Mispronouncing Resistance: Uncovering Tales and Lessons in the Production of Creative Cultural Expression in Singapore

Abstract

This paper is the author’s endeavor to understand Singapore and the ways that ordinary residents express alternative views in a highly politically controlled but affluent environment. Unlike actions of resistance elsewhere, Singaporeans engage in less aggressive activities of non-confrontational or covert resistance to avoid inconveniences with the law. By looking into cases of non-confrontational cultural resistance, I suggest that ideas of resistance in authoritarian countries as solely created to oppose the ruling class or the state should be reconsidered. Although non-confrontational resistance in my case studies may be read as criticisms of the state, they are also examples of power relationships between residents of different ethnicities and social class, and between corporations/international organizations and the people. To investigate why and how people resist covertly or indeed resist, I propose to look into the conditions that influence their views and decisions. This includes the ways that global and local activities and connections affect the individual’s knowledge and perspectives.