Geosphere 360° by Geosphere

geosphere 2014

(geography) 360째

Inside this issue: Feature: The Omnipresence of Geography

Feature: What Kind of Change for What Kind of Singapore? Photo Credits: Wallpapersfor.me

Feature: Geography and Law?

Come be part of Geosphere!

Foreword

Hello Geographers!

I am thrilled to share with you everything that the publications team has worked so hard to put together these past months. It is a wonderful experience to be in this position of leading these awesome people on this journalistic ride. With hard work, dedication and a whole faculty and alumni network to back us up, everything worked out well. A welldeserved shout-out to all the people who made this issue possible. Indeed, Geosphere would stand unpublished without the collective effort of both the publications team and our supporters. We have decided to distinguish this issue from all the past issues by trying to mix up the old and the new. Adopting a slightly different approach from the past, Geosphere 2014 has a central theme: Geography 360°. I expound on this theme in my feature article on page 6. Nonetheless, you can still take comfort in the familiar as we have opted to keep section breaks, layout and formatting relatively similar to last year’s Geosphere 2013. 2013/14 was an exciting academic year for the Geography Department and majors. Some highlights include overseas experience sharing by various geography department professors and majors, a feature article on the geographies of Fashion and Gaming by Faizal Abdul Aziz (page 28) and Shaun Nah (page 31) as well as an in depth analysis of the Cannes’ Camera D’Or-winning film Ilo-Ilo (2013) by Dr. Elaine Ho (page 43) and yours truly (page 47). In closing, the Geosphere 2014 publications team would like to thank the NUS Geography Department, our publication adviser, Associate Professor Chang Tou Chuang, various department faculty, alumni and undergraduate majors for their unwavering support. Last but not least, to all the writers, contributors and collaborators, we cannot thank you enough! Cheers to Geosphere 2014 and all of you! If you are interested in joining the dynamic team of writers for the 2015 issue of Geosphere, we are currently on the lookout for contributors! We also welcome any comments on articles featured, feedback or suggestions for the magazine—do drop us an email at geogsoc.publications@gmail. com. We are eager to hear from you and to have you join the team!

Naomi Lizaso Editor-in-Chief

TheTeam Naomi Lizaso

Grace Kock

Editor-in-Chief

Publications Executive

naomi.lizaso@gmail.com

Naomi confesses the written word to being her first love. Be it reading escapist novels or writing in the blogosphere, she engages in all manner of ‘word-ly’ activities. When asked the question, “why Geography?” she is frank to say ‘It grew on me.’ Nevertheless, she has no regrets (so far) in taking the Geographer’s path to enlightenment which she also found most helpful in her travels abroad—a hobby she likes to indulge in once in a while when she is not up to her elbows with school deadlines or cooking up a storm in the kitchen (pun intended).

gracekock.rcy@gmail.com

Grace wishes she were a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unable to cast spells of her own, she turns to Geography, fascinated by how everything and anything can be related to it. For instance, different breeds of cats develop their coats and other features to acclimatize their particular geography. Grace is in love with furry animals and can spend hours watching My Cat From Hell and Animal Cops. When her eyes are not glued to the screen, she enjoys a good game of Volleyball, where she collects battle scars and bruises on her limbs.

Benjamin Hu

Chief Layout Editor

benjaminhkh@gmail.com Benjamin is a frequent ‘victim’ of puns due to his unique surname. That aside, he was en route to become an engineer in Junior College when he gained ‘enlightenment’ and found his interest and passion in Geography; captivated by how geography is very significant in our daily lives. An avid fan of soccer, he finds it more enjoyable watching the game as it is, rather than supporting a particular football club. He hopes to learn more about design and photography by exposing himself to opportunities and challenges.

contents

iGeo

Ideas and insights from our student community

6 Feature

Article: The Omnipresence of Geography

Geosphere Photography Challenge

SEP spread around the world

14 Our profs take on the world!

Geographical Society Showcase

Geo-native/home National issues & local perspectives

What Kind of Change for What Kind of Singapore?

Fiji Field Studies

Geography and Globalisation

34 37

Alumni Feature

KCL: Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creates Legendary Geographers*!

Geography and Law?

Geog@Movies

Geo-connect Bringing people and places together

FEATURE

Geography 360° The Omnipresence of Geography

e’ve heard it all before. “You’re going to be a teacher?” is by far the most asked question to all geography majors. In fact, it feels like it ought to be immortalised into a quote, something along the lines of: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single person in possession of a Geography degree, must be in want of a teaching career.” But I digress. Geography today is still seen as impractical and less prestigious as say, traditionally popular degrees - medicine, law and engineering. Moreover, as Jeopardy! record-holder and author Ken Jennings aptly puts it, “The decline of geography in academia is easy to understand: we live in an age of ever-increasing specialization, and geography is a generalist’s discipline.”

However, it does seem to be the case that choosing geography as a discipline is not as frowned upon as a decade or so ago. Perhaps we are at a crossroads, with this generation opting for a #YOLO mentality or maybe because today’s youth do not face the same pressures and constraints that our parents and generations before did. Lastly, albeit the most optimistic, is that people are starting to realise the true relevance and importance of geography in everyday life.

Written by: Naomi Lizaso (Year 1) Layout by: Benjamin Hu

In an article titled, “Fundamentally Geographical” in Geosphere 2013 (by Claudia Wong and Joseph Daniels), the case was made that geography is a method of understanding the world—that what we study (i.e. geography in itself) is not what binds us together but rather how we study and how we approach the world that unites all geographers. Likewise, with this issue’s theme Geography 360°, we strive to add to that by illustrating how geography is not only a discipline or a method of understanding but also a ‘way’ of being and living. Geography is everywhere; it is more of a lifestyle than a faceless and outdated academic pursuit. This new way of seeing Geography and how we might approach it holistically is why we chose the theme Geography 360° for this issue. 360 degrees is not only an allusion to the circumferential proximity of our surroundings but also the ‘spheres’ of influence that affect us and the domains of interactions that we partake in. In the same way, geography exists all around us and in more ways than we think and recognise. It is an omnipresent entity and which manifests itself in the everyday and mundane. As such, we wanted to encapsulate this in an overarching theme that was broad enough to cover everything in anything because indeed, Geography is ubiquitous and universal. Hence, with Geosphere 2014 we wish not to soft-pedal the critics but to renew the wonder of geography majors and entice the geography enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike to explore, to thirst for and to live geography in their daily lives. More than the sum of its parts, geography is a way to see and understand the world around us and which can never truly be divided into physical and human geographies due to the various interactions and crossarea topics involved in either. Nonetheless, for the easier perusal of readers and greater cohesiveness, we have decided to state our case and lay down our arguments by exploring three main ‘spheres’ of influence in which Geography is clearly evident. In iGeo, we pare down geography to the basics and examine it at its core via its human-nature interaction at the individual level. In Geo-native/ home, we reach out to broader issues on national issues and identity - of the social issues that affect Singapore and its neighbouring countries and how geographers extend their learning within the geographical confines of the country and beyond (in Asia). Lastly, in Geo-Connect, we take on the world and transcend geographical boundaries, tackling topics of international interest and magnitude. Photo Credit: http://lisa7065.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/caribbean1.jpg

In a sense, Geosphere 2014 is more than just a collection of geography-related articles—it is a celebration of an often underappreciated but dynamic discipline as well as the fruition of a year-long labour of love. Furthermore, in true geography fashion, we chose an androgynous theme—a combination of the science and the humanities—with Geography 360°. Does the difference matter, or more importantly, is it significant? Yes and no. At the end of the day, one needs both the scientific methods and the general knowledge to ‘see’ with geographical eyes. One cannot exist without the other.

Geography is the what of where. It is vitally important for understanding the world around us. Geographers question the world and seek to understand it, they explain why things are where they are.

Photo Credit: http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2012/2012-security-predictions/2012-01-PHOTOS/files/1945.jpg To conclude, Francesca Carter provides some insight into our vision for Geosphere 2014. She says, “Geography is the what of where. It is vitally important for understanding the world around us. Geographers question the world and seek to understand it, they explain why things are where they are. No other subject at school links so many factors together as one[…] Geography is on the news every day, from war in the Middle East, to closing of factories in the midlands, to farming subsidy arguments in Brussels, to global climate change the list is endless.” Geosphere 2014: Geography 360°. Geography—not just science or humanities, but truly, a way of seeing and understanding.

FUN FACTS \ PUNS Shawn Quek (Masters Student)

Limestone asks Granite: “why are you so strong?” Granite replies: “cos I’m bornhardt!”

Itawon, Seoul Haizer Raedi (Year 1) Streets are like a miniature Earth, physically portraying spatialtemporal compression. Shops bearing roots from different parts of the world are located within close proximity such that it makes one feel as if walking through the street is like travelling between countries. Geography shows that people bring along practices and ideas when they cross transnational boundaries, where in some cases these practices may get adopted and adapted into both the physical and social environments of the destination country. It is therefore no coincidence that the international streets of Itaewon are located close to a U.S. Military Base.

We asked our NUS Geography majors to submit their photos with a short caption on: 1) How you understand geography through the photo 2) How geography has shaped your interpretation of the photo And here are the winners!

G eosphere Photo Competition

2013/2014

Colors of the Earth Diane Teo (Year 2) Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawai’i is the colourful result of volcanic activity in Hawai’i. Geography has helped me to appreciate the natural beauty through understanding the formation and colours of this landscape. Being a Geography student, landforms such as cinder cones can be identified and also the burst of reddish colours can be understood as a result of oxidation, validating what we learn in theory. As such, Geography has helped me to realize that there is more to the natural landscapes than what we see at the moment.

Lisbon, Portugal Woon Wei Seng (Year 3) The compass rose in front of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) marked out the various conquests of Portugal in its imperial expansion, from Brazil to Macau. This photo, taken from the top of the Monument, allows you to visualise the world being under your feet. To the Portuguese, who built this to commemorate their vast empire, the world was literally under their feet. When completed in 1960, Portugal still ruled most of its African and Asian colonies, under the iron fist of dictator António Salazar. This Monument is geopolitically significant in projecting and romanticising Portugal’s imagination as a strong, imperial power.

FUN FACTS \ LYRICS Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles, 1969) (George Harrison) Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say…it's all right

Stars Yu Li Hui (Year 1) My friend and I went to many places in Singapore to capture the best shot of stars in the night sky and geography did play a part in determining the outcome of our shot. Draped against a scenic background of HDB flats bustling with dwellers, the calm stars lit up the night sky amidst the flurry of activities in the buildings. This contrast, due to the geographical location, played a part in this shot.

Democracy Monument, Bangkok Benjamin Hu (Year 2) As tensions rise in Thailand where protestors try to oust the Yingluck administration in favor of a non-elected “People’s Council”, demonstrators occupying this space show how public spaces allow groups to “come in” from the margins and let their voices be heard. Inherently the claiming of this space signifies the desire for true democracy by the people and the end of corruption within the government.

Mark Heng ( Year 3) | University of Tornoto, Canada I see geography everywhere and in everything. Canada is a myriad of physical environments and cultural landscapes that delighted the geographer in me. I felt truly blessed to be able to explore the tapestry of neighbourhoods in Toronto, in depth and at my own pace, with every district an exhibit in its own right. There was geography in every destination I visited and I will especially remember ‘geographing’ Quebec with my friends, climbing down to the riverbanks of the Montmorency upstream from the famous waterfalls and climbing up Mount Royal (in Montreal) with our bare hands.

Esther Ho (Year 3) | Arizona State University, USA Having acquired my geographical lenses at the start of my Geography education in NUS, they have since been part of my life. Geography has given me a greater appreciation for and sensitivity to the sights and scenes of places I explored. Drilled in a discipline that emphasizes variances across space, I often compared Singapore to where I was. While I envied other urban landscapes (e.g. Portland, Oregon with its urban environmental sustainability and arts culture), I remain proud of Singapore’s landscape. Geography has enriched my travel experiences while strengthening my belonging to home. This is how Geography rocks and I keenly anticipate the new revelations this beloved discipline brings in my life!

Student Exchange Programs Around the World Written by: Various NUS Students Layout by: Benjamin Hu

They came, they saw, they conquered. Read on as our geography majors tell of their Student Exchange Programme experiences around the world - how they were able to understand the different cultures and practices as well as various insights they gained through their geographical lenses! Map credits to http://www.vectorworldmap.com/

Crystal Tan (Year 3) | Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Given the beautiful and vast landscapes in Norway, it is no wonder Norwegians love hiking. Being Singaporeans, not only did the idea of hiking for six hours sound dreadful, snow-covered paths made it worse. However, hiking in a snow blizzard close to -10 degrees temperatures was definitely exciting. The absence of hiking in Singapore could be attributed to climatic differences that translated to cultural differences. Adapting to a different geographical environment during my exchange, I found this hiking experience most noteworthy Loo Wenbin (Year 3) | because it shows significant differences The Netherlands (UK*) On my Amsterdam city tour, my tour between Singapore and Norway, in terms of guide introduced the beautiful city of both environment and culture. canals as a city of ‘differences’, where people ‘accept and tolerate’. Instead of banning weed, prostitution, drinking of alcohol and other ‘vices,’ explicitly allowing them made management easier and more transparent. What came to my mind were the alternate models of urban liveability, and what it means to be a ‘liveable city.’ Of course, at the same time we have to be discerning of the image(s) (or geographical imaginations) different cities try to project and for what purpose these images/imaginations serve. *Wenbin went for exchange at The University of Birmingham. Foo Fangyu (Year 3) | Zhejiang University, China Adapting to the Chinese way of life was certainly not easy. Queuing is almost absent, and most of the time you have to be assertive and fight your way through. Competition is stiff even when boarding public transport! Being a geographer, I felt compelled to be patient and think through the differences between countries and cultures. Though offering no definite answers, I found that the Chinese locals I’ve met along the way offered new insights to China. The Chinese are not rude, they are just less friendly towards strangers, and past that, you would be treated like family. The notion of “people connection” (Guanxi关系) is of utmost importance and may be one’s most useful resource. Geography has developed my sensitivity towards foreign surroundings, helping me adapt to a country so diverse and ever-changing.

FEATURE

OUR PROFS TAKE ON THE WORLD!

Written by: Various NUS Geography Professors Layout by: Benjamin Hu

Here we feature our lovely geography professors from around the world! We asked them these questions: *How has coming to Singapore / going overseas changed your perspectives in a geographical sense? *How does your way of life differ from place to place?

OVERSEAS PROFESSORS IN SINGAPORE 1. Dr. Jamie Gillen (US) 2. Dr. Lu Xi Xi (China) 3. Dr. James Terry (Fiji)

United States

Assistant Professor Jamie Gillen

1 14

Singapore is place whose people have opened my eyes to the importance of hard work, to the role of family in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successes and failures, and to the crucial need to have a lot of options for dinner available to you. I have known these things to be true before but they are driven home to me in unique ways here. On the more mundane but no less important side (for me) I watch a lot of sports and play more music in the US than I do in Singapore, so I do miss those things. As for what is similar to my Singaporean life and in the United States, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m surrounded by people who care for me, who laugh with me, and who challenge me. That is all I can ever ask for out of any place in this world!

China

Professor Lu Xi Xi Growing up in Inner Mongolia, we never needed umbrellas, as it almost never rained. Fast-forward 30-plus years and I’m living in Singapore, a place where it rains ten times as much and I always kept an umbrella handy. Back in Inner Mongolia a few months ago, I was collecting samples from the Yellow River when it began to drizzle slightly. My student asked if we should stop and head back but I brushed this off: we would finish the sampling. After all, it almost never rains here. I wasn’t even carrying an umbrella. That night, we were stuck in a muddy car ditch for nearly 24 hours in a storm. We still weren’t finished with the sampling. Umbrella habits aside, my travels to many places certainly changed my perspectives where it counts. But places can be tricky; just when you think you know them like the back of your hand, they still manage to surprise you. Even if you’re a geography professor.

Fiji

Associate Professor James Terry On my journey to Fiji in 1996 to take up a position at the University of the South Pacific, I visited Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There in a museum I caught glimpses of the writings of Robert Dean Frisbie, American author and poet who once wrote “the sound of the surf and the sea …. makes me feel rather lazy” (roughly paraphrased). This resembles life in the Pacific Islands, simple yet enriching. As a physical geographer arriving in Fiji, I was fascinated by my surroundings and wanted to study every aspect: the majestic volcanic mountains, teeming coral reefs and seemingly infinite coastlines. Singapore has been a contrast but was no less exciting, albeit for different reasons. Here there is a city buzz, a feeling of perpetual motion day and night, and a pervasive sense of national achievement. Perhaps for a geomorphologist, Singapore’s natural landscapes are harder to observe than on Pacific Islands where they poke you right in the eyes. But the landscapes lie here nonetheless just beneath Singapore’s human surface, and for me this only makes their discovery all the more intriguing.

United States

Assistant Professor Harvey Neo Environmental determinism has become a taboo concept in geography (for very good reasons) but when I first flew 20,000 miles to Central Massachusetts for my doctoral studies in 2002 and promptly found myself in one of the coldest winters in a century; I really did feel the environment determining my behaviour and actions! It got so bad that I briefly contemplated switching schools! Scale is a critical yet highly malleable geographical concept. I picked the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University (a small 2,800 student liberal arts college) to do my doctoral studies precisely because I wanted to experience the feeling of “smallness”. Distance, living in America, becomes relative too. 40 minute drive to anywhere is considered “near” there. Whereas in Singapore, it will have you end up in Malaysia. Geographers should see places and adapt to places. My way of life might change but I want to believe that I am still the same, but hopefully better, person wherever I go.

United Kingdom

Assistant Professor Karen Lai Living in the UK sensitized me to the rhythms of seasonality in a way that has never really gone away. Other than influencing one’s attire, seasonal living is most strongly evident in food consumption. Hot lethargic summers call for food that requires little cooking – light salads, simple aglio olio pasta, and ice cream certainly doesn’t hurt. With the onset of winter, one longs for comfort food and richer flavours that develop with slow cooking – stews, pies and baked puddings. Grocery shopping is also influenced by seasons, and as seasonal produce tended to feature in local grocers rather than big supermarket chains, I grew to love shopping at the small local grocers, butchers, fishmongers, and bakeries. That may explain why I now frequent my local wet market and appreciate being plugged into a local community. I do miss English strawberries in the summer, asparagus in spring and brussel sprouts in winter. But you also can’t beat the durian season back here!

Dr. Lai’s son with a stalk of brussel sprouts in December 2012

LOCAL PROFESSORS WHO STUDIED OVERSEAS 1. Dr. Harvey Neo (US) 2. Dr. Karen Lai (UK) 3. Dr. Winston Chow (US)

United States

Assistant Professor Winston Chow

I was based in Phoenix, AZ, and had the opportunity to travel frequently both in-state and throughout the US during my seven years there.

Several perspectives were changed there, a notable one being appreciating and understanding the tremendous - and surprising geographical variations of places within the US. They were apparent within physical regions e.g. one could traverse from desert to alpine biomes without leaving the state of Arizona. ‘Twas also true for people and cultures in the States; for one thing, I can see why the Beach Boys alluded to these variations in the cheeky opening verse of “California Girls” (Not the Katy Perry version)! :) The vast differences in cuisine were also enjoyable. “Local” cuisines in different regions were interesting – Alligator or Bison burgers, anyone? Even little geographical nuances like ordering a soft drink at a restaurant were eye-opening: Pop, Soda or Coke depending on your whereabouts in the States. And then, there’s the South, which is a whole other story…

Taken during a hike near Payson, Arizona. Note how the sign was used as target practice!

Written by: Various Geographical geographical society showcase Society Members Photos by: Refelctions on Events & initiatives by the Kelman Chiang, NUS Geographical Society for AY 2013/2014 Benjamin Hu, Esther Ho Layout by: Benjamin Hu PS: This is not Great Singapore Sale

nus geography Challenge 2013 / Joel Koh (Year 3) What makes us Singaporean? How do Singaporeans identify with certain landmarks in Singapore? In the 17th National University of Singapore (NUS) Geography Challenge, participants were challenged to think about these questions. NUS Geography Challenge is a nationwide competition for Secondary School students. It aims to educate, engage and empower the next generation of Geographers. NUS Geography Challenge 2013’s theme “ Made in Singapore: Stitching Our Identity”, challenged students to think about the relevance of place making in the creation of the national identity.

On 2 March 2013, 384 students from 96 schools gathered at the Faculty of Arts and Social Science to join us in this exciting challenge consisting of an Individual MCQ round as well as an application question round which saw schools thinking about the creation of a “Singapore-town”. The top 40 schools qualified for the Semi-finals which consisted of a Creative component as well as an Amazing Race-inspired Geotrail. The top 4 schools then took part in the finals held at University Town, NUS on the 30th of March 2013. After an intense nail biting finish, defending champions Raffles Institution emerged on top for the fifth consecutive year.

Freshmen immersion camp / Charlene Choe (Year 2) FIC 2013 was special. Despite the little jitters I felt, the four days of FIC sailed by and I can only thank everyone who made it possible. Regardless of where they came from, the paths they will eventually take, four days in FIC definitely forged irreplaceable friendships among the freshmen, councilors, orientation group leaders and committee members. In no time, everyone felt like they were part of the geography family. It was truly heartening to see orientation groups (OG) tightly bonded, going for other Geogsoc activities such as the biennial NUS Geography Dinner and Dance as an OG. More than a collection of activitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the people, the geography family, were the heart of the camp, and this distinguishes FIC from other camps in NUS. Time will pass, but camp memories will stay with us for a long time, and friends made will stay with us for life.

"It's not the days in life we remember, rather the moments." - Walt Disney -

Dinner and Dance 2013 / Benjamin Hu (Year 2) Pigtails, high waist bottoms, high socks, checkered shirts, nerdy glasses and dandy bowties. These were just some of the quirky accessories and clothes that attendees of the Geography Department Dinner and Dance (D&D) held in September 2013 came bedecked with. Held at the Kent Ridge Guild House, D&D is a biennial event organized by NUS Geographical Society and aims to foster strong ties among the faculty, alumni and undergraduates from the Geography Department.

This year’s theme of “Back to School: Unleash Your Inner Nerd!” allowed both majors and staff alike to revel in their student days. Aside from this event being a great opportunity to meet up with old friends post-graduation, it is also a chance to interact with the professors and staff from the department.

D&D 2013 boasted a performance by our very own majors alongside a sumptuous four-course meal. This event also marked the official handing-over of the outgoing 47th Management Committee (MC) of the NUS Geographical Society to the incoming 48th MC for the academic year. Be sure to join us for D&D 2015!

FUN FACTS \ PUNS Hannah Tan (Year 4)

Geographers - experts in the art of subduction.

Geography Open house & welcome tea /Annabelle Chan (Year 4)

The Geography Open House and Welcome Tea are two big events that the Majorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Welfare (MW) Cell of NUS Geography Society co-organizes with NUS Department of Geography annually. Geography Open House reaches out to junior college students who are considering Geography as a major while the Welcome Tea serves as a platform for majors and professors to come together for an informal feedback session with regards to NUS Geography Department. For Open House, the Earth Lab was bedecked with paraphernalia from various Geography modules as well as Geog Soc memorabilia (Geography major t-shirts, past-year collaterals, group photos, etc.). Students were also brought on a tour around the FASS campus by our Geography guides. It was a joy sharing our love for the subject and we were excited to meet the keen minds aspiring to pursue Geography !

A similar welcoming atmosphere was present during the Welcome Tea, with professors and geography majors engaged in an exchange of ideas and opinions. Through this session, both parties got to hear and understand one another better, and some students even walked away with valuable student exchange program and academic tips from seniors and the professors! Kudos to the Geography Department and GeogSoc MW cell who helped make both the events a success!

FEATURE

What Kind of Change for What Kind of Singapore? Wrtiten By: Dr. Woon Chih Yuan Assistant Prof in Geography, NUS Photos by: Darren Ng (http://celebratelah.wordpress.com) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

he Singapore General Election of 2011 (hereafter GE2011) has been termed by many as the ‘watershed election’ whereby the People’s Action Party (PAP), the ruling party since the country’s independence in 1965, suffered its worst ever setback. Despite this, PAP’s electoral performance in GE2011 remained an outstanding one by any standard —adopting the simple first-past-the-post system of voting, it secured 81 out of 87 seats in parliament. But going beyond the surface, it is small wonder that observations abound of the eroding of support for PAP. With the opposition clinching its first ever Group Representative Constituency (GRC) and PAP’s vote share dipping to a historic low (60.1%), there is the claim that an ‘Orchid Revolution’—largely inspired by the ‘Jasmine Revolution’ that toppled governments in the Middle East—has descended upon Singapore. Although GE2011 could hardly be characterised as a revolution, the term draws attention to the prevalent view that Singapore is experiencing strong undercurrents of change. This short commentary is concerned with the politics of change in Singapore during GE2011 and its aftermath. I contend that whilst Singapore’s political landscape has been engulfed by discourses of change, there have not been concerted efforts to critically examine the complex meanings of ‘change’ as it is being mobilized in the local context. As such, I take a step back to reflect on what kind of change for what kind of Singapore? This line of inquiry will allow for broader evaluations and explications of what exactly has changed and for what political outcomes in Singapore.

What Changed? Sieving through the multiple exhortations of/for change, one can almost distill a singular, dominant thread of argument that draws a strong correlation between new media and the results of GE2011. Several transformations to the media landscape contributed to such a prevailing sentiment. One was the arrival of social media, allowing people to communicate with a virtual network of friends. Word-of-mouth communication has traditionally been a key source of information for voters. Therefore, social media platforms effectively combined the primordial power of such social networks with the transcendental possibilities of digital technologies, reconfiguring the dynamics and mode of interactions. Crucially, they functioned as key avenues for sharing information and ideas in GE2011. Second, the easing of government regulations on online campaigning also led to the flurry of activities on the internet during GE2011. In previous elections, online media run by parties and candidates as well as gazetted political sites had to confine themselves largely to static content during the campaign period. In GE2011 however, most of these restrictions were lifted, freeing up virtual space for political discussions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wynnie/5868459986/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Photo Credit: Steel Wool @ Flickr

Despite all this, it would be grossly simplistic to suggest that the results of GE2011 and the slide in PAP’s popular vote can be attributed solely to social media. Even retrospectively, it is almost impossible to isolate and quantify the impacts of social media. Besides, other factors are perhaps even more crucial to the electoral outcome and have to be considered too. For example, the volatile fluctuations in Singapore’s economy in the lead-up to GE2011 influenced state planning for public housing, transport and immigration issues, which eventually worked collectively against the ruling party. Having said that, the evolving media landscapes certainly changed the tenor of the elections—people took to the internet to engage in debates that mattered to them; both the ruling and opposition parties (e.g. The Workers’ Party) utilized platforms such as Facebook to reach out to their electorates (see Figure 1) upon recognition of the potential and power of the virtual sphere; the internet even served as a countering influence to mainstream media, whereby online communities were demanding public, establishment news organization to be more mindful of their positionality and credibility. The internet media has broadened the space for political participation and created an alternative public sphere, which, in the offline world, is strictly limited by restrictions on freedom of speech and expression.

Figure 3: The Facebook Page of The Workers’ Party SOURCE: AUTHOR’S OWN 24

Towards a ‘Democratising’ Singapore?

But the role of the internet in GE2011 was merely a means to an end. Indeed, many would concur that the internet is an important pathway to ultimately advance the cause of democracy in Singapore. But is this really true? The process of democratization is more than just about having more opposition members in parliament; it is also measured by the ability of a society in fostering meaningful dialogues and accommodating diverse voices. In this regard, the role of the internet in facilitating such democratic changes may seem tenuous for now. Instead of a space for reasoned debates, large expanses of online public space lack critical engagements with social issues, degenerating into a sort of ‘fandom’ politics: people tend to idolize personalities from the opposition parties and express anti-government views as these are deemed as ‘fashionable.’ As Cherian George points out, this is largely related to the fact that the offline world has been tightly controlled by an all-powerful government that marginalizes opposing views. This leaves dissidents with no choice but to colonise cyberspace with a vengeance and responding to ideological rivals’ pro-government stances with personal attacks and twisted logic. The internet in this case, does little to grow the space for the kind of deliberation that is associated with a mature democratic political culture. The consequence of this may be costly, with the Singapore polity becoming increasingly fragmented and divided. So what kind of change do we really want and for what kind of Singapore? Asking these questions has never been so pressing.

fiji field trip article

Fiji Field Studies

Wrtiten and Photos By: Muhammad Bin Mohamed Farid (Year 3) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

hysical landscapes constantly surround us, but it certainly takes more than just a keen eye to truly appreciate their sheer awesomeness. A love for studying landforms and an interest in examining, analyzing and reconstructing their origins are standard tools of the trade for the avid Geographer. Of course, studying the terrain in Singapore would be exciting, but “Geography 360°” suggests that even the furthest reaches of the planet can become a geographer’s playground. Indeed, not being nearly satisfied with the topographies available within our shores, 19 Year 3 and 4 NUS Geography Majors strived to meet our innate curiosity and our love for the exotic by exploring the diverse and fascinating geomorphological features found on the Pacific island of Fiji (Septemer 2013). There are a million things I still remember fondly about my time there, but surely, with our resident-Fiji-expert, Associate Professor James Terry there with us, the adventures we had were never short of gems of knowledge.

The key theme of our expedition was the identification and analysis of the complex and inherent dynamics of the various landscapes in Viti Levu, Fiji, and this was achieved via two general strands of study; that of trying to recreate past environments as well as exploring the inherent processes acting on these sites of geomorphological and geological interest. These approaches encompassed a range of other disciplines and lenses, from geomorphology and geology to hydrology, climatology and lithology, which acted, affecting a variety of spatial and temporal scales to the different land, subsurface, riverine and coastal features seen. Be it a changing climate, tectonic uplift, erosional processes, or the multitude of human influences, physical landscapes will change, quickly or gradually, and in tandem with these forces, often leaving behind significant markers to reflect these alterations.

Yet, as we were made aware of time and time again, the human dimension can never truly be divorced from the natural terrain. Through pursuing local indigenous knowledge, understanding the anthropogenic effects on natural landscapes over time, and how communities are subsequently affected by such changes, we recognized how the Fijian people can contribute and ultimately benefit from these studies. These benefits come in various forms, such as increasing their agricultural productivity, opening up new pathways for tourism and cultural heritage, or even in terms of mitigating hazards and damage to their ecosystems. It is ultimately the recognition of this aspect that reiterates the importance of our geographical perspective in bolstering our appreciation of these terrific landscapes, while always having the welfare of the Fijian people in mind. This invaluable experience in Fiji, has not only honed our fieldwork techniques, but has also impressed upon us the cruciality of physical geography and provided us with a basic understanding of its innate complexities and inter-linkages. I hope this expedition will be repeated for future batches, so that they can see what we saw, do what we did, and feel what we experienced, and hopefully pass the torch on!

Feeling Blaséabout Fashion Geography(?)

ashion is an everyday topic and it is everywhere around us. We see it, we wear it and we hear about it all the time – sometimes in passing and without even realising it! Yet within academic geography, it has often been seen as trivial, with little value for intellectual inquiry. After all, fashion is merely an (extravagant) display of one’s dress sense; anyone with taste and an eye for aesthetic design could do it, right? However, fashion goes beyond this. It reflects a (collective) logic that is imbued with identity and cultural politics – which of course, differs across space. Furthermore, behind fashion, lie the ‘unfashionable’ hidden geographies of production that is often marginalized. Indeed, through a geographic lens, fashion – loosely understood as what people wear, or more exclusively as designer clothing – can be appreciated for its politics, networks and flows at various scales. At the scale of the body, fashion often relates closely to gender and/or sexuality. For one, the idea of the male gaze and the politics of veiling are issues which women in different societies have to confront differently. Stereotypes such as the Metrosexual Man and Drag Queens also debunk conventional understandings of masculinity (and to some extent (homo)sexuality). These topics evidently demonstrate how fashion and dress sense are central to exploring boundaries. Furthermore they have wider societal implications and transcend to the national scale, relating closely to issues such as ‘rape culture’ and ‘corporate culture’ – which often affects women as well as men.

Figure 1: Whose fashion sense is an oppression? Cartoonist: Malcolm Evans Figure 2: A Campaign Icon Relating to Topic of Veiling Politics and Corporate Culture in Singapore. Source: theindependent.sg

Wrtiten By: Faizal Abdul Aziz (Year 4) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

Meanwhile, at a larger scale, fashion connects countries and people in fascinating ways. Apart from the international runway fashion shows, or reality TV like the Next Top Model series, the industry and its ‘supporters’ exist behind the glam too. The fashion and material culture can exist as a result of a commodity and production systems. The designer labels stores in London or Singapore for example, may carry products from the sweatshops in Bangladesh, which is then consumed by the rest of the world. At this juncture, it is also interesting to compare symbolic geographies of fashion, where fashion labels and goods that are ‘Made in China’ are less desirable than those ‘Made in Milan’ for instance. To this end, geographies of fashion reflect not only the flow and transaction of (designer) goods but more importantly the symbolism attached to geographic location and uneven power relations across the dispersed (production and consumption) sites.

Figure 3: Metrosexual? Masculine? Man? (Drag Queen?) Source: www.themakeupboxstudio. com

The distinct image of cities places fashion within geographic interest. Paris, Milan, London, New York are cities which evoke the image of high fashion and are also acclaimed as world’s top fashion capitals.

Figure 4: Victoria Secret Runway Show. Source: www.listal.com

Such an image has implications for economic and tourism development, making fashion an important policy driver. Fashion as a cultural capital has important economic dimensions and at times political too (in the case of diplomatic and cultural exchanges).

In Singapore, fashion has been used to market the image of the city, such as the Singapore Girl in her distinct Kebaya, or the annual Miss Universe showcasing Singapore’s identity/aspiration in the form of a national costume. Singapore has also taken an interest to market itself as the fashion capital of Asia through hosting internationally recognized fashion festivals like the annual Audi Fashion Festival. Fashion weeks and festivals are a great way to reach out to the masses to both promote designer and fashion capabilities as well as market the vibrancy of cities.

Figure 5: Audi Fashion Festival 2013 Venue. Source: http://www.afx.com.sg/

Through geographical lens, we can see the many layers to fashion that permeate and intertwine with other geographic sub-disciplines (social, cultural, economic even political). Fashion is also simultaneous: it is mundane and phenomenal, personal and shared, local and global. It connects and transcends scales from the body to the world. Indeed, as geographer Ian Cook suggests, it would be worthwhile to ask ourselves ‘If what we wear could talk, what geographical stories would they tell?’

FUN FACTS \ PUNS Raedi Haizer B Sidik (Year 1) "Schist happens"

geographies of local area network (lan) gaming Many of you might wonder how geographically relevant LAN gaming actually is. Youth and feminist geographies immediately spring to mind. LAN gaming is typically considered to be a form of social activity for youth, with restrictions placed on young people’s use of public spaces. There is also the gendered aspect of gaming, with most gaming done by males. However, the rising recognition of female gamers dispels the popular stereotype of gaming as a maledominated activity. However, In this essay, I will focus on the emotional aspect of gaming. More specifically, I focus on the emotional experiences/attachment of youths that have contributed towards the revitalization of LAN cafes in Singapore.

Photo 1 – Friends helping me out with my fieldwork!

I had always been intrigued by the emotional aspect of adventure gaming - the fact that people get so personally involved. Game designer Roberta Williams was once quoted as saying, “I had always been intrigued by the emotional aspect of adventure gaming - the fact that people get so personally involved”. Likewise, gamers frequently display a myriad of emotions—from exhilaration due to the completion of a difficult quest to disappointment at their inability to kill an easy opponent, or to anger at themselves or even their team members for failing a mission. Photos and Wrtiten By: Shaun Nah (Year 4) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

Although the emergence and frequency of such emotions is largely dependent upon the individual and the type of game involved, the locational aspect is also crucial in examining the intensity of such emotions. All these emotions indirectly contribute towards the gaming atmosphere in a LAN café, creating a unique gaming experience like no other. LAN cafes are also regarded as sites for new cultural and social formations, where one’s emotional experience can be intensified by external factors such as the type of friends you play with, the physical ambience of the LAN café facilities (lighting, visuals, audio) and so forth.

Photo 2 – Spectators eagerly anticipating the matchup between two fiercely competitive teams!

Photo 3 – Example of a ‘modern’ high-end LAN café, brightly lit with excellent computer hardware and comfortable chairs. (Alienware Arena at Lucky Chinatown)

Over the last decade, the influence of modernity and globalization has meant that gamers have been able to replicate similar levels of gaming atmosphere within the comforts of their own homes—potentially jeopardizing the survival of LAN cafes. Interestingly, this has not led to the death of LAN cafes but rather, a contemporary transformation and revitalization of LAN cafes as sites of renewed social engagement for gaming communities where their sense of place is (re)established.

Photo 4 – Gamers doing what they do best!

The majority of my interviewees mentioned that their sustained attachment and rootedness to LAN cafes lies in the unique emotional experiences, especially with gaming peers, that they are unable to replicate elsewhere. LAN cafes are also undergoing a series of physical transformations to attract a wider consumer base, with the emergence of ‘modern’ high-end LAN cafes that package and combine different aspects, such as physical comfort levels and gaming atmosphere, to provide a more complete gaming experience. The introduction of ‘arenas’ where competitive matches are staged provides an enhanced emotional experience not only for the players but for spectators as well. Even though LAN gaming has since become ubiquitous in nature, LAN cafes still hold special significance to most, hereby reaffirming the importance of geographical place identities. Applying my geographical knowledge to my research has indeed allowed me to better appreciate the interconnectedness between people and places. That being said, I certainly hope that this will inspire others to pursue their passion and discover the geography in their own areas of interest!

Alumni Feature! Here we feature past geography alumni with interesting careers!

Mr. Goh Char Li Commercial Pilot

Year of Graduation: 1990

What does your job entail? CL: I am a commercial pilot. My job is to ensure my passengers arrive at their destination safely. When I see my passengers reunite with their loved ones at the arrival hall of the airport, I feel a great sense of satisfaction.

How has studying geography helped you in your job? CL: My job requires me to work and interact with people from diverse cultural

background. Human or cultural geography (many thanks to Associate Professor Victor Savage) equipped me with the ability to quickly â&#x20AC;&#x153;assimilateâ&#x20AC;?. This helps me to gain their trust and friendship of peers and passengers both at work and play.

What elements of your job relate to geography and how? CL: Knowledge gained in subjects like climatology is extremely helpful in

understanding processes of weather phenomenon and their threats to flying. Such knowledge enhances the safety of flight operations.

For the purpose of the interview: Mr. Goh Char Li - CL Ms. Glayds Ow - GO Mr. Ang Hin Kee - HK

Photos and Wrtiten By: Various Alumni Layout By: Benjamin Hu

Ms. Gladys Ow Senior Producer, Channel NewsAsia Year of Graduation: 2007

What does your job entail? GO: As a news producer and editor at Channel NewsAsia, my main responsibility

is to craft the daily international news bulletins. I work with a team to decide what events should be included in a news programme, how the stories should be treated, how our correspondents can contribute and which interviewees should be invited on the show.

How has studying geography helped you in your job? GO: The news is all about people and places - how the two interact over time is the ingredient for making history, driving politics, fuelling conflicts, creating scandals and many other events. As geographers we are well aware of this dynamics, having made how spaces change over time the focus of our studies.

What elements of your job relate to geography and how? GO: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given me a different perspective. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sharpened an appreciation of world events, to pursue the stories that would hopefully make a difference to audiences.

FUN FACTS \ LYRICS When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin, 1971) If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break (x2) When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay

Mr. Ang Hin Kee Executive Secretary Education Services Union (ESU), Advisor - National Taxi Association (NTA) Year of Graduation: 1991 What does your job entail? HK: My job involves finding ways to improve the lives of working adults, especially

those of union members. I work alongside employers to improve the job environment and adopt a bottom-up approach of seeking inputs from workers on the concerns they have and some ideas they have developed. These inputs are then surfaced to the employers and even the government to help improve the situation. Where individuals are straddled with grievances at the workplace, we represent them to discuss with the employers and when necessary, represent them in court to seek a judicial decision.

How has studying geography helped you in your job? HK: Geographical concepts underlie much of my job scope, especially when coordinating transport, work location and other needs.

To illustrate with an example, my academic exercise during my Honours’ year was about childcare centres in Singapore. Through it, I examined the working mothers’ journey to work, their needs and how the location of a childcare centre and it’s operating hours can have an impact on decisions of working mothers. Currently, I push for some of these ideas with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to have more childcare centres located at transport nodes, residential areas and workplace. I also look into other concerns that working mothers may have, such as flexible working hours for them to coordinate work as well as childcare arrangements.

What elements of your job relate to geography and how? HK: Whether in the parliament or at the workplace, geographical concepts have allowed me to be receptive to others’ opinions and develop an inquisitive mind.

*Mr. Ang is also currently the Member of Parliment of Ang Mo Kio G.R.C. 36

KCL: King’s Creates Legendary Geographers*! *Inspired by a KCL T-shirt that proudly proclaims ‘King’s Creates Legends’ Here, we feature the experiences of the NUS-KCL (King’s College London) exchange programme, from both perspectives!

Photos and Wrtiten By: Woon Wei Seng (Year 3) and William Frederick Judd (Year 2) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

For the purpose of the interview: Woon Wei Seng - WWS William Frederick Judd - WFJ

WWS: On a banal note, one begins to appreciate and understand case studies of the module, The Service Economy (GE3201), which I had just taken. For instance, you now know where Soho is in London. You feel excited encountering these case studies because you’ve been there and know what it is like. On a more serious note, one starts to appreciate the different geographies out there. Being in Europe gives you greater exposure —seeing the countryside or different urban landscapes when traveling by long-distance bus and train. For instance, I went for fieldtrips that focused on London’s biogeography, which is vastly different from Singapore’s. As a geography student, you should travel everywhere to truly appreciate the diversity the discipline offers, both in the physical and human landscape.

Q: How has leaving home (Singapore/London) changed your perspectives in a geographical sense? WFJ: Moving across the world to live in a foreign land for a whole year is certainly a challenge, but one I would encourage everyone and anyone to do! Perhaps being a Geography student has enabled me to comprehend the changes a little more. Without wishing to start an essay, the scale of one’s thoughts really do change. I moved from a global city to another global city. I moved across the world, I have travelled a region. Yet all of this has been experienced through me, the individual. When you become such a small fish in such a big world, your geographical perspectives can’t help but change – especially for someone like me (I grew up in Shropshire, a county twice the size of Singapore, with 1/6 of the people and no city in its borders!).

WWS: I always proudly proclaim how good life is at KCL – only 8 hours of instruction a week on average! In terms of work-life balance, KCL is unbeatable. That said, modules are rigorous as is expected of a top university. I also enjoy the fieldtrips offered. They are the best way to see a new, hidden side of London and to learn hands-on. While my classes are all lecture-based, the small class size of 20-30 mean that classes are more intimate. Final-year classes are quite interactive and students participate actively in class, so it is both an exciting and different experience from the lecturetutorial system in NUS. And there are no Singaporeans doing geography in KCL, so you make both local and foreign friends. Given KCL’s location in the heart of London, its facilities are spread out across the city, so you walk – no shuttle bus. Public transport is costly but thankfully there are no hills or stairs to climb. I walk 20 minutes to school; from school I walk across the River Thames to go to the school gym and it’s 10 minutes to Maughan Library for books. (I love its Round Reading Room, which, according to a popular myth, is where Dumbledore’s Office was filmed in the Harry Potter movies!)

Q: How different is university life at NUS and KCL?

WFJ: Life at NUS is completely different to that of King’s. For a start, living on a campus is a whole different situation. It is wonderfully sociable, sometime to the detriment of attempting to accomplish work, but having all the facilities and events in the same place where you live is fantastic. Similarly, the focus on sports, and FREE sports of that, here at NUS is something I shall really miss when I return back home!! The other major difference in university life is the amount of work. I must confess that I don’t spend as many hours at my desk as I perhaps should, and the amount I do pales in comparison to my local peers. At NUS, the focus of university is overwhelmingly centred on studies, and for me, ignores many other aspects of university life – expanding ones social horizons in addition to their intellectual ones. Further to this, it all seems to be in vein. I find it fascinating that many of the full-time students I speak to are constantly telling me of the feverish amount of work they are doing for the same courses, yet their grades are no different.

WFJ: One problem I find with being on campus is that you are away from the city centre and the hive of activity that occurs there. A commute by public transport to the centre of Singapore often take 45 minutes or more. In comparison, living in the centre of London meant that I was rarely out of a 30 minute walk, and never away from a 30 minute commute by public transport. Although, the relatively low price of taxis here is a blessing for the late nights out (although Singaporeans complain of taxi prices, they pale in comparison to London!).

Q: How different is your life in Singapore versus the UK in general?

WWS: I lived 20 minutes away (by foot) from school â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is the nearest one can stay to KCL (but expensive nonetheless). The independent life you lead in the UK is definitely unforgettable. Without your family and friends, you make new friends and also learn to do things alone. As things in the UK are so expensive, you learn to scrimp and save. You learn to become an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;auntieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and utilise discounts and reward cards for maximum savings. For instance, when the weather is perfect for walking, I have no qualms walking 40 minutes to save on the Tube fare (which costs S$4 minimally). Speaking of the weather, one similarity to Singapore is its unpredictability and the regular presence of rain. There are endless opportunities to explore the UK and the region from London, given its location as a major transport hub in the UK and Europe.

FEATURE

Geography and Law? S hau n Li n N U S g eo g ra p h y ( h o n o u r s C la s s 2 0 1 0 / 1 1 ) PhD Candidate Au s t ra l ia n Na t i o na l C e n t re fo r O c ea n R es o u rc es and Security (ANCORS) U n iv e r s i t y o f Wo l lo n g o n g

fter four years of undergraduate training in geography at NUS, I embarked on a PhD in Law at the Australian National Centre for

Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia, in February 2012. At first glance, this seems to be a great departure in terms of academic interest and possibly signaling the end of geography in my life. This is, however, untrue. First, geography is highly related in the particular legal field that I am engaged in. Although most branches of law do not share links with geography, one such branch, namely the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC), has strong spatial elements. Offshore geographical features such as islands and rocks, for example, generate different maritime claims separately for coastal States.

Written and Photos by: Shaun Lin Layout by: Benjamin Hu

Figure 1- Kien Giang province’s marine environmental protection efforts

Second, geography also remains very much ‘alive’ in my postgraduate legal research. Before explaining so, I now turn to introduce my thesis topic. I examine cooperative efforts towards the protection of the marine environment at the subnational scale in the Gulf of Thailand through a former United Nations Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project that commenced implementation in January 2002 and was completed in December 2008. Instead of just engaging a conventional textual analysis, I incorporated an ethnographic approach in my research, conducting interviews with a range of actors. Former United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) personnel, government officials, technical experts and local villagers were interviewed to unveil the intricacies of the interactions between them. In doing so, my thesis hopes to gain a better insight on how a common platform could be reached to effectively carry out joint cooperation on the transboundary ecosystems management.

Fieldwork was mainly conducted in two transboundary coastal ecosystems: Cambodia’s Kampot province and Vietnam’ Kien Giang province (Phu Quoc island), and Cambodia’s Koh Kong province and Thailand’s Trat province. Additional interviews were carried out in key cities like Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Nha Trang. It is with pride then, that I claim my undergraduate geography background has been extremely helpful in executing my research fieldwork. Previous relevant fieldwork experience obtained from my Honours thesis research at the border of Northern Thailand and Northwest Laos together with four Field Studies in Thailand (GE3230A) when I was a student and later as a helper has aided me tremendously to carefully engage my research contacts patiently and politely, gaining their respect as a postgraduate researcher.

The insights gained were rich and the fieldwork results reflect past experiences and thoughts not documented in the UNEP legal documents and technical reports. This repository of information is useful for future academic and policy work surrounding coastal management and joint cooperation in marine environmental protection. A pure textual analysis on the legal and technical documents would have missed out the important local narratives.

Figure 2: Crossing border: from Trat (Thailand) to Koh Kong (Cambodia).

Visiting the field sites also allows me to keep up-to-date on the aftermath of the UNEP project and other resulting environmental projects that could be spearheaded by the locals. Being trained in geography advances my participant observation of the surroundings—besides questioning how the things and events I see may influence my thesis findings, I also question whether the observations may lead to future research topics and possibly shape the upcoming development of my field sites. Taking the example of the newly opened spacious airport that replaces the old one in Phu Quoc, I perceive that future international flights to Phu Quoc may propel the island to rapid coastal tourism development which could affect the ecohealth of the marine environment and undermine local villagers’ socio-economic interests.

Indeed, geography has continued to influence my life despite a trajectory shift in postgraduate discipline. I believe that geography has much to offer even in instances where we embark on careers that may differ largely from what we learn and are trained in. The skills we pick up such as practical fieldwork experience and keen observation skills in geography cannot be underestimated. It is said that Geography is about “writing the earth”, yet it also has “written” and perhaps is still “writing” crucial chapters in our lives.

GEOG @ THE MOVIES!

Written by: Dr. Elaine Ho, Assistant Prof in Geography, NUS Photos from: www.iloilomovie.com Layout by: Benjamin Hu

Here, we feature local geographical perspectives of the multi-award winning movie Ilo-Ilo from a geography don Dr. Elaine Ho as well as a commentary by a fellow major, Naomi Lizaso.

he multiple award-winning film, Ilo-Ilo, features the working relationship between a Filipino domestic helper and her employer's family in Singapore during the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis. The film portrays a tenderly raw story of family tensions as observed by their newly employed helper, Teresa. She develops a friendship with her adolescent charge, Jiale, despite his initial resistance towards sharing a room with her.

FUN FACTS \ LYRICS Singing in the Rain (Brown & Freed, 1929; performed by Gene Kelly in the eponymous musical in 1952) I'm laughing at clouds so dark up above The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place

As the story unfolds, we find out that Jiale is struggling to cope emotionally with the bereavement of his grandfather. Jiale’s father has lost his job and is in debt. The film also draws out the uneasy relationship Teresa has with Jiale’s mother who becomes gradually resentful as the maternal closeness with her son is displaced, in her view, by their new helper. Unknown to her, Teresa has been smoothing over the family troubles, such as covering up for Jiale’s mischief when his parents are at work.

For geographers, the setting of the film in the domestic sphere and the wider context of migration flows converging in the global city is especially pertinent for considering the mutually imbricating relationship between society and space. An example can be found in the gender politics portrayed in the film, common in Singaporean families that hire foreign domestic helpers. The feminine presence of the foreign domestic helper can become a potential threat to the female employer’s role in the household as a wife, mother or daughter.

Whilst foreign domestic helpers are primarily hired to provide childcare for the household, female employers are responsible for policing their moral mores as well. Jiale’s mother, for example, questions Teresa fiercely when a used cigarette is found in the home.

Inasmuch as foreign domestic helpers perform caring tasks in Singaporean homes, we are reminded by the film about the burden of care they have for kin left behind in their countries of origin. We see Teresa making anxious phone calls to the Philippines and deciding subsequently to work as a hairdresser furtively even though it flouts her work permit regulations. This allows her to remit more money to her sister who is caring for Teresa's young child in her absence. The film thus draws out the material and emotional transnational connections maintained by migrant workers while they are in Singapore. Also noticeable in the f ilm are the uneasy power relations between Jiale and Teresa, signaling wider issues of socio-economic divisions and unequal international development. Jiale regularly teases Teresa for having 'smelly' hair ; evoked by this of f hand remark is the image of the foreign domestic helper as an intimate stranger in the home and who has def icient hygiene habits because she comes from a poorer countr y. Poignantly, when Teresa is made to return to the Philippines because of the family's financial woes, Jiale refuses to bid her goodbye but he unexpectedly snips a lock of her hair for keepsake, representing his emotional attachment to her.

Ilo-Ilo is a deliberately understated film that draws in viewers by layering subplots to lay bare the familiar. Although seemingly banal, what the film succeeds in doing is prompt thoughtful reflection towards the social relationships that underpin family and work life in everyday spaces.

Ilo-Ilo: A Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commentary.

Written By: Naomi Lizaso (Year 1) Layout By: Benjamin Hu

hile the dust has yet to settle from the media storm that Anthony Chenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning debut film Ilo-Ilo had created, the film has already garnered much praise, setting itself to becoming a Singapore cinematic classic. Indeed, this recognition is much deserved for this unassuming film started out as but a modest undertaking. Yet, Ilo-Ilo has evolved into so much more. Not only is the film, from a macro point of view, a reflection of the social dynamics of a typical Singaporean middle-class family (circa 1990s and relevant till today too), it is also a simple and poignant retelling of a story of a boy who craves love and attention from his mostly-absent parents. This is a theme that resonates with generations of Singaporean children and which makes the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motif more universally relatable. That being said, this commentary is less of a film critique than an article dealing with the geography-related issues faced by contemporary overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in receiving countries. Ilo-ilo succeeds (and in doing so sets itself apart from other films dealing with similarly complex issues) in giving an accurate picture of the lives of OFWs and their implications for the Singapore society. I also reflect on what this means for the future of both the OFWs and the archetypal Singaporean family.

I believe it logical to begin with the Filipino diaspora that is so relevant today. As illustrated in the film with Aunty Terry going to Singapore to be a domestic worker, the Filipino community has been widespread around the world since the 90s (and earlier so). From a geographical perspective, the mass migration of Filipino workers has been fuelled by increasing emancipation of women as well as the economic slowdown of the late 1980s in the Philippines which forced many to look abroad for jobs. This occurrence has decidedly vast implications on both the sending and receiving countries. The Philippine economy has long been touted as a ‘bubble’ economy waiting to burst due to its heavy reliance on outsourced or ‘backroom’ industries as well as OFW remittances. Not only is this unsustainable in the long run, it also creates a false sense of economic prosperity because what is seen as a growth in GDP (as remittances are often spent on necessities and consumables) does not actually translate to real wealth. This practice of sending back money to loved ones is but a temporary solution; the real key in curbing Filipino emigration is to create more jobs and increase real wage per capita—something the Philippine government has yet to address. Ilo-Ilo also sheds light on the social repercussions of being an OFW. In two scenes, Aunty Terry makes overseas calls to the Philippines where she is seen arguing heatedly (in her regional dialect) with her sister-in-law, who was caring for her child. Family separation and subsequent social detachment, are common dilemmas of OFWs, especially those on long-term work contracts that disallow them to return on an annual basis to see their family. This causes strained relations and in worst cases, marriage annulment (for divorce is disallowed in Catholic countries like the Philippines) and broken families.

It is this family factor that also pushes many OFWs to take risks and resort to extreme— often drastic—measures. In the film, Aunty Terry gets wind of ‘gigs’ at Lucky Plaza and later on she obtains employment in a salon to supplement her domestic helper income. Indeed, to remit more money home, many OFWs flout immigration rules in their host countries by engaging in such undocumented activities. This is often a lose-lose situation for them because not only are they not guaranteed proper wages, they also do not receive employment benefits and the like. Add to that the constant fear of being found out and repatriation back to their home country, one indeed questions if the extremity makes it all worth the risk. There is also the sad reality of the Singapore family being increasingly dependent on domestic helpers. In double-income families, many biological parents take on the role of breadwinners and rule enforcers while their domestic helpers become the primary care givers. As the film is set in the early stages of this relatively new phenomenon, we are only shown a brief glimpse of this elaborate role change. The film does not seem to tackle in great detail the progressively disparate lifestyle of the haves and have-nots in Singapore as well as the developments made in policymaking concerning migrant reproductive labour in the country. In Singapore, domestic helpers are often afforded only by the more well-to-do citizens. The high cost of foreign domestic helper levy not only regulates incoming migrant labour but also prevents the abuse of such a practice whereby parental responsibilities are outsourced to migrant domestic helpers. At the same time, the ability of Singaporean women to continue participating in the economy is sustained by such migrant labour. Reference YEOH, B. S. & HUANG, S. 2000. “Home” and “Away”: Foreign Domestic Workers and Negotiations of Diasporic Identity in Singapore. Women’s Studies International Forum, 23, 413-429.

Overall, Ilo-ilo makes a good case for the everyday ‘trials’ of a typical migrant domestic helper in receiving countries like Singapore. However, as we try to understand how this phenomenon of economic-driven migration of reproductive labour will affect Singapore in the future, we must also take careful note that many migrants do not necessarily see Singapore as their ‘final destination’ but as a stepping stone to developed countries like the US or UK—a proof positive and yet at the same time a disadvantage of Singapore’s labour policies (Yeoh and Huang, 2000, p.15). To conclude, I believe a quote from Yeoh and Huang encapsulates the complex role of the many Aunty Terrys (i.e. migrant domestic workers) in Singapore: “Women-indiaspora confront deep uncertainties: decision is not only constrained by a number of larger forces beyond their control but may also entail traversing wide gulfs of time and space. They constantly move between places, entering and leaving time-space capsules along life’s journey that may be greatly different from one another” (Yeoh and Huang, 2000, p.15).

FUN FACTS \ LYRICS Ain’t Got No/I Got Life (Nina Simone, 1968) I ain’t got no home, ain’t got no shoes / Ain’t got no money, Ain’t got no class I got my tongue, Got my chin / Got my neck, Got my legs / Got my heart, Got my soul

* Used in GE3241, a representation of the body and power relations surrounding it. Connectivity with a past of slavery, while turning lack into something positive, focusing on what she has and celebrating it.

Geographical Society Wants you! Keen to be a part of a dynamic group of individuals passionate about Geography? The NUS Geography Society may just be what you’re looking for! Geog Soc is an organisation made up of Geography majors FOR the Geography majors and we invite you to join our team! If you are interested to know more about the geographical society and how you can get on board, do check out www.nusgeographicalsociety.blogspot.sg. You may also visit the NUS Geographers’ Facebook Page for the latest in all-things Geography and for upcoming events and initiatives by Geog Soc. Likewise, meet and interact with the NUS Geographers’ community! We also welcome your comments, suggestions and/or inquiries at nusgeographicalsociety@gmail.com. Do pass by the NUS Geography Department noticeboard located at AS2 #03-01 for more information; or better yet, approach any Geog Soc member and we will be delighted to answer your questions and let you know more about the exciting opportunities that await you! To find out more about the Geography department, professors, staff and other academic programs and offerings, please visit http://fas.edu.sg/

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Winner of the Photo Competition - Photograph by Yu Li Hui