Abstract
This chapter sets the socio-political context for the empirical examination of two Singapore-based comedic videos in the following two chapters. Given the country’s tightly regulated media spaces, the expression of free speech is considerably curbed in the eyes of its critics. It is therefore timely to interrogate the agency of its people in enacting voice in the digital vernacular discourse, particularly in the online subpolitical terrain. By delineating the socio-political development of the city-state in this manner, readers will gain an insight into how Singapore-based social media producers have to calibrate their performative tropes to successfully avoid the ire of regulators. This knowledge will enrich the understanding in the ways power circulates and reconstitutes itself in the performative digital culture. Accordingly, this chapter first begins with an outline of Singapore’s state ideologies and the development of its system of political rule in the 54 years of its nationhood. With this background, the chapter then focuses on the modus operandi of the state machineries in regulating free speech in various mediatized spaces. In the second part of the chapter, I consider the agentic potentials of the people both in response to a past government policy that was unpopular and, more broadly, in the way they participate in online subpolitical activities. In the latter, I focus on the instrumentality of humor as a central trope in such subpolitical performances.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Allison, G. (2015, August 5). Singapore challenges the idea that democracy is the best form of governance. The World Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/graham-allison/singapore-challenges-democracy_b_7933188.html
AsiaOne. (2014, January 28). Anton Casey loses job, friends. Retrieved from http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/anton-casey-loses-job-friends
Au-Yong, R. (2016, March 7). Ai Takagi, former editor of The Real Singapore website, to plead guilty to sedition. The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/duo-behind-the-real-singapore-sociopolitical-website-in-court-to-face
Bakhtin, M. (1965). Rabelais and his world (H. Iswolsky, Trans.). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Baharudin, H. (2019, January 16). Former religious teacher and student placed on Restriction Order under ISA. Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/former-freelance-religious-teacher-and-student-placed-on-restriction-order-under-isa
BBC. (2013, February 16). Rare mass rally over Singapore immigration plans. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21485729
Beck, U. (1997). The reinvention of politics: Rethinking modernity in the global social order. Cambridge, MA: Polity.
boyd, D. (2006). A blogger’s blog: Exploring the definition of a medium. Reconstruction, 6(4). Retrieved from https://www.danah.org/papers/ABloggersBlog.pdf
Castells, M. (2010). The information age: Economy, society, and culture, Vol. 1: The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Singapore, Singapore: Wiley-Blackwell.
Chua, B. H. (1995). Communitarian ideology and democracy in Singapore. New York: Routledge.
Ciarniene, R., & Kumpikaite, V. (2008). The impact of globalization on migration processes. Social Research, 3(13), 42–48.
de Certeau, M. (1984). The practice of everyday life. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Dr. Jiajia & BigBro’s Show (Producer/Director). (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/user/liangjiasun/about
George, C. (2006). Contentious journalism and the internet advantage: Democratizing public discourse in Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore, Singapore: Singapore University Press.
George, C. (2012). Freedom from the Press: Journalism and state power in Singapore. Singapore, Singapore: NUS Press.
Han, K. (2013, June 3). Singapore: Internet freedom under threat. Opinion. Aljazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/06/20136293718623124.html
Hang, T. T. (2014). Molding a rational electoral contest regime Singapore-style. In A. T. Kenyon, T. Marjoribanks, & A. Whiting (Eds.), Democracy, media, and law in Malaysia and Singapore: A space for speech (pp. 157–180). London: Routledge.
Hill, M., & Lian, K. F. (1995). The politics of nation building and citizenship in Singapore. New York: Routledge.
Ho, L. C., Sim, J. B. Y., & Alviar-Martin, T. (2011). Interrogating differentiated citizenship education: Students’ perceptions of democracy, rights, and governance in two Singapore schools. Education, Citizenship, and Social Justice, 6(3), 265–276.
Huffington Post. (2014, January 22). Anton Casey, British businessman, apologies for mocking posts about “poor people” in Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/22/singapore-poor-people_n_4644258.html
Iau et al. (1989). Report of the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts. Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts. Singapore.
Ibrahim, Y. (2012, April 23). Traditional and online media in the new normal. SG Press Centre. Retrieved from http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/micacrd/speech/S-20120423-1/AttachmentPar/0/file/Speech%20by%20Dr%20Yaacob%20Ibrahim%20at%20Singapore%20Press%20Club%20Lunch%20Talk%20on%2023%20Apr%202012.pdf
Infocomm Media Development Authority (n.d.) Internet Code of Practice. Retrieved from https://www.imda.gov.sg/~/media/imda/files/regulation%20licensing%20and%20consultations/codes%20of%20practice%20and%20guidelines/acts%20codes/19%20policiesandcontentguidelinesinternetinternecodeofpractice.pdf?la=en
Jacobson, M. (2010, January). The Singapore solution: How did a sleepy little island transform into a high-tech powerhouse in one generation? It was all in the plan. National Geographic Magazine. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2010/01/singapore/jacobson-text
Knighttjy. (2007, April 20). mrbrown: A harmless podcast [audio recording]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdSYZVdded8
Koh, A. (2005). Imagining the Singapore nation and identity: The role of the media and national education. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 25(1), 75–91.
Lim, C. (2011, May 9). How GE 2011 proved me – oh, so wonderfully! – Wrong. Catherinelim.sg: Political commentaries on Singapore. Retrieved from http://catherinelim.sg/2011/05/09/how-ge-2011-proved-me-oh-so-wonderfully-wrong
Lim, J. (2016). Political developments after the 2011 General Election. In T. Lee & K. Tan (Eds.), Change in voting: Singapore’s 2015 general election (pp. 26–44). Singapore, Singapore: Ethos Books.
Lim, S. S. (2017, March 6). Main speech by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower at Committee of Supply 2017. Ministry of Manpower. Retrieved from http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/2017/0306-main-speech-by-min-lim-at-cos-2017
Looi, B., (Producer/Director). (2014, January 24). Casey Riles SMRT Chief [Online video]. Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udyuzr_edwU
Mauzy, D. K., & Milne, R. S. (2002). Singapore politics under the People’s Action Party. London: Routledge.
McCarthy, S. (2006). The political theory of tyranny in Singapore and Burma: Aristotle and the rhetoric of benevolent despotism. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Media Literacy Council. (2012, July 30). New council to oversee cyber wellness, media literacy initiatives. Retrieved from http://www.medialiteracycouncil.sg/press-room/press-releases/Pages/new-council-to-oversee-cyber-wellness.aspx
Milroy, D. (2014, January 22). British banker: I need to wash off the stench of public transport used by the poor. Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2543851/British-businessman-married-Miss-Universe-Singapore-forced-issue-public-apology-mocking-local-people-poor.html
mrbrown. (n.d.). mrbrown. Retrieved from http://www.mrbrown.com/about.html
mrbrown (Producer/Director). (2014, January 23). The mrbrown show: Who say we smelly? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYl3Ov4Hhpg
National Population and Talent Division. (2013). A sustainable population for a dynamic Singapore: Population white paper. Singapore.
Nasir, K. M., & Turner, B. S. (2014). The future of Singapore: Population, society. And the nature of the state. London: Routledge.
Newspaper and Printing Presses Act. Singapore Statutes Online. Retrieved from http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/home.w3p
Parliament of Singapore. (2019a, June 6). Thirteenth Parliament of Singapore (Second Session). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.gov.sg/docs/default-source/composite-photos/13th-parliament-(2nd)_a1_june07r1
Parliament of Singapore. (2019b). Protection from online falsehoods and manipulation bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/protection-from-online-falsehoods-and-manipulation-bill10-2019.pdf
People’s Action Party. (2016). Our founding fathers. Retrieved from https://www.pap.org.sg/ABOUT/Founding-Leader/Content#
Rodan, G. (2004). Transparency and authoritarian rule in Southeast Asia: Singapore and Malaysia. London: Routledge.
Salleh, N. A. M. (2015, May 2). Political websites creating a buzz in Singapore. The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/political-websites-creating-a-buzz-in-singapore
SG Party (Producer/Director). (2014, January 23). Anton Casey – I’m A Wuss [Online video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQJ4-4meO8
Singapore Government (2013, June 18). What is the licensing framework for online news sites all about? Retrieved from https://www.gov.sg/factually/content/what-is-the-licensing-framework-for-online-news-sites-all-about
Spykerman, K. (2016, March 30). Islamophobia poses significant risk to Singapore: Shanmugam. Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/islamophobia-poses/2648978.html
Sreekumar, T. T., & Vadrevu, S. (2013). Subpolitics and democracy: The role of new media in the 2011 General Election in Singapore. Science, Technology, & Society, 18(2), 231–249.
Sun, S. H.-L. (2012). Population policy and reproduction in Singapore: Making future citizens. London: Routledge.
Tadeo, M. (2014, January 22). British expat banker Anton Casey causes uproar in Singapore after mocking poor people and calling a taxi driver a “retard.” The Independent. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/british-expat-anton-casey-causes-uproar-in-singapore-after-mocking-poor-people-calling-a-taxi-driver-a-retard-9077795.html#
Tan, A. (2015, March 26). Lee’s Fine City had tough laws with clean Singapore government. Bloomberg. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-25/lee-s-fine-city-had-tough-laws-with-clean-singapore-government
Tan, S. E. (2011). Harmless and hump-less political podcasts: Censorship and internet resistance in Singapore. Spring, 5(1), 39–70.
Tham, Y-C. (2019a, May 4). Law minister spells out how law on fake news will work. Straits Times.
Tham, Y-C. (2019b, June 26). Three radicalised persons dealt with under ISA. Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/three-radicalised-persons-dealt-with-under-isa
The Economist. (2009, November 12). A PR problem: Immigration becomes the hot political issue in a model city-state. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/14859345
Thio, L.-A. (2004). Rule of law within a non-liberal communitarian democracy: The Singapore experience. In R. Peerenboom (Ed.), Asian discourses of rule of law: Theories and implementation of rule of law in twelve Asian countries, France, and the US (pp. 183–224). London: Routledge.
Today. (2014, January 18). Foreigner-local relations: It takes two to tango (p. 14).
Today. (2015, May 30). NAC withdraws grant for graphic novel publisher due to sensitive content: Charlie Chan author-artist Sonny Liew expresses disappointment at decision. Retrieved from http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/national-arts-council-revokes-grant-for-graphic-novel-Sonny-Liew
Weninger, C. (2017). Media literacy education in Singapore: Connecting theory, policy, and practice. In K. Chan, K. Zhang, & A. Lee (Eds.), Multidisciplinary approaches to media literacy (pp. 399–416). Beijing, China: Communication University of China Press.
Yeo, A. (2011, May 11). 5 ways social media has impacted the Singapore General Election. TechinAsia. Retrieved from https://www.techinasia.com/social-media-singapore-general-election
Yew, L. (2016). The foreigner issue and dilution: From GE2011 to GE2015. In T. Lee & K. Tan (Eds.), Change in voting: Singapore’s 2015 General Election (pp. 104–121). Singapore, Singapore: Ethos Books.
Yong, C. (2013, October 23). Construction boom, but challenges such as manpower shortage looms. The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/construction-boom-but-challenges-such-as-manpower-shortage-loom
Youngblood, R. (1987, June 21). Stop at 2 Campaign works too well: Singapore urges new baby boom. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1987-06-21/news/mn-8983_1_baby-boom
Zaini, K. (2011, January 31). TOC Uncassetted: TOC’s strength lies in a collective heartbeat. The Online Citizen. Retrieved from http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2011/01/31/toc-uncassetted-tocs-strength-lies-in-a-collective-heartbeat
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kan, HY.K. (2020). Politics and Social Media in Singapore. In: Digital Carnivalesque. Cultural Studies and Transdisciplinarity in Education, vol 10. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2051-8_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2051-8_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-2050-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-2051-8
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)