GENERAL PAPER (8881) | The Arts, Culture, Heritage, Tradition and Language TEMASEK JC

Essay Questions on The Arts, Culture, Heritage, Tradition and Language

The Value/Role of the Arts and Culture in Society

‘The arts are nothing more than a luxury.’ How far is this true of
your society? GCE 2021

Assess the importance of food within Singaporean culture. GCE 2019

‘For the majority of people, the Arts are irrelevant to their daily
lives.’ How true is this of your society? GCE 2014

Consider the view that artists are undervalued in our modern ACJC Prelim
society. 2023

Should all works of art be valued equally? CJC Prelim

2023

Should art be bought and sold like any other goods? DHS Prelim
2023

Can the arts teach us anything meaningful about the real world? EJC Prelim
2023

‘The key reason for conserving a culture is its commercial value.’ NYJC Prelim
How far is this true of your society? 2023

To what extent do the Arts contribute to the Singaporean identity? RI Prelim

2023

To what extent are the arts and sciences valued equally in your RVHS Prelim
society? 2023

Do cultural practices still have a place in your society? VJC Prelim

2023

‘Modern technology is more of a benefit than a threat to the arts.’ VJC Prelim
Comment. 2023

ACJC Prelim
Evaluate the claim that the Arts are essential for a civilised society.
2022

‘With technology, anyone can be an artist.’ How far do you agree? DHS Prelim
2022

TJC Prelim
Assess the value of the arts in promoting social change.
2022

YIJC Prelim
Can the arts truly influence change in the world today?
2022

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‘Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.’ How far do you agree ACJC Prelim
that art shapes reality more than it reflects reality? 2021

JPJC Prelim
‘The beauty of the arts lies in its exposure of the ugly.’ Discuss.
2021

SAJC Prelim
How integral are the arts to a country’s identity?
2021

‘All spectacle and little substance.’ Is this a fair assessment of the TJC Prelim
arts? 2021

TJC Promo
Examine the view that the arts are of little use to your society.
2021

Examine the role of the arts in establishing a national identity in your TMJC Prelim
society. 2021

ACJC Prelim
How far do the arts promote change in your society?
2020

To what extent is an appreciation of the arts essential for the EJC Prelim
individual today? 2020

‘In times of crisis, the arts are not essential.’ Discuss this in relation JPJC Prelim
to your society. 2020

‘A progressive country is one that is committed to the Arts.’ Do you SAJC Prelim
agree? 2020

TJC JC1 MYA

‘The internet poses a threat to the arts.’ To what extent is this true?
2020

To what extent are artistic pursuits given adequate recognition in TJC JC2 MYA
your society? 2020

‘Anything can be considered art, but not all art is of equal value.’ TJC Prelim
Comment. 2020

VJC Prelim
Are artists given adequate recognition in your society?
2020

‘We are merely paying lip service to the arts.’ How true is this in your ACJC Prelim
society? 2019

Evaluate the claim that the artist’s only responsibility is to his art. CJC Prelim
2019

How far do you agree that the value of the Arts has diminished in EJC Prelim
modern society? 2019

‘Art is not meant to instruct or influence; it is only meant to be HCI Prelim

enjoyed.’ Do you agree with this viewpoint? 2019

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JPJC Prelim
To what extent are the arts a platform for social change?
2019

Examine the view that a career in the arts is not viable in your TJC JC2 MYA
society. 2019

TMJC Prelim
‘Art that does not reflect society holds little value.’ Discuss.
2019

CJC Prelim
Do the Arts have the power to bridge the social divide?
2018

‘Bad art does not exist.’ What do you think? NYJC Prelim
2018

‘The arts are no longer a luxury today.’ How far is this true in your TJC JC2 MYA
society? 2018

How realistic is it for your society to encourage more participation in YJC Prelim
the arts? 2018

‘Let us read and let us sing, for what harm can these amusements HCI Prelim
bring?’ Comment. 2017

‘Appealing but of little value.' Is this a fair description of the arts in IJC Prelim
your society? 2017

‘The progress of a society is best reflected through the arts.’ What MJC Prelim
do you think? 2017

‘The Arts are a luxury and not a necessity.’ Discuss this view with NYJC Prelim
reference to your society. 2017

PJC Prelim
How far can a culturally diverse society build unity?
2017

Discuss the view that the arts do nothing to solve the problems of TJC JC1 MYA
your society. 2017

How far is the arts a reflection of your society’s level of TPJC Prelim
development? 2017

‘The liveability of a city depends on how well its arts scene is NJC Prelim
developed.’ Is this true of your society? 2016

SAJC Prelim
‘A society that does not value the Arts lacks identity.’ Do you agree?
2016

TJC MCT
Consider the view that the Arts are merely a reflection of society.
2016

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Funding, Control, and Controversy involving the Arts

Consider the argument that there should be no censorship of the GCE 2023
arts in modern society.

‘Works of art which have been removed from their country of origin GCE 2018
should be returned.’ Discuss.

In your society, to what extent is it acceptable for public money to be GCE 2017
used for the acquisition of works of art?

‘A society that tells its artists what they cannot do short-changes HCI Prelim
itself.’ Discuss. 2023

‘Limits should never be set on artistic expression.’ Do you agree? YIJC Prelim
2023

‘For the Arts to flourish, there must be complete freedom of CJC Prelim
expression.’ How true is this of your society? 2022

‘The Arts must be controversial in order to be meaningful.’ What are DHS Prelim
your views? 2021

‘Art is only worth what people will pay for it.’ Do you agree? RI Prelim
2021

Should the arts receive funding from the government in times of TJC JC2 MYA
economic hardship? 2021

Discuss the view that, in today’s world, the arts are only for the elite. YIJC Prelim
2021

‘Censorship has no place in the arts.’ What is your view? TJC MCT
2020

‘Governments should support the arts only when the arts contribute TJC Promo
to the economy.’ Do you agree? 2020

‘Censorship undermines the arts.’ Comment. NJC Prelim

2019

How far do you agree that artistic expression is always political? SAJC Prelim
2019

Examine the view that fashion and the fashion industry should be ACJC Prelim
regulated. 2018

To what extent should the arts be regulated? IJC Prelim

2018

‘Only the privileged can venture into the Arts.’ Is this true in your SRJC Prelim
society? 2018

Should there be any restrictions to enjoying the Arts in your society? DHS Prelim
2017

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'We should abolish state funding for the Arts.' How far do you agree RI Prelim
that this should be the case for your society? 2017

Is it worth spending large sums of money on the arts in your society? ACJC Prelim
2016

To what extent can increased spending on the Arts be justified in CJC Prelim
your society today? 2016

‘If the arts are regulated, they lose their value.’ Do you agree? NYJC Prelim
Discuss with reference to one of the following: performing arts, or 2016
visual arts.

Do you agree that censorship is the greatest obstacle to progress? RVHS Prelim
2016

Examining Different Forms of Artistic Expression

‘Dramas on television or film are never as effective as a live
GCE 2022
performance.’ Discuss.

Examine the claim that music without words lacks both meaning and
GCE 2022
appeal.

‘Films are concerned with escaping from the problems of everyday

GCE 2021
life, rather than addressing them.’ Discuss.

Can fiction teach us anything meaningful about the real world? GCE 2019

Examine the role of music in establishing a national identity in your

GCE 2017
society.

‘Any adaptation of a novel for a film, television or the theatre is never

GCE 2016
as effective as the original.’ Discuss.

‘The demise of the cinema is inevitable’. Discuss. JPJC Prelim

2023

‘Storybooks exists only to keep children entertained.’ Discuss RVHS Prelim

2023

‘Contemporary music contributes nothing of value to society.’ How SAJC Prelim

far do you agree? 2023

Examine the claim that fantasy fiction is engaging, but meaningless. TMJC Prelim
2023

‘Fashion is nothing more than a frivolous pursuit.’ How far do you YIJC Prelim
agree? 2023

‘The most popular films are those with the least value.’ Do you ASRJC Prelim
agree? 2022

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Can fashion ever offer anything more than beauty? EJC Prelim
2022

Why read when you can watch the film or television adaptation? HCI Prelim
2022

‘We should read as much as we watch.’ Do you agree? NYJC Prelim

2022

Are live performances still relevant in this age of media streaming? RVHS Prelim
2022

‘Music is enjoyable, but is essentially a frivolous pursuit.’ Is this a fair TJC MCT
comment? 2022

‘Movies offer nothing more than a distraction from reality.’ Do you TJC JC2 MYA
agree? 2022

‘We are what we wear.’ Discuss. TJC JC1 MYA

2022

TJC JC1 MYA

Is there any point in reading fiction?
2022

Are the reading habits of young people a cause for concern today? TJC Promo
2022

‘Music plays a critical role in the development of a society’s cultural CJC Prelim
identity.’ What is your view? 2021

Consider the view that literature is more meaningful when it reflects NJC Prelim
life. 2021

NJC Prelim
‘Fashion merely serves superficial purposes.’ Is this a fair comment? 2021

Consider the value of fantasy in films. TJC JC1 MYA

2021

‘Films and television series based on historical events need to be TJC JC2 MYA
historically accurate.’ Do you agree? 2021

‘With the rise of the Internet, books have lost their value.’ What do VJC Prelim
you think? 2021

‘Myths and legends are purely for children’s entertainment.’ What is MI Prelim
your view? 2019

NYJC Prelim
‘Fantasy novels offer little apart from enjoyment.’ Discuss.
2019

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TJC MCT
Can fashion ever be serious?
2019

TJC Prelim
Consider the view that images are more powerful than words.
2019

CJC Prelim
‘Fashion has no practical purpose.’ Do you agree?
2018

‘For the majority of people, Literature is irrelevant to their daily lives.’ MJC Prelim
How true is this of your society? 2018

Examine the extent to which fashion can be considered art. RI Prelim 2018

TJC Promo
‘Music is pleasing to the senses but is of no practical use.’ Discuss.
2018

TJC Prelim
‘Fiction is enjoyable but of little value.’ Is this a fair comment?
2018

ACJC Prelim
‘Music breaks all barriers.’ Can music be so powerful?
2017

CJC Prelim
‘Modern Art is not considered Art.’ Discuss.
2017

DHS Prelim
'Books are dead. Films are the way to go.' Do you agree?
2017

NJC Prelim
Evaluate the appeal of theatre, dance or music in your society.
2017

SAJC Prelim
Do you agree that there is little value in literature today?
2017

TJC JC2 MYA

‘There is little value in contemporary music.’ Is this a fair comment?
2017

Consider the view that design is aesthetically satisfying but of little DHS Prelim
practical use. 2016

IJC Prelim
Can fiction ever be truthful?
2016

JJC Prelim
‘Music does nothing other than entertain.’ Do you agree?
2016

‘There is greater value in reading fiction than keeping updated with MJC Prelim
current affairs.’ Do you agree? 2016

PJC Prelim
Discuss the value and appeal of science fiction.
2016

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To what extent do visual arts promote national identity in your YJC Prelim
society? 2016

Does literature offer anything more than an appreciation of the YJC Prelim
language? 2016

Art and Cultural Institutions and Spaces

Do museums still have value in today’s world? NJC Prelim
2023

TJC JC2 MYA

Is there any value in preserving historical sites today?
2022

‘As countries pursue development, heritage sites are losing their EJC Prelim
relevance.’ How far do you agree? 2021

ASRJC
Assess the view that there is no future for museums.
Prelim 2020

NYJC Prelim
Do physical libraries still have a place in today’s world?
2020

YIJC Prelim
Are museums a waste of money?
2019

Consider the view that museums are developed for tourists and not NJC Prelim
for the local community. 2018

Is it really important for your society to use public spaces for art PJC Prelim
displays? 2018

‘Cultural and heritage sites have lost their relevance.’ How far is this SRJC Prelim
true of your society? 2017

Traditions and Cultural Heritage in Society

To what extent are festivals and national holidays effective in GCE 2023
promoting unity in your society?

Do handicrafts still have value when machine-produced goods are GCE 2018
so readily available?

Assess the view that traditional buildings have no future in your GCE 2016
society.

In your society, can preserving traditions and pursuing progress be EJC Prelim
reconciled? 2023

Is cultural diversity a threat or an asset to society? JPJC Prelim

2023

Assess the impact of popular media on the culture of your society. MI Prelim
2023

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‘Traditional beliefs have little value in the modern world.’ Discuss RI Prelim
2023

‘Traditions have no value in a modern world.’ What is your view? TJC Prelim
2023

Assess the importance of traditional buildings in your society. ASRJC Prelim

2022

Have traditions become too commercialised in your society? EJC Prelim

2022

To what extent does pop culture affect young people in harmful HCI Prelim
ways? 2022

To what extent should traditional art forms be preserved in a world RI Prelim

driven by innovation? 2022

Assess the view that tradition impedes progress in your society. RVHS Prelim
2022

How far can technology help to preserve heritage today? ASRJC Prelim
2021

'The adoption of online trade has made traditional businesses CJC Prelim
irrelevant in this digital age.' How far is this true of your society? 2021

‘Women, more so than men, are hindered by traditions.’ Comment. SAJC Prelim
2021

‘In with the new and out with the old.’ How true is this of your TJC JC2 MYA
society? 2021

Do rituals and ceremonies still have a place in your society? YIJC Prelim
2021

Would you agree that a society that protects its heritage will be richly HCI Prelim
rewarded? 2020

Should local cultures still be preserved when young people are NYJC Prelim
showing less interest in them? Discuss with reference to your 2020
society.

How far, in your society, are efforts to preserve cultural heritage NJC Prelim
merely superficial? 2019

How important is it for young people in your society to retain a sense SAJC Prelim
of tradition? 2019

‘A great city is defined by its heritage.’ Comment. TJC MCT

2019

To what extent has tradition become a burden in the modern world? TJC JC2 MYA
2019

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‘Whether or not a country’s heritage is preserved depends on its TJC Prelim

economic value.’ How true is this of your society? 2019

How far do you agree that as your society progresses, there is no ACJC Prelim
place for heritage? 2018

Should traditions and values change with the times? HCI Prelim
2018

To enable the sustaining of local culture, should your society’s PJC Prelim
government limit access to foreign entertainment? 2018

In your society, should more be done to preserve heritage? RVHS Prelim

2018

How important is it for countries to possess World Heritage Site AJC Prelim
attractions? 2017

Should historical monuments and objects be preserved when such HCI Prelim
an undertaking is very expensive or even a source of unhappiness? 2017

How far is it possible to preserve your society’s food heritage? TJC JC2 MYA
2017

‘Preserving heritage is a lost cause.’ To what extent is this true of TJC Promo
your society? 2017

How far can modernity and tradition co-exist in your society? TJC JC1 MYA
2016

Language
Assess the view that accurate translation between languages is GCE 2023
always necessary.

‘The quality of written language is being destroyed by social media.’ GCE 2017
What is your view?

Consider the view that the spoken language is more important than GCE 2013
the written form.

How far can language solve the problem of discrimination? NYJC Prelim
2023

‘The world would be a better place if everyone spoke the same RI Prelim
language.’ Do you agree? 2023

Assess the view that being understandable is more important than ACJC Prelim
being grammatical today. 2022

‘Language mastery is unimportant as long as one can be DHS Prelim

understood.’ Comment. 2022

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‘Technology makes language learning more effective.’ What is your YIJC Prelim
view? 2022

‘To truly understand a culture, learn its language.’ Do you agree? DHS Prelim
2021

‘Not enough attention is given to ensure that our use of language NYJC Prelim
does not offend.’ Do you agree? 2021

In your society, is there any point in learning a foreign language? TJC MCT
2021

Do we really need to be concerned about declining standards of DHS Prelim

language in today’s world? 2020

How far is state intervention in matters of language acceptable? EJC Prelim

2020

Is there any point in preserving traditional dialects in your society? TMJC Prelim
2020

Do you agree that it is important to know a foreign language today? NYJC Prelim
2019

‘All languages are equally valuable.’ Comment. NYJC Prelim

2017

To what extent is a universal language desirable? TJC Prelim

2017

‘Technology has corrupted the beauty of language.’ Is this a fair AJC Prelim
comment? 2016

‘It is no longer sufficient to be competent in only one language today.’ TJC JC2 MYA
Discuss. 2016

Study of the Arts/Humanities; the Arts/Humanities vs. the Sciences Debate

‘Too many historical figures are famous for the wrong reasons.’ GCE 2022
Discuss.

‘An appreciation of music is vital for a fully rounded education.’ How

GCE 2020
true is this of your society?

‘The past is not dead; it is not even past.’ Discuss. GCE 2017

‘Unlike the Arts, such as writing and music, Mathematics lacks the GCE 2013
capacity for creativity.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

Should a nation’s history be taught objectively in schools? DHS Prelim

2022

‘The future of the arts is technology.’ Discuss. NJC Prelim

2022

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‘History is more important today than ever before.’ How true is this NJC Prelim
for your society? 2022

To what extent are the Humanities essential for a holistic education? SAJC Prelim
2022

How far is the digital era improving people’s experience of art? TJC JC2 MYA
2022

Is good design more a science than an art? VJC Prelim

2022

Consider the view that more scientists than artists are needed in the EJC Prelim
world today. 2021

Should the study of literature be made compulsory in schools? EJC Prelim

2021

‘It is important for young people to have a good understanding of the HCI Prelim
history of their own country.’ Discuss. 2021

‘An arts education is a necessity.’ How true is this in your society? JPJC Prelim
2021

‘The arts ask questions while the sciences provide answers.’ How RI Prelim
valid is this view? 2021

‘As science advances, the importance of the arts and humanities RVHS Prelim
declines.’ Is this an accurate claim today? 2021

‘We do not need reminders of the past since the past is best TJC Prelim
forgotten.’ Do you agree? 2021

‘History does not do much to guide us for the future.’ What is your TJC Promo
view? 2021

Is there any point in remembering the past? CJC Prelim

2020

‘It is a mistake for education in this technological age to ignore the CJC Prelim
Arts.’ To what extent do you agree with this comment? 2019

‘Unlike the Sciences, the Arts do nothing to solve the problems of DHS Prelim
society.’ Discuss. 2019

Is History worth studying when it can be rewritten? DHS Prelim

2019

Consider the view that the study of history is important in establishing TMJC Prelim
a national identity in your society. 2019

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Evaluate the claim that it is dangerous to disregard history. YIJC Prelim

2019

‘The study of literature broadens horizons and transform lives.’ HCI Prelim
Discuss. 2018

‘Arts education has been neglected in your society.’ Do you agree? SAJC Prelim
2018

‘The future of your society lies in the sciences rather than the arts.’ TJC MCT
What is your view? 2018

Does scientific advancement, rather than creative expression, YJC Prelim

enhance society’s well-being? 2018

Assess the view that Literature is a subject that has no practical YJC Prelim
value. 2017

‘Far too little attention is given to the Arts in education today.’ How IJC Prelim
true is this? 2016

Is the study of humanities more important today? TJC Promo

2016

‘The arts liberate but science enslaves.’ Discuss. TPJC Prelim

2016

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The Arts
Key terms 1. What is it?
and The arts refer to imaginative and creative bodies of knowledge
Examples encompassing a host of disciplines. These disciplines include,
but are not limited to:

i. Visual Arts: painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, film,

photography, street art (graffiti)
ii. Performing Arts: theatre, dance, opera, spoken word, music,
busking, magic, circus arts
iii. Literary Arts: poetry, novels, essays, short fiction, creative non-
fiction
iv. Decorative Arts: pottery, knitting, embroidery, calligraphy, book
binding
v. Applied Arts: architecture, product design, fashion, interior
design, industrial design

The arts in essence are the expression or application of human

creative skill and imagination, which could assume differing
levels of prestige, but ultimately produce a variety of works to be
appreciated for their beauty, emotional power and often, the
messages that they convey.

2. High or high-brow culture refers to the set of cultural products,

mainly in the arts, that are held in the highest esteem by a
culture. It is associated with the culture of the elite, such as the
aristocracy or the intelligentsia.

3. Popular culture (or ‘Pop culture’) is the entirety of ideas,

perspectives, attitudes, images and other social phenomena that
are within the mainstream of a given culture; it is heavily
influenced by mainstream media and permeates everyday life.

▪ Both terms (high culture and popular culture) are often used in
contrast with each other. This usually exposes the disconnect
that exists between socio-economic classes or strata, particularly
in their differences in taste, and their differing views towards the
domain of arts and culture. These rifts suggest that high culture
is intellectual, inaccessible, complex, and primarily created to
provoke thought among niche groups of the elite, while popular
culture and ‘low-brow’ art is simplistic, superficial, and primarily
produced to entertain and pander to the masses. For example:
o James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ vs. E.L. James’ ‘Fifty Shades of
Grey’: modernist literature vs. popular erotica
o Sergei Rachmaninov vs. Snoop Dogg: gifted composer vs.
popular rapper
o Rembrandt vs. Thomas Kinkade: Renaissance painter
exhibited in museums vs. painter frequently featured on
greeting cards and inspirational posters

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o ‘Mulholland Drive’ vs. ‘Twilight’: Independent art film aimed at a

niche market vs. film adaptation of book series targeted at the
mainstream mass-market audience

ii. More recently, many artists and writers have sought to challenge
these categories by intermingling high culture with popular
culture. This conflation of the high-brow with the low-brow has
been described as characteristic of Postmodern art. For
example:
o ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ by Seth Grahame-Smith:
elements of genre fiction are injected into a literary classic.
o Andy Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein: appropriations of
everyday imagery (soup cans and comic book panels) into
paintings that are considered ‘fine art’.

Value of the 1. The arts are a platform for political expression and uphold
arts the right to freedom of expression.
▪ Artists have supported anti-war movements, or expressed anti-
war sentiments, through portraying war as a harrowing immoral
event. Examples include:
o Picasso’s ‘Guernica’, painted in response to the bombing of
Guernica in 1937, portrays the tragedies of war, in particular
the suffering of innocent civilians. See QR code:

o Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Slaughterhouse Five’. The novel recalls real

events such as the firebombing of Dresden in World War II
and is famous for being the subject of numerous censorship
attempts due to its provocative and frank presentation of war.
o Louis Malle’s ‘Au revoir, les enfants’. The film is largely a
dramatisation of his real-life childhood experiences and
depicts the Nazi government's deportation of French Jews to
concentration camps during World War II.

▪ Besides advocating against the use of military force and being

staunch critics of warfare, artists also regularly engage with
politics, often using art to challenge prevailing structures of
power. Examples include:
o Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist and political activist who often
criticises the Chinese government and its involvement in
corrupt practices and its dubious human rights track record.
A large portion of his art is unequivocally critical of the
government — ‘The Animal That Looks Like a Llama (But is
Really an Alpaca)’, a wallpaper installation is a lavish, rococo
print of Twitter birds, surveillance cameras, handcuffs,
chains, and alpacas. It evokes Ai’s struggle against the
Chinese state after the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008. Ai’s call
for government transparency on the student deaths caused

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by collapsed schools led to restrictions on his personal

freedom, including arrests, detentions and constant
surveillance. The Twitter birds and the alpaca are symbolic of
social media and Chinese Internet culture.
o In February 2012, the self-proclaimed “feminist punk band”
and performance art troupe, Pussy Riot, staged a
performance in front of the altar of the Cathedral of Christ the
Saviour in Moscow. The piece was held in protest of the
Russian Orthodox Church’s complicity in Putin’s re-election
campaign and resulted in the imprisonment of three
members.
o In February 2021, creatives in Myanmar took to the arts to
resist rule by the military junta that seized power via a coup.
Graffiti artists spray-painted messages mocking Senior Gen.
Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who staged the coup and
online art collectives also made their designs free so that
protestors could print them out for signs, stickers or T-shirts.
o ‘Cooling-Off Day’ is a play by local playwright, Alfian
Sa’at, that captures the 2011 General Elections, presents a
variety of viewpoints, and focuses on opposition voices to
paint a picture of Singaporean society as one that is unwilling
to confront the uncomfortable realities inherent in any
democratic society.
o ‘A Manifesto For The Arts’: This is a manifesto by
ArtsEngage, a collective of prominent figures in the local arts
scene, that spells out the principles of the arts in society.
Notably, it states that ‘art is political’, asserting that the arts
should inform all aspects of policy and politics.

▪ Although most forms of art with political motivations have been

used to challenge the status quo and undermine authority, art
has historically also been used by governments to promote their
beliefs and ideologies.
o Fascist art in Nazi Germany: Art was a tool used by the Nazi
regime to promote its beliefs or manipulate people’s thoughts
to fit its beliefs and ideals. Many kinds of art such as posters,
cartoons, stamps and flyers were used blatantly to present
Nazi beliefs, whereas sculptures, paintings, architecture and
other forms of art were based on Nazi ideals (see section on
‘The Arts and Controversy’ for details of propagandistic films).
o Art during the period of Mao’s Cultural Revolution: The
government sought to create a new visual culture to
communicate its goals and ideology to the Chinese people.
Mao Zedong dictated that art must serve the state and
incorporate revolutionary traits exalting the enthusiasm and
optimism of the Red Guards and the comrades.

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2. Contrary to popular perception, there is economic value in

developing and sustaining an arts industry.
▪ A vibrant arts scene can foster a creative environment conducive
for innovation and new discoveries.
o Cultural industries can be defined as those whose major
outputs have some symbolic value – such as fine arts, film
and craft – but also possibly including jewellery design,
publishing and fashion. Creative industries are defined more
broadly. These have knowledge as their major input, and in
addition to cultural goods and services could include things
like software design and internet services. Collectively,
UNESCO estimates that the value of the global market for
creative goods more than doubled from US$208 billion in
2002 to US$509 billion in 2015. It is among the most rapidly
growing sectors of the world economy, generating nearly 30
million jobs worldwide.
o The National Arts Council has launched ‘Our SG Arts
Plan’ (2018-2022) to guide future arts and culture initiatives.
Key priorities include inspiring people to appreciate art,
connecting communities to support the arts, and positioning
Singapore globally as a hub for the arts.
o The Singapore government views the companies in the
creative industries as being economically lucrative entities
that can be tapped on to encourage innovation in knowledge-
based sectors. Hence, a target was set by the government to
double the GDP contribution of the creative sector from three
per cent in 2002 to six per cent in 2012.
o It also spearheaded research and production in this sector by
developing integrated complexes like Mediapolis to facilitate
collaboration between private enterprises involved in the
development of creative products. This resulted in the arts
and culture industry contributing an estimated S$1.6 billion to
the local economy in 2013, up from the S$922 million
generated in 2003.

▪ There are also indirect economic benefits to be gained from the

development of a thriving arts scene, such as the promotion of
the tourism industry through arts events hosted in Singapore.
o Key examples include Art Stage Singapore and
Affordable Art Fair Singapore. These are just some of the
numerous key events hosted by Singapore that give local and
regional talent exposure, while also stimulating the tourism
industry through the influx of international crowds. In 2014, a
Damien Hirst painting was sold for S$2.15million at Art Stage
Singapore, cementing the island nation as an arts investment
hub.

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▪ From an individual’s perspective, artworks are often acquired as

investment pieces as the value of these artworks significantly
increases with time.
o A prime illustration would be Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’,
which commanded US$120 million at a Sotheby’s auction in
2012, from its original calling bid at US$40 million.

Social importance
▪ The arts have value in reflecting social reality, either to expose
deep-seated flaws in society, or to uphold social justice.
o Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ deals primarily with
racism in the American south, exposing deep-seated
prejudices against the Black community. It was once banned
from numerous school libraries for its controversial portrayal
of extreme racism, and its repeated use of racial slurs.
o Banksy is the pseudonym of a British street artist, whose
graffiti art is frequently read as a social and political
commentary; in particular, his works critique aspects of the
human condition such as greed, hypocrisy, boredom, despair
and alienation. See QR Code:

o Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 black comedy thriller film, ‘Parasite’,

mesmerised viewers around the world by exposing a much
grimmer reality of South Korea’s economic growth: urban
poverty, and the humiliation and class strife that it has
spawned.
o Alfian Sa’at is a local playwright who is also recognised
internationally. His works touch on issues that may be
regarded as socially and politically sensitive, such as the
examination of LGBTQ+ issues in his play, ‘Asian Boys Vol.
1-3’.
o In 2019, the films, ‘A Land Imagined’ and ‘I Dream of
Singapore’ shed light on the conditions that migrant
labourers live in.

▪ The arts also capture the spirit of the age for future record.
o Bill Cunningham is a fashion photographer for The New York
Times and is widely known for his work in street photography.
Regarded by many as the original trend-spotter before the
emergence of fashion blogs, his photographs of people on
the streets of New York not only influence seasonal fashion
trends, but also document the evolution of fashion and
preserve these as a living record of urban life.
o ‘The Beat Generation’ was a group of post-World War II
writers who came to prominence for the culture that they

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documented as well as inspired. Their body of work contains

themes that are anti-war and anti-establishment and are now
read as important documents of a culture shaped by the
horrors of World War II and the malignant nuclear threat
during the Cold War.

▪ The arts are used to beautify public spaces and enrich civic life.
o In Italian piazzas, or town squares, decorative architecture
enhances these public spaces by giving them character and
a sense of grandeur. This is accomplished through the use of
decorative details such as Baroque façades, geometric
paving and elaborate water fountains.
o In Singapore’s Central Business District, sculptures by
Botero, Salvadore Dali and Ng Eng Teng are used to beautify
the environment and engage the public.

▪ The arts are also used to raise awareness of social issues.

o 2022 Global Citizen Festival (NYC): The Global Citizen
Festival is an annual music festival started in 2012 and
organised by the Global Poverty Project. In 2022, artistes like
Metallica, Charlie Puth, The Jonas Brothers and Mariah
Carey took to the stage in New York’s Central Park to rally
the world to advance policies that empowered women and
girls, took climate action, broke systemic barriers, and uplifted
activists and advocates.
o Haresh Sharma’s ‘Off Centre’, a local play first
performed in 1993, and included in the SG50’s line-up of 50
plays, touches on topics such as social stigmas and
prejudices towards mental illnesses. The two protagonists of
the play are connected by the fact that there are both ex-
mental patients, although they are of very different
backgrounds.

3. The arts are pivotal in the creation of a shared national

identity.
▪ The arts allow for different ethnicities and cultures to be brought
together under a given identity and enable citizens of a nation to
distinguish ‘self’ from ‘other’. This is especially important in an
increasingly homogenised and globalised world, where citizens
need to be able to relate to something that is unique to their
national culture in order to stay rooted to their shores.
o Researchers who study dance have argued that by
combining individual and collective identity, dance as a
medium provides a particularly affective expression of
identity. Different bodily movements in dance forms such as
‘Bharatnatyam’ and ‘Zamacueca’ signal and represent
various social identities, national characteristics and
traditions that can be recognised and associated with India
and Peru, respectively.

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▪ The arts and in particular music in the form of national anthems,

are also capable of generating a strong emotional response
amongst people, and therefore are an important tool for fostering
and promoting a national identity.
o In post-independence Singapore, arts and cultural
programmes were introduced by the government to
encourage inter-racial understanding and enhance nation-
building in the early years. Today, the People’s Association
continues to use the arts as a platform to encourage
interracial harmony and build community pride.
o Art institutions such as the Esplanade and museums also
have non-ticketed arts events and festivals that target
specific community groups. For example, the Esplanade
showcases artistic productions by the various ethnic
communities through the Malay Festival of the Arts (Pesta
Raya), Indian Festival of the Arts (Kalaa Utsavam) and the
Chinese Festival of the Arts (Huayi).

4. The arts promote health and well-being.

▪ Creative expression is cathartic and conducive for mental well-
being. Music engagement, visual arts, expressive writing, and
other forms of creative expression can help to reduce anxiety,
tension, and stress. They can also help to enhance self-worth,
identity and awareness and serve as an outlet to manage
feelings and anger which positively affects one’s psychological
well-being.
▪ Art therapy is a mental health discipline that combines the visual
arts with counselling and psychotherapy and is part of the
broader category of expressive arts. It uses the creative process
to help surface and resolve conflicts, reduce stress, manage
behaviour, build self-esteem, and enhance interpersonal skills.
o At the Karachi Central Jail in Pakistan, the presence of an
art rehabilitation programme has provided solace to the
prison’s over 3,300 prisoners by helping to ease the tedium
of life behind bars, improving their overall functioning and
keeping them calm through an increased awareness of their
negative thoughts and emotions.
o A 2019 report by the World Health Organisation stated that
the arts can also help to tackle complex health challenges
such as diabetes, obesity, and ill mental health.
o Cancer patients can mitigate side effects of treatment, from
nausea to a lack of appetite by listening to music or making
art. Dancing can also improve the motor skills of Parkinson’s
patients.
o Dementia is one of the most debilitating health
conditions faced by Singapore’s rapidly ageing population,
with one in 10 seniors aged 60 and above having the
condition. Studies have shown that arts engagement, a non-
pharmacological approach, has the potential to enhance the

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quality of life for people living with dementia and their

caregivers. Building on these studies, the National Gallery
Singapore and Dementia Singapore embarked on a two-
year pilot study to develop, ‘Art with You’, an evidence-based
museum programme which aims to foster positive and
meaningful engagement that supports the wellbeing of
caregivers and people with dementia. It also combines
people-centred care with arts engagement to create an
inclusive environment where people with dementia are
valued, respected and empowered.
o In 2021, new research by the NUS Yong Loo Lin School
of Medicine suggested that choral singing intervention is
equally effective in delaying cognitive decline as a structured
health education programme which targets known risk
factors of dementia such as hypertension, depression, and
social isolation.

Evaluative points: The medical effects of the arts are definitely

present, but they are by no means a panacea (cure/remedy). It
is generally agreed that while the arts have medical benefits, they
must be used with other forms of medicine to be effective.

5. The arts are central to cultural and religious life in both

Eastern and Western societies.
▪ Christian sacred art illustrates, supplements, and portrays in
tangible form the principles of Christianity, while Islamic art
focuses on ornate calligraphy and geometrical patterns due to
prohibitions against depicting representational images. Eastern
music traditions such as Indian classical and traditional music in
Southeast Asia are closely tied to religious/spiritual beliefs.
o Common examples of Christian art: the Sistine Chapel
ceiling by Michelangelo, ‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo da
Vinci and ‘Assumption of the Virgin’ by Titian.
o In the Indian music tradition, certain melodies/scales are
associated with different times of the day and different
seasons.
o In Southeast Asia, many musical traditions believe that
spirits live in and around the instruments. In Indonesia and
Thailand, as a sign of respect for the instruments, musicians
remove their footwear before playing and never step over
their instruments. In Javanese Gamelan, the gong ageng
(the largest and most important gong) is considered the
spiritual centre of the ensemble and ritual offerings are
usually made to it before performances.
▪ However more recently, the arts express sentiments that oppose
and challenge religious thought. They may also appropriate
religious symbols and imagery, subverting them to achieve an
artistic agenda that may be controversial.

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o Andres Serrano’s ‘Piss Christ’ was condemned for being

blasphemous as it depicted a crucifix submerged in a glass
of urine. See QR Code:

o Jeanette Winterson’s ‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit’

appropriates biblical narratives and imagery, only to subvert
them in a critical gesture against the Church’s oppression of
sexual minorities. See QR Code:

6. The arts combine entertainment with commercial value.

▪ Music and film make up a large part of popular culture and
entertain us through humour and emotional appeal. At the same
time, they are lucrative money-spinners for studios and
subsequent spin-off attractions.
o The animated films of Pixar and DreamWorks Pictures, such
as ‘Frozen’ and ‘Toy Story’, appeal not just to children but
filmgoers of all ages. These films are often included in the lists
of highest grossing films of all time.
o Entire theme parks and product line ups have been
constructed based on film franchises such as the ‘Harry
Potter’ series and ‘Descendants of the Sun’, a South Korean
hit drama. The Harry Potter films have made at least $30
billion from box office, merchandise, and video game
revenue.
▪ Besides casual entertainment, more ‘serious’ forms of art also
serve to delight and please us. Shakespearean plays are still
humorous and continue to provoke laughter through both
wordplay and slapstick despite being regarded as relatively
inaccessible due to the unfamiliarity of Elizabethan English.

7. In the context of Singapore, the arts play an

increasingly larger role in the education system.
▪ Considering that we live in a VUCA world which is constantly
being driven and disrupted by new technology and innovation,
there has been a greater call for the need to educate our young
people in both the sciences and the arts, so that they can
synergise knowledge from multiple disciplines to help them in
generating novel solutions to first-world problems.
▪ The benefits of the arts in an education system are incalculable
with studies showing that, apart from teaching the young specific

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artistic techniques, the arts instil perseverance, accountability,

creativity, and collaboration.
o In secondary schools, the arts which include the study of
Literature, Art, Drama and Music are incorporated into
students’ timetables, whether as core or elective subjects.
o Some schools also offer the Music/Art/Drama Elective
Programme: these are specialised programmes designed to
develop the talents of apt and interested students beyond
the regular arts curriculum.
▪ In tandem with these developments, Singapore’s arts education
system is also undergoing progressive improvements.
o The establishment of the School of The Arts (SOTA),
Singapore’s first national pre-tertiary specialised
arts programme and the formation of a new university of the
arts by an ‘alliance’ between the Nanyang Academy of Fine
Arts (Nafa) and Lasalle College of the Arts, have expanded
the scope of opportunities and quality of education available
for aspiring arts professionals in Singapore and the region.

Evaluative points: do these initiatives reflect the general mindset

towards the arts in Singapore? What is the prevailing perspective
of the arts? These are top-down initiatives set in place by the
government, but what does the average citizen feel? What are
the associations that Singapore’s society makes of students who
opt to study arts-based programmes like the Music Elective
Programme (MEP)/ Drama Elective Programme (DEP) and
courses at SOTA?

Other 1. Visual Arts: relationship between art and reality

issues
within the ▪ Mimesis, or art’s ability to imitate reality, played a key role in
arts. discussions about the value of art in the past. In Aristotle’s
Poetics, it is argued that art is fundamentally imitation, and
N.B.: imitation is how we all learn. The arts have the ability to rouse
This is not emotions and thereby ‘purge’ negative feelings as a means of
an emotional, moral and even medical purification — this is known
exhaustive as catharsis. While Aristotle focused on the genre of plays and
list of the tragedy to make his argument, his claims can be extrapolated to
concerns include other artistic forms such as the visual arts. The visual arts
and issues have always attempted to represent the natural world realistically
inherent in from the classical era even up to the Renaissance (period in
the arts. European history, covering the time span between the 14th and
17th centuries and marking the transition from the Middle Ages
to modernity). The Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of
classical philosophy, literature, and art. The use of perspective
further augmented art’s true to life qualities. As such, art gave
the illusion of reality, and was valued for its realism.

▪ However, Modernism in the late 19th to early 20th centuries

completely rejected the ideology of realism in the arts. Art that
emerged during this period eschewed (avoided) traditional

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notions of the aesthetic and was not primarily concerned with

depicting the real world, but instead drew attention to the
materials and processes used in the artistic enterprise. A few
examples of Modernist art movements are:
o Cubism: perspectives are distorted and layered upon each
other
o Surrealism: a movement featuring artworks that juxtaposed
dreamscapes with elements of reality
o Abstract expressionism: a term used to describe a
spontaneous style of painting that is characterised by
expressive and gestural brushwork
o Colour Field painting: a style that featured large unbroken
fields of paint on canvas and focused on the primacy of colour
as the subject of the painting.

2. Performance Arts: forum theatre in Singapore

▪ Forum theatre is a form of theatre that involves audience
participation. Spectators are invited to intervene and change the
course of action during the play, especially in scenes that portray
a character being oppressed. Through these interactive and
engaging means, the goals of forum theatre are to gain an
understanding of issues, practise empathy and generate viable
solutions in a non-personal context.
▪ In Singapore, forum theatre was banned in the 1990s following
an article published in The Straits Times that insinuated the
potential forum theatre had for radical social change, which was
controversial in light of the Marxist (communist) background from
which it stems from.
▪ Recently however, the prohibition of forum theatre has been
lifted though productions have been decidedly more apolitical,
with theatre troupes raising social and moral issues rather than
critiques of authority and political oppression.

3. The arts and controversy

▪ The arts push boundaries and may explore concepts and ideas
that are novel or non-conformist. Sometimes, these may be
extreme and even offensive, challenging peoples’ worldviews
and beliefs, leading to controversy.
o Some examples include ‘Piss Christ’ (1987) by Andres
Serrano and ‘Fountain’ (1917) by Marcel Duchamp – a
standard urinal laid on its back.
o The Nazi propaganda film, ‘Triumph of the Will’(released in
1935) was advanced for its time, and was exceptional for its
use of cinematic techniques, such as moving cameras and
aerial photography. However, many argue that as it promoted
the profoundly unethical Nazi regime, it could not be given
credit for aesthetic value. Film critic, Roger Ebert, said the film
poses “a classic question of the contest between art and
morality: Is there such a thing as pure art, or does all art make
a political statement?”. Filmmaker, Susan Sontag, considered
Triumph of the Will to be the “most successful, most purely

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propagandistic film ever made, whose very conception

negates the possibility of the filmmaker having an aesthetic or
visual conception independent of propaganda.”
o The works of British street artist, Banksy, usually of political
and social commentary, have appeared on streets, walls, and
bridges across the world. They have generated much
controversy for a few reasons. His satirical street art and
subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti
executed in a distinctive stencilling technique. They also have
been criticised as vandalism by some. Examples of Banksy’s
works of art which go against convention include his painting,
‘Girl with Balloon’, which self-destructed after it was sold for £1
million at Sotheby’s. Banksy had installed a shredder in the
frame of the painting.
o In 2013, street artist, Samantha Lo, (nicknamed ‘Sticker
Lady’) was arrested for stencilling “My Grandfather Road” on
roads and pasting humorous stickers with messages such as
“Press Once Can Already” on pedestrian crossing buttons.
Police were deciding whether to press charges under anti-
vandalism laws that could result in a three-year jail term and a
fine. Some Singaporeans agreed that this was vandalism, but
other segments of the populace were outraged, with 14,000
people signing a petition calling for leniency. She was
eventually sentenced to 240 hours of community service. Her
actions also started a dialogue as to what constituted art.
o In 2017, a similar incident occurred when Lasalle College
of the Arts student, Priyageetha Dia, paved a Jalan Besar HDB
staircase with gold foil, earning praise from many netizens.
However, it was labelled an “unauthorised” deed by the town
council, and some netizens expressed concerns over its
potential slipperiness, even if the staircase might have been
seldom used, being on the 20th floor. The gold foil was
subsequently voluntarily removed by the artist. The town
council also said that it appreciated her “desire to enhance her
surrounding space”, and then Jalan Besar GRC MP, Lily Neo,
said that the town council hoped to work with the artist to
exhibit her work elsewhere, such as through wall murals. The
response from authorities in this incident is markedly different
from the 2013 ‘Sticker Lady’ case, perhaps due to the
impermanent nature of the artwork, the more obscure location
of the art, the young age of the artist, and the intent and
meaning behind the work. This may suggest a change in
Singapore’s attitude towards these “unauthorised” forms of
artistic expression since 2013.

4. Censorship and the arts

▪ Censorship is often deemed necessary when works of art are
socially undesirable, or inappropriate for younger audiences (e.g.,
if there is nudity, violence). These works of art may seek to
provoke or titillate for no constructive reason or may need a more

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mature audience to better appreciate the context of such

portrayals. Audiences have questioned the need for nudity in
Broadway plays like Daniel Radcliffe’s ‘Equus’ or egregious acts
of violence in works such as Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork
Orange’.
o In 2014, the National Library Board took a few children’s
books off its shelves, including ‘The White Swan Express’ and
multi-award-winning book, ‘And Tango Makes Three’, and
pulped them, after a few members of the public complained
that the contents promoted homosexuality. This controversial
move drew support from some groups and provoked the ire of
others.
▪ When works of art threaten social stability and security, some
form of censorship is necessary to maintain peace and order. In
Singapore, these restrictions are known as ‘OB markers’ (out of
bounds markers), and include issues of politics, race, religion, and
sexuality.
o In 2017, a far-right group in Brazil successfully petitioned to
shut down an exhibition called Queermuseum, after
conservative critics accused it of promoting blasphemy and
pedophilia. The exhibition which brought together 263 works
by 85 artists, sought to explore the work of marginalised
cultural practitioners active in engaging with queer narratives.
The exhibition was closed after facing an onslaught of vitriolic
criticism on social media and from gallery visitors.
o Also in 2014, the Media Development Authority refused
to grant Tan Pin Pin’s documentary film, ‘To Singapore, With
Love’ (2013), a license on the grounds that it undermined
national security, which meant that it could not be shown in
Singapore. The film indirectly deals with Operation Coldstore
and involves interviews with exiles who fled the crackdown
and were living overseas.
▪ The arts may also be censored when they threaten political
authority which then seeks to suppress artistic expression.
o Under the Khmer Rouge, many intellectuals, including artists
and musicians, were killed because they were viewed as a
threat to the regime.
o Ai Weiwei is a contemporary artist most famous for his
politically charged pieces which include, Remembering, an
artwork made to commemorate the thousands of children who
died in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. News of the tragedy had
been heavily censored and controlled by the government. Ai
created a blog in 2006 on which he talked about his life, shared
his opinions on art, and expressed his thoughts on the
Chinese government’s policies but it was shut down in 2009.
Several attempts have been made to silence Ai Weiwei’s
activism. In 2011, he was held for nearly three months in
conditions he described later as “a kind of mental torture,” in a
tiny room with guards nearby, and was interrogated 50 times.

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In tiny Singapore, arts philanthropy remains relatively weak.

Issues in Government-led development of the arts is therefore crucial to provide
the financial and creative opportunities for arts practitioners and
Singapore organisations.
arts scene
today Relevant supervisory agencies and bodies
▪ The National Arts Council (NAC) was set up as a Statutory Board
in September 1991 to spearhead the development of the arts in
Singapore. Its mission is to nurture the arts and make them an
integral part of the lives of the people of Singapore. Some
activities that the NAC works on include the Singapore
International Festival of Arts and the Singapore Writers Festival.

Assistance and funding are provided through:

▪ Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund (the public can make donations).
Launched by the NAC in 2021 and supported by the private
sector, this scheme aims to catalyse giving and develop the
organisational capabilities of small arts organisations, ensuring
that they are better equipped to sustain their practice for the long
term.
▪ The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) also
provides funding through grants, scholarships and bursaries to
arts groups and practitioners for organisational development, art
making and presentation, digitalisation, and audience
engagement; direct commissioning and programming of works;
allocation of spaces and rental subsidies; maintaining and
upgrading of arts infrastructure; profiling of Singapore’s arts and
artists to international audiences, and undertaking of research
that is shared with the arts community.
▪ MCCY’s schemes also help and incentivise Singapore’s arts and
culture practitioners to develop their skills and capabilities so as
to sustain their livelihoods and maximise opportunities. This is
done through schemes like the NAC’s Capability Development
Grant and the Arts and Culture Resilience Package (ACRP)
which has helped position the sector for post-COVID recovery.
The ACRP was recently enhanced with an additional $20 million,
bringing the total dedicated Covid-19 support for Singapore’s
arts and cultural community to $75m, beyond other national
support measures during the pandemic.
▪ Government funding for the arts and culture has steadily and
consistently increased over the years. Since 2013, a total of
S$3.16 billion has been provided to the sector. Annually, this
amounts to around S$450 million per year, compared to S$300
million per year before 2013.

Issues in funding
▪ While many artists are grateful for government assistance,
some contend that the generosity has come with an
instrumental approach to evaluating the merits and value of the
arts for Singapore’s society (refer to Singapore examples in

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‘Censorship and the arts’). How much an artwork complies with

the prevailing state narrative often determines how much merit
it is accorded in funding decisions.
▪ In 1990 — the 25th anniversary of Singapore’s independence
— the late theatre doyen, Kuo Pao Kun, warned against “undue
interference” from the state, especially for the arts, which exist
in a rich multiplicity of forms, modes, aspects, and levels. In a
relatively undeveloped arts industry in Singapore, where there
are few funding alternatives, self-censorship is real as only the
privileged can afford to say no to a grant from the authorities.
▪ In 2015, Sonny Liew’s graphic novel, ‘The Art of Charlie Chan
Hock Chye’, had its NAC publishing grant withdrawn as it was
deemed to “potentially undermine the authority or legitimacy of
the government and its public institutions.” However, the book
became the first local graphic novel to win the Singapore
Literature Prize, climbed onto the Amazon and New York Times’
bestsellers list in 2016, and was the only graphic novel to make
it onto The Economist magazine's “Books of the Year 2016” list.

Culture and Heritage

Key terms ▪ Culture is a way of life. It refers to the common ways of living and
and behaving that are practised by a large group of people from a
definitions country, geographic area or religion.
▪ Culture refers to all things that are acquired and not ingrained or
present by birth. It is the learning of culture that helps a member of
the society to survive as he knows how to behave and interact with
others in the society.
▪ One’s cultural values can change over a lifetime as one moves or
participates in the norms of a society in different places. Culture
also changes over time as technology and industry change.
▪ In the words of anthropologist, Edward B. Tylor (Primitive Culture,
1870), culture is “that complex whole which includes knowledge,
belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society.”

▪ Non-material aspects of culture include the values and beliefs,

language, and practices that are shared by a group of people. It is
also made up of our knowledge, common sense, assumptions,
expectations, rules, laws, norms, and morals that govern society.
These are also the collective practices we participate in, such as
religious rituals, customs, ceremonies, festivals, and the celebration
of secular holidays.
▪ Material culture is composed of the things that humans make and
use. This aspect of culture includes a wide variety of things, from
buildings, technological gadgets, and clothing, to film, music,
literature, and art, among others. Aspects of material culture are
more commonly referred to as cultural products.

▪ Heritage is the entire range of our inherited traditions, monuments,

objects, and culture. Most importantly, it is the range of

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contemporary meanings, and behaviours that we draw from them.

Heritage includes:
1. Natural heritage which refers to the gifts that Mother Nature
bestows on all countries in the form of hills, rivers, landscapes, flora
and fauna, mountains, volcanoes, etc. These are considered as
being the natural treasures of that country e.g., the Amazon Forest
in Brazil and national parks such as the Grand Canyon Park in the
US and the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.
2. Biological heritage includes the set of ethnic traits one is born with
or inherits from one’s parents. One cannot change from being Asian
to being Hispanic or European. One is born with the physical traits
which define one’s race or ethnicity.
3. Cultural heritage is developed and passed down through
generations. Cultural heritage is often expressed as either tangible
or intangible cultural heritage:
a. Tangible cultural heritage includes buildings, historic sites,
monuments, artefacts, and landscapes that serve as physical
reminders of our history and culture.
b. Intangible cultural heritage includes voices (such as languages
and songs) and oral history (stories not written but passed through
the generations via speaking/storytelling). Popularly, intangible
heritage is perceived through cuisine, clothing (fashion), traditional
knowledge, skills, trade and technologies, values, customs,
religious ceremonies, performing arts, festivals, etc which
communities recognise as part of their cultural heritage.

Singapore context:
▪ The SG Heritage Plan outlines strategies to safeguard and promote
both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Singapore.
▪ There has been an increase in the number of Singaporeans
attending arts and cultural events, reaching an all-time high of 15.6
million in 2019, according to the Singapore Cultural Statistics
report. Visitorship to museums and heritage institutions also came
close to 9.6 million in 2019 — another record high.
▪ In 2019, the National Heritage Board launched its ‘Stewards of
Singapore’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Award’ in the hopes of
recognising lesser-known artisans and groups, to encourage them
to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation.
▪ In November 2020, 48 established home-grown brands were
officially marked as “Made With Passion”, a new national brand
mark launched by the Singapore Brand Office and the Singapore
Tourism Board to promote consumer awareness and appreciation
for Singapore's brands. The pioneer batch of brands represent four
lifestyle categories — beauty and wellness, fashion and
accessories, homeware and decor, and packaged food and
beverages. These included drink manufacturer, Yeos, and fashion
label, Charles and Keith.

The value of 1. Heritage serves as a point of reference for people to build

heritage interpersonal relationships and maintain connections.

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▪ Heritage helps people understand their place in the world through

physical (tangible) surroundings and objects, and what lies within
us as we come to an informed understanding of the human
condition and humanity (intangibles).
▪ Based on the principle of shared experiences from a common past,
heritage galvanises people and identifies them as members of a
particular community.
▪ It is also an important feature of nation-building and nation-
branding.
o The Singapore Bicentennial in 2019 marked the 200th
anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival in Singapore. A
Bicentennial showcase was held at Fort Canning Park, and
events such as special heritage tours, guerrilla installations and
roadshows were held.
o The Singapore National Heritage Board has come up with
several heritage trails to provide both locals and tourists with
the opportunity to hear the untold stories behind the
neighbourhoods and streets of Singapore where Singaporeans
live, work and play. These include the Jubilee Walk, the
Singapore River Walk, the Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail,
Kampong Glam Heritage Trail, Toa Payoh Trail and many
more.

2. Heritage, as a form of individual or collective cultural quotient,

forms part of a country or community’s ‘soft power’ that they
project to others.
▪ Cultural quotient or cultural intelligence is a measure of a person's
capacity to function effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
▪ ‘Soft power’ is the ability to influence and shape the preferences of
others through appeal, attraction, and persuasion. One of the pillars
of ‘soft power’ is culture and heritage.
o E.g., China, Japan, and South Korea have put in much effort to
develop their heritage industries and promote their cultural
heritage when participating in international heritage platforms.
This has helped all three countries to gain significant
recognition and influence internationally.
o Since the end of World War II, Japan has become a democratic,
pacifist nation, whose main tool for exerting influence across
the globe has been soft power. The influence of Japanese
cuisine, fashion, and architecture as well as the popularity of
Japanese animation and literature have maintained the
country's reputation as a cultural powerhouse. South Korea’s
use of entertainment, in particular K-Pop, and its “Hallyu”
Korean wave of modern culture has also made a significant
impact in shaping the tastes and lifestyles of people worldwide.
o The 2019 Soft Power 30 report scored 60 countries worldwide
on six soft power indices: culture, education, engagement,
digital, enterprise and government. Some countries in Asia, like
Japan (8th place), South Korea (19th), Singapore (21st) and
China (27th) came in the top 30.

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o France topped the 2019 Soft Power 30 ranking not because of

its economic or political or military strength, but much more
through its culture — 45 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Top 3
FIFA ranking for its soccer team, 632 Michelin-starred
restaurants, member of 94 international organisations, and 90
million international tourists. Other factors can include a
nation’s academic prowess, sporting success, luxury brands,
entertainment, architecture, diplomacy, and more.
▪ The world body that oversees heritage is the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which
protects sites of cultural, historical, scientific or other form of
significance. The sites are judged to be important for the collective
interest of humanity.
o The Grand Canyon in the U.S., the Taj Mahal in India, and
Singapore’s Botanic Gardens are examples of UNESCO World
Heritage sites.
o The Singapore Botanic Gardens’ designation as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 and the recent addition
of the Singapore Hawker Culture into the UNESCO
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity in 2020 generate soft power by enhancing the respect
and admiration that Singapore gets internationally. The
successful nomination of Singapore’s Hawker Culture means
that Singapore now has its first item on the intangible cultural
heritage list, which currently has 463 entries including yoga in
India and Belgian beer.

3. Heritage can have great economic value.

▪ Commercialisation of heritage sites has increased dramatically,
particularly as tourism has grown to become the world’s largest
service industry.
▪ Commercialisation has created opportunities for investment, job
creation and income production.

4. Issues in Heritage
▪ World Heritage listings have the potential to significantly increase
tourism numbers and revenue to the sites listed. However, this has
also caused many of the listed sites to struggle to strike a balance
between the economic benefits of catering to greatly increased
visitor numbers and preserving the original culture and local
communities that drew the recognition. George Town in Penang,
Malaysia, is one such example.
▪ Unless they are well-regulated, heritage sites can be damaged due
to unsustainable tourism and inconsiderate tourists.
▪ It also takes massive funding to conserve heritage sites, something
the less developed countries may not be able to afford as they
struggle to develop other sectors of their economies.
o Armed conflicts and political instability, such as in the Syrian
and Libyan Civil Wars, have resulted in significant damage to

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heritage sites located in the Middle East and Africa, such as the
ancient city of Aleppo, Syria.
o The dramatic pace of development in Singapore’s
physical landscape and the loss of iconic heritage landmarks
have led to a sense of disorientation for some. The National
Theatre, the old National Library building at Stamford Road,
and even the removal or redevelopment of school buildings has
weakened the emotional connection that Singaporeans feel
towards their homeland.

Tradition
Key terms Tradition refers to a set of beliefs, ideas, knowledge, and practices
and passed down within the same group or society and constitutes a
Definitions significant subset of culture and heritage. It can be further divided into
the following categories for a more structured discussion:

a. Religious rites and rituals

o E.g., Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah is an important coming of age
ritual in Jewish religious tradition, involving reading from the
Torah.
b. Social/Communal practices
o E.g., Quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday,
a common practice in many parts of Latin America.
c. Artistic/ Cultural practices
o E.g., Japanese tea ceremony is a Japanese cultural ceremony
involving the preparation and presentation of matcha, used as
a sign of hospitality.
o E.g., Noh theatre is a form of classical Japanese musical
drama.
o E.g., Dikir Barat is a musical form, native to Peninsular
Malaysia, which involves singing in groups. Although lyrics
mainly deal with episodes from daily life in a humorous manner,
they also address social and political issues.
d. Traditional Medicine
o E.g., Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a broad range of
medical practices that originated in China, including
acupuncture and herbal remedies.
o E.g., Ayurvedic medicine is a broad system of traditional
medicine originating from the Indian subcontinent.
e. Culinary practices
o E.g., Gimjang is the traditional process of making Korean
kimchi.
o E.g., Tok panjang is a Peranakan celebratory meal that usually
features a long table (“tok panjang”) filled with food.
f. Festivals
o E.g., Christmas, Chinese New Year, Eid, Diwali, Mid-Autumn
Festival (Chinese), Yom Kippur (Jewish), Songkran (Thailand),
Fiesta de la Candelaria (Mexico).

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The value of Arguments for the declining importance of tradition

tradition
1. Tradition can be seen as being onerous and burdensome,
especially amidst today’s fast paced lifestyles where people have
little time to uphold these time-consuming rituals, ceremonies, and
festivals.
▪ The younger generation who has been influenced by modern values
and lifestyles is often unable to make sense of some traditions in
the context of the 21st century. Many individuals go through the
motion of observing certain traditions but do not believe in them or
do not fully understand the significance of these practices.

2. Traditional practices and values can be seen as holding society

back from adapting to emerging challenges unique to the modern
world.
▪ Traditional business methods must adapt to new business models
and rapidly changing technology to survive.
▪ Traditional values, such as life-long commitment to an institution or
the concept of community over self, have made way for materialism
and individualism.

3. Traditions, if not questioned or revised, can even hinder the

progress of a person or a community.
▪ While tradition can unite members of a particular group who share
the same traditions, this can also create an “us” versus “them”
mentality which is undesirable in a globalised world and
increasingly diverse communities.
▪ Many argue that traditional beliefs and practices that are
discriminatory and impede equality, social progress and even
economic growth should be abandoned.
o E.gs. the traditional view that women are inferior to men and
should be confined to being wives and mothers without much
legal right, honour killings, child marriages, female genital
mutilation, cronyism and nepotism, the caste system (which
has been banned in India since 1948 but is still widely practised
due to entrenched traditional mindsets).

4. Many traditions today have been commercialised for profits, and the
meaning behind the celebrations or practices has been lost.
Commercialisation also results in the narrow focus on only tangible
aspects of traditions, e.g., gifts and food, at the expense of the
intangibles.
o E.g., the Balinese Barong Dance which was traditionally
performed only for religious or ritual purposes is now being
performed frequently to cater to tourist demand, ranging from
once a day to twice a week.

Arguments for why tradition still has a place in society today

1. While it is logical and pragmatic to abandon traditions that are no

longer relevant in today’s context, we should not throw out the baby

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with the bathwater and discount the wisdom, insight, and

perspective that many traditions can still offer. E.g., there is a rising
interest in the value of traditional medicine or fitness regimes like
yoga and Tai Chi or Qigong.

2. Despite accusations that traditions have lost their significance due

to commercialisation, it cannot be denied that they are important to
keep us rooted in our own self-identity especially in a globalised
world which serves to dilute our own unique cultures and values.
▪ Tradition is tied to the creation of practices and values through
which people are reminded of the history of their communities and
their countries.
▪ With diasporas all around the world, traditions bind a community
together, even when the community is scattered worldwide.
o E.g., the celebration of festivals such as Yom Kippur, Eid,
Chinese New Year and Deepavali.

3. Tradition serves as an anchor in a sea of continual change.

▪ Most traditions have moral and ethical messages embedded within
them, and these serve as guidelines as to how people should
govern themselves.
▪ Many traditions in Asia, South America and Africa tend to reflect the
collectivistic cultures found in these parts of the world. These
traditional practices and values emphasise the importance of filial
piety, good work ethic, the family and community, to counter the
growing emphasis on materialism, individualism, and moral
decadence.

4. Tradition provides a country, a business or even an individual with

the opportunity for differentiation, retaining or even creating some
diversity in our globalised world of homogenised, mass culture.

5. Tradition’s great economic value to attract tourists interested in

experiencing new and unique cultural experiences (heritage sites,
traditional handicrafts, traditional cuisine, traditional art forms etc)
should not be dismissed.

Traditions are society’s assets, but only if they are allowed to evolve
with the times. They are not written in stone and should constantly
adapt to meet the changing requirements of both time and social
contexts. We can decide for ourselves which traditions are worth
preserving, which ones require some revision, and which are best
consigned to history.

Language
Key terms 1. Language can be broadly defined as a method of communication,
and either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a
Definitions structured and conventional way. It can also be defined as a system
of communication used by a country or nation within the same
geographical area, or cultural tradition.

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2. A dialect is a subset of language, and it is generally used by a group

of speakers who are differentiated from others, either
geographically or socially.
3. Minority languages are languages spoken by the minority of a
population or a territory, which could be due to racial or social
differences. Sometimes, the minority language may also be the
national language of a country.

Issues in 1. Language as a divisive force

Language ▪ Linguistic issues can spark off divisiveness and conflict, especially
when specific languages are promoted or discouraged in a bid to
reinforce national or cultural identity. This is because language is
often closely tied to a specific group’s religion or culture. Examples
include Hebrew and its inseparable link to the people of Israel
(Jews) and Judaism, Arabic and its inextricable connection to Islam
and the Middle East, and the Cantonese dialect with its close
connection to the people of Hong Kong.
o Malaysia’s Education Ministry announced in 2019 that khat, or
Jawi script writing, would be taught to students in Chinese and
Tamil vernacular schools as part of the Malay language
syllabus beginning 2020. The decision caused an uproar
among the local Chinese community, which is known to be
protective of its mother tongue education.
o In Singapore, the Speak Mandarin campaign has been
criticised for leaving many younger generations of Mandarin
speakers unable to communicate with their dialect-speaking
grandparents. It has also raised concerns on the issues of
preservation of dialects such as Hokkien or Cantonese.

2. Dying Languages
▪ Today, the top 10 languages in the world claim around half of the
world’s population. English as a global language dominates
international business, politics, and culture more than any other
language in human history. English serves as a lingua franca, as a
common means of communication for speakers of different first
languages. The Chinese language, on the other hand, is the
second-most spoken language in the world, gradually ascending
as the language of power in tandem with China’s ascendency in
economic and political power.
▪ Most linguists estimate that 50 per cent of the world’s remaining
7,100 languages will be gone by the end of this century. Languages
usually reach the point of crisis after being displaced by a socially,
politically and economically dominant one, according to
linguists. For instance, Hindi has taken over many other languages
in India, and Scottish Gaelic has been marginalised by English.

3. Language as a marker of social status

▪ Prestige is the level of respect given to a specific language/dialect
within a community (e.g., Received Pronunciation/British English
pronunciation/Queen’s English vs. Singlish). Linguistic differences,

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which can manifest in many different ways such as in different

accents, dialects and jargons, become striking markers of division
between social groups.
o For example, the English language sounds different when
spoken by different people from different countries as each area
is associated with an accent that is unique to itself. Today, many
English-speaking Americans are still hostile towards non-
English speakers, such as Spanish ones.
o Extreme persecution still happens as well. In 2013, a linguist in
China was arrested for trying to open schools that taught his
native language, Uighur.

The study of the arts and humanities vs. The study of the sciences
Key terms ▪ The humanities are academic disciplines that study human culture.
and These include the study of jurisprudence/law, philosophy,
Definitions comparative religion, ethics, ancient and modern languages,
literature, history, geography, and the arts.
▪ The humanities use methods that are primarily critical, or
speculative, and have a significant historical element — as
distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural
sciences.
▪ The humanities are sometimes referred to as the liberal arts.

The value of Why the study of the humanities seems irrelevant today
the
humanities In a technologically advanced society, the humanities seem to have
little pragmatic value relative to Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the latter are perceived as
contributing much more to socio-economic development. This
suggests limited career prospects which makes the Humanities
unpopular.

Why the study of the humanities is still relevant today

1. The study of the humanities promotes critical thinking and analysis

— often in the grey areas where there is not much data available
and there is a need to work out what to believe. This is important
in a VUCA world and post-truth era.
2. This is essential to help students navigate the ethical complexities
raised by unprecedented technological advancement and a
rapidly changing world.
3. The humanities train students to think, write and speak clearly,
coherently, and persuasively.
4. They promote creativity to complement the STEM subjects
resulting in greater innovation.
▪ Basic research-inquiry methods — motivated by curiosity and
imagination rather than by practical goals – can eventually lead to
technological breakthroughs based on new discoveries.
o According to Mark Zuckerberg, “Facebook is as much about
psychology and sociology as it is about technology.”

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o According to the late Steve Jobs, “It is in Apple’s DNA that

technology is married with liberal arts, married with the
humanities, that yield us the results that make our hearts
sing.”
o Many founders of new and innovative companies are not
graduates of STEM. Founder and CEO of Razer, Tan Min-
Liang, for example, is not a graduate of STEM, but law. He is
Singapore’s youngest self-made billionaire.
5. The humanities serve to remind us of the glory and frailty of
humanity, to retell the meaning of being human.
▪ Where robots can dispense medicines, and chatbots replace
human conversations, the jobs that will withstand the Fourth
Industrial Revolution are precisely the ones that require an
understanding of human nature and a reliance on human
empathy.

What the world needs is to educate our young people both in the
sciences and the humanities to provide a holistic education. We need
technologists who understand the humanities and humanists who
understand technology.

Comparing Essay questions on the debate on the arts/humanities and the sciences
the arts/ often contain the assumption that one is superior to the other. One
humanities prudent approach would be to view them as two complementary modes
and the of inquiry instead of competing and contradictory fields of knowledge,
sciences breaking down the discussion into the different objectives and
methodologies associated with each field.

The arts/humanities The sciences

Object- ▪ The arts and ▪ Science, on the other
ives of humanities are defined hand, is defined as a
Inquiry as imaginative and systematic knowledge of
creative bodies of the physical or material
knowledge world gained through
encompassing a host of observation and
disciplines, often used experimentation and can
as a means of be rationally explained
expressing the human and reliably applied.
emotions and thoughts, ▪ Science is objective and
including moral values factual. The observations
and socio-political and discovery of science
opinions. can be backed up by
▪ The arts are also a form factual knowledge and
of self-expression, and experimentation, which
the claims made in the may be challenged with
arts are subjective and even more scientific
dependent on contexts theories and
across space and time. experimentation. The truth
of scientific claims does
not differ from person to

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person but is instead

concretised and
supported with reliable
and rational explanation.
Methods ▪ As opposed to the ▪ Unlike the forms of inquiry
of Inquiry scientific method, the in the arts/humanities, the
Arts/humanities focus sciences focus on the
on the study of human study of the natural world
culture using analytical, through the scientific
critical and comparative method.
methods.
The scientific method
The arts and the ▪ The scientific method is a
humanities body of techniques for
▪ The humanities include investigating phenomena,
a wide range of acquiring new knowledge,
disciplines such as or correcting and
languages, literature, integrating previous
religion, philosophy, knowledge. Branches of
visual and performing science, such as
arts, and even extend astronomy, biology,
to social sciences such chemistry and
as linguistics and neuroscience, use the
cultural studies. They scientific method to arrive
study subject matter to at scientific claims.
which the experimental ▪ Scientific inquiry is
method does not apply. generally intended to be
Instead, the humanities as objective as possible in
focus on understanding order to reduce biased
meaning, purpose, and interpretation of results,
goals and further the and it is necessary to
appreciation of singular document, archive and
historical and social share all data and
phenomena rather than methodology to allow
uncovering truths of the other scientists and
natural world. researchers to challenge
and verify the findings.
Useful- The arts and humanities The sciences are often
ness are often criticised for lauded for being useful and
being frivolous, applicable across a wide
insignificant and of spectrum of disciplines, with
limited usefulness/utility. tangible benefits such as
Some arguments are: medical advancement and
▪ The arts do not technological developments.
encourage innovation Some e.gs:
as directly as the ▪ Environmental Science is
sciences: Research in a multi-disciplinary
the humanities does not academic field of study
culminate in direct that combines physical
technological and biological sciences to
development or other study the environment.

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important inventions. Environmental science

Especially in the rose to prominence in the
context of developing 1960s-70s during the
countries, the arts, Environmental
then, may be seen as Movement, in response to
less useful than the the need to be more
sciences. aware and mindful of
▪ Economic reasons: human impact on the
there are more jobs in environment.
the sciences than in the ▪ In stem cell therapy, cells
arts. An arts and are introduced into
humanities-based damaged tissue to treat
education is perceived the disorder or injury. It is
to be irrelevant and a viewed as a cure to
waste of resources. debilitating medical
▪ The knowledge conditions. While it is
gleaned from the arts potentially a safer form of
and humanities is not treatment, there are
objective and is ongoing debates about
therefore not useful nor the ethics of stem cell
meaningful. therapy and its potential
complications.
N.B.: Refer to the Value ▪ Technological
of the arts. advancements and
scientific research can
inspire products (e.g.,
mobile devices) that may
greatly improve our quality
of life.

Mini-Exercise
Develop concrete arguments for the question below and provide relevant examples to
justify your stand.

Consider the view that artists are undervalued in our modern society.

ACJC Prelim 2023

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