The+Singapore+Dream

 The Singaporean Dream

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The Singaporean Dream is not exactly a dream. However, it is more of a set of ideals which Singaporeans use as a benchmark to measure success. Career, car, cash, condominium and country club membership are the various pursuits of Singaporeans to gain assurance in themselves that they are successful people. They have since morphed themselves into a notion known as the Singaporean Dream. This video will seek to portray the Singaporean Dream visually, with a slideshow of pictures. In the myriad of images, it can be noticed that the Singaporean Dream revolves around the main theme of materialistic and economic success. The 5Cs are based very much on materialistic and economic prosperity. Even the first C, career, as portrayed in the video, conveys the theme of economic gain, as the video portrays careers like being a doctor, which is, in Singaporeans' minds, an monetarily attractive career to be involved in. The other images, on the other hand, show generally a sense of materialistic luxury. As a new generation of Singaporeans are born, the old Singaporean Dream, penned down by the older generation would tend to become less helpful in today's society. The Singaporean dream of the past has transformed into the Singaporean Plan. This plan seems to be a path all parents would want their children to embark on. However, we realized that some of these benchmark for success have become obsolete. Most of the younger generation do not aim for achieving the 5Cs. Many of them yearn to do something they enjoy doing. The younger generation have become more stubborn in the sense that they no longer adhere to or follow the career path their parents have chosen for them. However this may not necessary be bad or a failure. Wouldn’t it be better if one enjoys and put all his effort into the job compared to wasting his time trying to adapt and develop his passion for a field of work which he has little interest in? Thus, our video aims to question whether we should continue following the Singaporean Dream by the older generation or come up with a new dream which differ from each and every individual yet doing something he likes and contributing more to the society and the world. We also realize that success is not measured by having a career which pays well, owing a branded car, having lots of money, staying in a luxurious accommodation or paying for numerous country club membership. These are all material needs which are necessary for survival in such a competitive Singapore society. However, do we really want to forsake our happiness and the various friendship or kinship just to relish in a lifestyle of luxury and comfort.

Done by: Ng Yong Hwee & Tan Yu Song

Realising the Singapore Dream A short film by Liu Zhihao

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Our forefathers were readily concerned with making money in this small port town of Singapore and harboured a buring desires to amass the 5Cs, namely Car, Cash, Condo, Credit Card and Country Club. That was the typical Singapore Dream. The generation that followed were also aware of these material pleasures, and followed a rigid system of educational meritocracy to attain it. That was the Singapore Plan. But as we scrutinise at the newest generation of Singaporeans, both the desire for the 5Cs and the following of the Plan slowly but surely, crumbles to the ground, decaying in the light of our forefathers.

The short film goes through the everyday life of the average student in 40 seconds. We observe that it is monotonous, beginning with the heavy, stuffy morning of austereness. An important part of the film would be the scene in the MRT, where people are packed like sardines in a can, suffering the same fate, grudgingly clinging on to the railings that our forefathers made for us. It is inescapable, ("doors are closing") and yet people choose not leave but stay on, foresaking a life that would be personally theirs. The system of beliefs to be rich, to do well, has been instilled so strongly that people do not see the "badness" of it, but rather choose to believe that the governement will only provide pure goodness.

As the hours of school move on, students begin to be tired of it. They see it as being monotonous and boring, giving way to fatigue and letting go of their Dream and Plan. This is the Realising of the Plan as we know it in this newest generation. That though they are able to let go of the system, they choose their own path which ironically is degenerating where it should have been good. (The sort of happiness when students leave class) But, they are not to shoulder all the blame. For who's mood would be light in the dreary afternoon rain and an evening facing a table of books?

THE SINGAPORE DREAM

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In Singapore, there used to be a fine and uncontested measure of success: the 5 C's of career, cash/credit, condo, car, and club. I ponder the following questions in the photomontage:

1. Is it rather easy to attain these 5 Cs? 2. If so, are these 5 Cs still relevant today for measuring success? 3. What if a Singaporean achieves all 5 C's and still cannot find happiness?

One does not even need a university education to get a career. With MOE’s focus on broad-based, holistic education that gives recognition to alternative measures of achievement, many of us can secure jobs that applaud our talent, even in the non-academic areas. One can be a nationally acclaimed athlete in a sports school and do Singapore proud in the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. One’s career flight can soar henceforth.

These days, even before you start earning a lot of money, banks will give you the alumni credit card eg .OCBC does that if you are a graduate of NTU. And once you secure a job, money will flow in and credit can be extended. So, is there a problem with getting bank loans to finance that dream car and condominium of yours?

As for club, it is quite easy to get membership too. Join SAFRA at a cost of $121 for two years (for new sign-up from 1 January to 30 September). Privileges are a plenty and what adds value in joining SAFRA is that it has facilities all over Singapore – Yishun, Toa Payoh, Mount Faber, Tampines and Town Club @ Carpenter Street.

My take is that it is rather easy to attain these 5 Cs. Someone commented that Singaporeans need another C – culture. But how do you measure if you have attained culture? When you live in a multicultural society, you learn to appreciate the cultures of other people.

The background song chosen for this photomontage is “Count on me, Singapore”. It took quite a lot of time on my part to fit in the first stanza of this National Day Song, within the one minute of my photomontage. I thought it was an excellent accompaniment because the lyrics include words like “goal for Singapore” and “we can achieve”. Yes, the 5 Cs of success are attainable and we can be considered successful.

Unfortunately, there is not enough dialogue in our streets or articles in the press about the importance of self-actualization – the sense of satisfaction in witnessing the fulfillment of one’s dream that is not rooted in materialism. A friend told me that his dream is to go to Africa to help make poverty history. I must say I admire him! At the end of my photomontage, I pose two questions for the audience to muse on. I hope they will come to a conclusion for themselves if the Singapore Dream is also their dream.

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There are two kinds of things people follow in life: one is a dream, the other is a plan.

The definition of both is a little bit complex, because a dream is a personal desire while a plan is a roadmap. Even something we call 'our dream' can be overlapping both boundaries.

Take career options for example. My dream could be to be the next Prime Minister, but that could also be a plan for me. It could be a plan society expects us to follow to my other classmates, but it's my dream. Other people can have dreams of leading the biomedical industry, but that's a plan of success I decide not to follow, because it does not match my inner desire. Things can get more complex than this, so let's keep things simple.

The important point to note is that many a time, people follow a dream while others dare not follow theirs and hence end up following a social plan which has been given the reputation of 'tried and tested'. It is true that people have succeeded in this field, but for many others, it is deeply regrettable that they do not get to follow their 'life-long dream'. This is the one thing that can cause deep regrets, those that last to the death.

It is important to consider: The pain of rejection for following a personal dream weighs ounces, while the guilt of regret for not doing so weighs tons.

This film is to give a generic, candid idea of what a dream and a plan could be. Bear this is mind: a person's definition of his dream and what others dictate as his plan varies with that of another person, because of the simple fact that no one shares the same interests or desires. Yes, some get closer than others, but each person is unique, and so is his dream.

In light of this perspective, it is foolishness to blindly accept a plan set by others for a personal dream, especially if it goes against what you sincerely desire to do. No one should dictate what your heart desires, and allthemore no one should decide what one should do with his life, as far as it is morally upright. As you watch this short video, think of your personal desires, and what others expect you to be. Rather, think of all your future plans. If you cannot give yourself a good reason for making it a future option, you can start having doubts as to whether this was really a genuine desire or whether it was a blind expectation from someone who barely knows you well enough to even tell your likes from your dislikes.

Personally, I've had some career options such as doctor and lawyer, but I found out that that was all a plan set by the society's expectation of people of my calibre. I discovered it the moment I could not genuinely say "Yes, that is my sincere desire and I want to pursue this as a life career".

Since then, I re-discovered my talents and then re-decided my future choices. I just mentioned it up above.

On this video, I just plainly use the stereotypical plan items, like money and a fancy car. I also used things like a dream of being the next sports star as a dream for some people. Bear in mind (again), that each person's dream varies from the next. This is just an example, but I hope this brings you to the discovery of yours.

NB: One way to decide your dream is to check what you desire to do; another way is to discover your full range of talents. Of course some will definitely clash, but that is for you to decide which is of more worth. I pray it is not too late for you to see this. media type="youtube" key="vxysNX4UE4c&hl=en" height="355" width="425" This photomontage attempts to explore the 5C’s of the Singaporean Dream in the eyes of a young boy. As with the stereotypical measure of success in Singapore, the attainment of the 5C’s, this video touches on how a typical Singaporean child is forced to study for his future. What is so ironic is that this boy doesn’t know the importance of the future. Neither has he reached the age when he starts to appreciate material goods. He is vaguely told of the 5C’s by his parent, who forces him to study for the sake of getting the 5C’s in the future. The young boy’s lack of understanding of the 5C’s, and how they are so important to Singaporeans, is clearly depicted when he thinks of the short-term pleasures of sports and console games as of higher priority than studying. This boy is a representation of many, if not most, Singaporean children; whose minds have been inculcated with their parent’s definition of success, which in the Singaporean context means, making more money. The vague understanding of his future leads the boy to think that studying hard will ensure him a route of education, leading to certain success, characterizing route which leads on to the Singaporean Dream.

The Singapore Dream
= = A short clip by Lee Kah How media type="google" key="-6742189576316631331&hl=en" width="400" height="326" In an attempt to portray the Singaporean Dream, the film begins with an individual opening the door, signifying the start of his beginning as he steps out to a door of opportunities, unstrained without boundaries. With that, his story begins as an opening chapter (literally). Five Cent coins that represent the effort put in by the first generation of Singaporeans. Personally, from recounts from my parents, five cents used to be a sum equivalent to nearly a dollar today. Thus, it is usually the quantity that students save. The purchasing power in the symbol of the currency therefore is of certain significance. Cut scenes then reveal the hard work that these Singaporeans put in the hope of achieving economic prosperity, similar to that of the West, including odd jobs or fixing bicycles, a popular occupation in the past. On a side note, this occupation is also significant for its utility in the Japanese Occupation. Also, while porridge is seemingly plain, such a meal is the norm for families in the past, one that is typical for that in a family that is not well off. As the coins increase in number and poured out, it represents the dream of the nation – the Singapore Dream. This pursuit for material wealth is then established as one that is culturally sanction as it forms the character ‘yume’ (dream in Japanese) ‘meng’ (same character, also the word for dreams in Chinese). This dream gradually evolves into a cage as the coins gradually form pillars, similar to that of iron bars in cages. The piece of paper, blank as it is, represents the unwritten history of the next generation. As a piece of paper allows various forms of expression, with the choice ultimately lying upon the individual, it becomes a metaphor for the coming generations of Singaporeans, caged and restricted. Their dreams are then compromised as these bars advances, becoming a burden, a restrain that ties down the dreams of the future. With that, the doors are shut.

The Singaporean Dream

A Video Clip by Winston Foo Mao Ern 3H321

media type="google" key="-1254291977137764440&hl=en&fs=true" width="400" height="326" This photomontage delves into the Singapore Dream, exploring what it is and what it means to us Singaporeans. This exceedingly materialistic dream is deconstructed and disassembled into collated pictures of cash, flashy cars, exquisite condominiums, high-end country club and credit cards, allowing the audience to “sense” the intangible. All of which represents the Singapore Dream. The song accompanying it is “Money, Money, Money” by Abba, about a gold digger wannabe who croons about her aspirations of getting a wealthy man to provide her with a lavish life, which shows that people who chase the Singaporean Dream are nothing less than prostituting their soul to materialism. The song also gets people to question if it is “Always sunny in the rich man’s world”, and if money is the most important thing, and whether losing yourself in the pursuit of money is worth it. Although some may feel that using solely pictures and music without words would be a parochial view of the Singapore Dream, I beg to differ as instead it allows the audiences’ feelings to think freely instead of it being conformed and constricted by the words. This short film aims to provoke people to think about the Singapore Dream and what it means to them and to show Singaporeans that there is more to life than money. I also wish to show that the Singapore Dream should be dead and Singaporeans would be definitely better off that way, encouraging them to follow their aspirations, treading away from the well-trodden track and moving forwards into the brave new world. Lastly, I wish that the film would inspire to audience be like Tim in Simon Tay’s “My Cousin Tim” short story, daring to dream and persevering to achieve that dream, which in my opinion should be the true Singapore Dream.