control over the temple, and management of the island. They also sought to profit from the religious activities, as seen from their monopoly of goods and services, promotion of commercial activities, and their attempt to transform the island into a tourist site.

About the Speaker:
Chia Meng Tat Jack is a MA Candidate in history at the National University of Singapore. His research interests include Buddhism, Chinese popular religions, and the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia and Singapore. He is currently researching on the transnational temple-association networks connecting the Nanan community in Singapore with China and Malaysia

Light refreshments will be provided!

We gratefully request that you RSVP with your name, affiliation, contact details, to Jack Chia at: mengtat@nus.edu.sg.

Introduction to Singapore History

2008-03-11T14:59:00.003+08:00

Click on image for full size

If any of you are interested in learning more about Singapore's history after this module, you might want to check out these series of talks organized by the National Museum of Singapore.

These talks may not help you in your exams and neither are they free. But you can get a 20% discount by being a member. Do check out their website to find out more. www.nationalmuseum.sg

View from Singapore Flyer

2008-03-08T00:29:00.003+08:00

In case anybody is interested in the view from the Singapore Flyer, here's a video I took on 1 March. Apologies for the poor quality video.

Read more about the experience.

How did you find the test?

2008-03-06T22:01:00.004+08:00

Now that the midterm is over, how did you find the test?

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog Flux

Remember, case studies can always be from any landscape in the whole of Singapore. That's a lot to choose from. If you were expecting something out of the textbook, that's probably quite unlikely. But if you know your concepts well, you can easily identify the characteristics described in the case study. If you are expected to come up with examples of your own, start getting to know Singapore!

Regarding concepts, please remember that one single landscape can be described by many different concepts. It depends on purely how you apply the concept and explain it. However, each of the concept are distinctive from each other. Don't confuse definition of concepts and application of concepts. Distinctive and different concepts can be applied to a single landscape because in reality, things are always quite complex.

For example, power of landscape and landscape of power are 2 different concepts but it may be applied to one single landscape. It can be separate but it can also be applied together. Purely depending on 1) the example 2) how you apply it and 3) how you explain.

Leave a comment and share what problems you encountered during the test!

Tutorial 2 Reminder

2008-02-29T20:35:00.006+08:00

Guess which national monument this is?

Just a reminder that beginning next Monday, there will be tutorial 2, beginning with the Odd week tutorial groups. The tutorial worksheet can already be downloaded from IVLE.

For Section 3 of the worksheet, do not forget to download the list of national monuments [pdf] gazetted by the Presevation of Monuments Board.

Some books that you may find useful include:

G. Uma Devi et al. (2002) "Singapore's 100 Historic Places" Singapore: Archipelago Press in association with National Heritage Board

Gretchen Liu (1996) "In granite and chunam : the national monuments of Singapore" Singapore : Landmark Books and Preservation of Monuments Board

NAS (2003) "Singapore's monuments & historic sites." National Archives of Singapore : Preservation of Monuments Board

Regarding the section on Toponymics, you may find these books interesting.

Victor R Savage and Brenda SA Yeoh (2004) "Toponymics : a study of Singapore street names" Singapore : Eastern University Press

Peter Dunlop (2000) "Street names of Singapore" Singapore : Who's Who Publishing

Midterm Test on 4 March

2008-02-23T12:26:00.002+08:00

Do remember to come for the test on 4 March at 8am! If you didn't see the announcement by Dr Noor, chapters in that will now be tested are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 only as in the text. Format is short answer questions.

Good Luck!

Field Trip to Little India

2008-02-21T19:35:00.001+08:00

Photo by Shuuy. Her original caption is really interesting - "That's of Kerbau Street. Kerbau means buffalo! And the shophouse behind is actually a dance studio. No shit."

For those who didn't get a chance to go for the Little India field trip, I chanced upon a SSA2202 student, Shuuy, who blogged about the Little India fieldtrip. Unsure who the author is though and what class she is from but she took some very nice photos of Little India. See her entry here.

Field Trip to Tiong Bahru

2008-02-21T19:17:00.006+08:00

Photo by Koksheng

Last weekend was the field trip to Tiong Bahru Estate. While I wasn't able to make it, Kok Sheng, a student in one of the classes went and blogged about it.

If you too missed it, take a look at his blog entry!

If any of your have went for the Tiong Bahru or Little India field trip and would like to share your thoughts, do leave the blog URL in the comments or email me :)

Chek Jawa as "contested landscape"

2008-02-06T12:59:00.001+08:00

One of the tutorial groups gave Chek Jawa as an example of contested landscape in tutorial 1. While it's a very straightforward example, some of you may not know what or where Chek Jawa is. Since I did my honors thesis on Chek Jawa, I thought I'll share an abridged version of why Chek Jawa is a "contested landscape".

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For more information:
Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, Singapore
Online Guide to Chek Jawa
Chek Jawa Mortality and Recruitment Project
Pulau Ubin Stories

Complaints Choir of Singapore hits Youtube

2008-02-06T10:23:00.001+08:00

After all their public performances were banned in Singapore, the Complaints Choir of Singapore brings their performance on youtube.

No idea what the complaints choir debacle is about, read these:
Complaints Choir Website
Singapore Complaints Choir kena complain ah?, Mr Brown
Chorus of Complaints, ChannelNewsAsia, 15 January 2008

It's interesting to ~~see~~hear what their take on Singapore is.