The Great Singapore Novel
Over at Illusio, akikonomu asks:
"In your opinion, what should the Great Singaporean Novel be about?
Some answers from offline people so far:
Protagonist(s) contemplating emigration
A taxi driver (perhaps contemplating emigration... to Perth?)
Compilation of Xiaxue's online posts
A researcher/scholar finding out some discrepencies between official history and actual history (Major whoopass and conspiracy follows??)
The rise and fall of civilization with 3 generations, a story of transition and transience.
What is your opinion? Consider this an open thread, or post the reply on your site, or ask other people you know!"
So ... aspiring novelists out there, what do you think?
posted by the third wei at Wednesday, December 21, 2005
3 Comments:
Akikonomu begins his question with the ridiculous idea that Singapore is 'Great' - is he drawing a comparison with Great Britain; which earned its title from empire building across the planet? Singapore has become a sterile, souless clinical model of Orwells 1984, of which we already have a novel. Singapore can be summed up in a small pamphlet. See 'Star Trek' Borg for further clues.
12:54 pm
Er, no. But I apologise for not explaining everything in detail.
To clarify, I begin my question with Great as the modifier for "Singaporean Novel" (and not Great as the modifier for "Singapore"). That is, the novel that best exemplifies the state of Singaporean consciousness or zeigeist.
So far most of the answers I got tend towards the dystopian, and William's 1984 has been suggested independently by another friend.
1:20 pm
there is "greatness" about singapore in other ways. and we are not sterile. i have a love-hate relationship with this country and people. we may be sterile politically for instance, and i can't believe the behaviour i have to put up with from the people who i'm supposed to be prepared to die for. but in so many other ways they and we can sometimes be such a adorable country. the least we could do is to open our eyes.
2:28 am
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