Caught+In+Between

CAUGHT IN BETWEEN

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By Gao Chuan Yu, Feng Chong We, Seah Ying Cong 3H-1

This video reflects the dilemma of the Chinese immigrant when deciding their life paths. Should they stay in their hometown, or migrate to more Westernized countries such as Singapore? Migration holds the promise of a better life, but also posed the challenge of a blend-in. This video attempts to illustrate simply the difficulties of immigrants in their assimilation to a totally new culture.

In the first scene, the Chinese immigrant was reading Chinese materials with an air of ease. This symbolized him staying in the comfort zone of his hometown. However, due to the attraction, be it economic, cultural or otherwise, of the Western world, represented by the football for its place as a distinctive cultural icon in the West, they are often pulled towards them, thus become the impetus for their immigration. After the move, the Chinese immigrant picked up English magazines.

Naturally, he came across many unfamiliar words, for which there was no one to turn to for explanation. He then approaches the local, who reluctantly and rudely hurled an English dictionary. This is allegory to the situation faced by immigrants who have trouble blending in to the new environment. First of all, they have trouble adapting to the disorientation of this whole new world they have almost been thrust upon. They are on their own, unless they have the courage to turn to help.

Back to the case in the video, the immigrant attempted to seek assistance of the local to help him understand his new life better. Yet, this plea was met with degrading looks, and perfunctory help was unwillingly given simply for the sake of getting the irritation off his back. Thus, the immigrant is forced by circumstances into the pitiful state of helpless independence. It is here that our protagonist in the video turned wistfully to the direction of his home country with a telescope in his hands. This action is an expression of his homesickness and missing of a place where, though he borders on dire straits in economic terms, there is at the very least basic respect granted to every human being.

There are two objects in the video that serve as useful metaphors. They are the model airplane and the divide between the walls. When the protagonist approaches the local, he crossed the model plane. Yet, not once in the film did he transverse the divide along the wall. They symbolized the geographical and cultural boundaries between different communities respectively. The immigrant has crossed the geographical boundary, but is trying in vain to pass the cultural one. Therefore, he is merely there physically, but spiritually and culturally-wise, true assimilation has never occurred.