UWC 2101C: Paper 3 Presentation Group 2

Elson Ng

Topic

• Monuments and National Identity

• Historical Authenticity

Primary Text

Secondary Texts

• The Rise of Merlion: Monument and Myth in the Making of the Singapore Story- Yeoh B & Chang T C

• Signs of the Land: Rethinking the Merlion in Tourism and Nationalism- Lin W

• The Commercialisation of Creativity in the Merlion State- Valles E T

• Co-produced Histories: Mapping the Uses and Narratives of History in the Tourist Age – Glover N

• Representing the Indonesian Past: The National Monument History Museum from Guided Democracy to the New Order- McGregor K E)

Working Motive

• Despite its weak historical connection to Singapore history, why does the Merlion continue be an important part of Singapore’s national identity?

Working Thesis

• “The Merlion is still seen as an essential part of Singapore’s national identity because it is able to appeal to Singaporeans on a personal level.”

Argument: Allusion to historical depth

• Focus on precolonial history is a “deliberate attempt to detach the icon from Singapore’s present modernity and British colonialism” (Lin)

• Compare with Indonesia’s Museum Monas and it’s focus on the golden age which “served to give…an appearance of great depth and age” (McGregor)

Argument: Possesses historical depth • Alternatively, “Singapore’s relatively short history has

not yielded any more significant or enduring icon” (Valles)

• “Enduring presence in the heart of the city that is always changing” – (Heng, qtd Yeoh & Chang)

Possible Considerations

• Historical depth is intended by government so why does it appeal to Singaporeans?

• Measured against other organically evolved monuments, the Merlion “fails to evoke the same sense of historical depth and cultural creativity” (Yeoh & Chang)

Argument: Universal Appeal

• “Ethnically neutral emblem” – historical allusion does not leave out any race (Yeoh & Chang)

• “Common, unifying denominator” (Glover)

• “Neutrally anchor citizens” to Singapore (Lin)

Argument: Distinguishes Singaporeans and Others

• “Enables a particular type of self to be articulated and publicly recognised and is, therefore, a powerful force in the construction, promotion and maintenance of a national identity” (Palmer qtd Lin)

Possible Considerations

• Dual role of Merlion causes “conflict in the co-production of the narratives of history in the tourism context” (Glover)

• Merlion’s “entrenched status as a tourist attraction works against its role as a national symbol”. (Yeoh & Chang)

• Idea of Merlion conceived by foreigner (Valles)

Argument: Time factor

• Even “pseudo-events” take on a veneer of authenticity and permanence (Yeoh & Chang)

• “Work of time and place” leads to “accretion of multiple layers of meaning” (Yeoh & Chang)

• People look beyond the falseness of history

• Example of many false monument

• Create their own symbolism

Problems & Q&A

• Evidence for motive: How to show Merlion has weak historical connection to Singapore

• Thesis: How to show it appeals on a personal level

• How to work in “Idea of Merlion conceived by foreigner (Valles)”

• Not enough content?

• Motive: Does the Merlion’s inauthenticity diminish its role in the construction of a national identity

• Thesis: The Merlion’s inauthenticity reinforces national identity through the creation of historical depth and espousing the adoption of unique, common values

• 1) Selective omission of colonial past

• Creates illusion of historical depth and greatness

• Break from colonial past to create distinct identity

• Focus on Asian values

• Ethnically neutral

• 2)