A reflection on singapore culture. Is there even one to speak of? In this modern world of globalization, major global corporation has influence the world and the world has become homogeneous. MacDonald, Coke, MTV have become a lifestyle and culture around the world. Singapore hence is of no difference. MacDonald and Coke can be seem around Singapore. The "fast food" generation can also be seen in Singapore. The culture of singapore is also seen more influence by others countries.
Therefore has Singapore lost its identity among the midst of the influence of the global economics? I believe there are still some subtle distinct culture that Singapore has developed that could be said to be 'Uniquely Singapore' (as like the Singapore tourism board slogan is). The sense of kiasu-lism in Singapore is one that is often seem as unique in Singapore and has been hugely been debated about. Example of Singapore parents trying to get their children to enroll into top school even way before the requirement age for enrollment is now seem as a joke in other countries. Parents often cite that as the country is becoming more developed, it also mean that it has become more competitive and hence the need to be enroll into the elite school so that their children can have a bright future. There are also instances of people queuing for freebies, hours and sometimes even days before the actual day. This sense of kiasu-lism has been often reported in newspaper and debate in television shows. Hence, this term 'kiasu-lism' has been come up by the media to reflect the Singapore culture.
Another culture is the example of elite system in Singapore. As mention in the previous example, parents often enroll their children into top/elite schools. The children are often judge by their parents and adults with their grades. A child with good grades are often deem as bright and smart and a good boy. However, a child with low grade are often deem as stupid and bad boy. This reflect the Singapore society as it become more develop, it has also become more competitive. This often result in unnecessary stress from the children to excel in their studies. In the more recent years, parents are not satisfy that their children have to good in their studies but have to excel in other areas like sports and culture. It is normal to see children having many extra activities after school that their parents have arrange for them. This has becoming a culture in SIngapore. To groom our offspring into a "Superman" -- someone who is good in everything. However, not everyone is a "Superman" and this has cause adverse effects in the children. The children are becoming more stress and this result in more children becoming depressed and some even ended up in suicide. And the children are getting more towards the elite system and this often make them more cold hearted towards some of the social problems in Singapore. They have become more self-centered and choose to turn their back away from the needy ones in Singapore. They are more focus on the materialism of the society. This has also sadly becoming part of Singapore culture.
However, these much been said; a question arises on the question of whether these Singapore cultures are really unique or are they the byproduct of a more marco scenarios that is happening around the world. As Singapore is a small country and faces strong competition with the rest of the world, it has no choice but have to force their citizens to be one of the best in the world because Singapore has only human resources to depend upon. As a result, some of the characteristic that is been mention above has arises.
In conclusion, Singapore culture although has been define as unique to Singapore by the local media, however on a closer look it might just be a byproduct/reaction toward the raise of globalization.
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