Comparing Invisible Cities & 12 Stories & Gibson

1) What kind of dreams of the Singapore cityscape is suggested by the 2 movies?
2) To whom do these dreams belong?

In Eric Khoo “12 Stories”, on the surface the characters in the movie are dreaming of the material aspect of life (such as becoming rich, better lifestyle, fashionable), but in a deeper depth, we can sense that the characters in the movie are just seeking for immaterial wants (such as Shan Shan only wants love from her mother, the china bride seek for her real love and the brother love for his siblings).

From the movie, we can see that Eric Khoo hoped to bring out the real Singapore unique characteristics under his camera lens. The high storey HDB flats, living condition and understanding of hundred of people living under I root in different flats, the uncle and aunties 4D wealth purse. Eric Khoo major/focus his storyline on three Singapore’s life, China bridge issue, lonely spinster situation in today’s late marriage trend and Singaporean’s dreams of leading a better lifestyle.

In contrast, Tan Pin Pin’s “Invisible Cities”, the movie is neither looking for the money nor love, what the characters in the movie want is offering their story at social responsibility to the nation. It is like a historical redress for them. Officially, there has been official stories about Singapore history, now through interviews they wish to provide a ground to rethink history and our known memories. Through photographers and personal memories, it provides a gateway back to our history.

3) How are the bodies of the main protagonists in these films shaped by the spaces that they inhabit in each of the movies?
4) How do the main protagonists negotiate/project their individual personalities and dreams back onto the spaces that they inhabit?

In Eric Khoo’s “12 Stories”, there are a lot of spaces created to contain the atmosphere and create the characteristics of the respective protagonists. Firstly, at the start of the movie, we can already see that the protagonists are all staying at different levels of the HDB 12 Storey. The multiple flats with closed doors act like a multi-storey cage, separating all the other from each others lives but also ragin the respective protagonists in their own home.
Secondly, the protagonists can mostly shot in a 1-long-shot(LS). They are mostly shot in their own area of space. This seems to depict the protagonists are always reserved in their thoughts, seem like no one can enter their world. They are seldom shot in a wide shot with the other characters, such as the brother and sister together and the another and Shan Shan together, because their worlds and thinking are wide apart, despite seen to the audience they are filmed in the same room.

Despite the distinct filming editing in Eric Khoo, “Invisible Cities” editing illustrate bits and pieces of fragmented editing of the protagonists. The fragmented editing seen to tell us tat the facts the interviews told us in the film are actually the lost fragmented parts that we should piece them up on our own. Even though the editing between interviewees shows no beautiful connection, it seems to illustrate an even stronger real life side of story.

5) Do you feel as a spectator that you are able to enter the universes represented in the 2 movies?
6) Is the city represented by these 2 movies a city with which you can relate; identify? Do you feel that the cityscapes represented in the movies are representative of the Singapore city you know?

In the Eric Khoo “12 stories”, it seems like that usual routine stories that we can see around in our neighborhood and newspaper article, e.g china bridge, lonely hearts women and men. The topic that the movie covered is the important social aspect that we faced in our everyday life. After watching this film, I will realize many issues that they covered is close to Singapore society. However, I will feel that the main protagonists are all depressed about life. But, my life doesn’t seem so depressed. I am 90% almost most of the neighborhoods we see in Singapore is also pretty clean and new, unlike the retro HDB building that Eric is trying to create. The movie also depict neighbors all living under closed doors, not close to each other. But well, I feel the city the movie try to address seem to depress about most of the lifestyles. Living in Singapore is not that unhappy.

In contrast when watching “Invisible cities”, it is more difficult for me. However, it keeps me thinking throughout the film. I think about of a lot of histories that were not learnt about Chinese racial riot, photographers of old historical buildings. It is a city that no one mentions anymore in today times. The buildings all gone, the facts all erased from textbooks. However it is only from books and films that we can get back and remember the facts. Lee Kuan Yew has in fact formed a nation with history that is organized.

7) What else do the dreams of the Singapore city in each of these movies remind you of?

Eric Khoo movie reminds me that within Singapore well developed, seemingly culture nation, there can exist dysfunctional struggling to cope in a rigid and yet fast-paced society administered by harsh forms. Money, love or family may be significant to some yet insignificant to the others.

Rather in “Invisible cities”, it reminds me of a lot of anti-Singapore books that talk about the hidden truths of PAP government. It reminds of Dr. Chee Soon Juan, who had launched a number of open talks and books against PAP. Even though he was prosecuted, he dared to do what he believes on bringing the truth, just like the interviewers in the “Invisible Cities”.

8) What impressions of the Singapore cityscape are suggested by Gibson?
9) Whose kinds of impressions are these?

Basically, Gibson sees Singapore as a “Disneyland with the death penalty”. A well shaped structured nation that is too good to have its real beauty left. Singapore has too many restrictions on its citizens (such as littering). Singapore environment has been manicured into a country with no cultures, no heritage. Gibson sees Singapore as a country that sacrifice heritage for progress. Our citizens seem to be controlled by the government, especially Lee Kuan Yew. They are the big brother in action.

10) What do I think of Gibson article? Do I agree to his argument?

I think Gibson article is too self-centered. There are neither other foreigners nor tourists being interviewed. No local Singaporeans were allowed for their opinions as well. It seems like Gibson sees no need for debate. I am somehow criticism. I feel that he is critical of his articles. Why did he pick Singapore to be topic of criticism? I feel that he is critical of Singapore because he is envy of our nation international success despite our small demographic size. Even though, I think he is May too arrogant, I have to admit what he points out are rather true, but too critical. True enough, our citizens abide to the government rules and regulations, but that is also because the scheme set out for us is beneficial for us. The government introduced CPF scheme, ERP, law regulations against littering, splitting etc. at least these government interventions help Singapore shape our environment progress better than other countries.

11) How so the 3(2 films and Gibson article) relate to each other?

Topics tat “Invisible Cities” covered on was
 Heritage buildings were lost to progress to make space for housing and commercial use
 Truth of social progress was covered by the government.

Watching “12 stories” provide many interesting insights. One of the protagonists is a model citizen. He is just like the typical individual in Singapore, who always talks about following the standard procedure to succeed in Singapore, such as study hard, get a good job, find a good life partner and get married. Moreover, it also shows Singapore government even has to act, as the big brother to educate and guide the citizens at every step of life, even the moral of not peeing in the HDB life has to be done under the regulation of the government. That is the 2 main reasons why gibbons feel that Singaporeans are too manipulated by government about the social truth and the government decisions. We are shaped by the government to follow only their directions.

12) What do you think about Gibson’s implicit comparison with Hong Kong? Does this comparison resonate with either of the movies? Does this comparison work for you?

In Gibson perspective, Singapore is one country which tears and destroys any of its ugly embarrassing truth in returning of creating a progressive, cultural society. He actually looks down on Singapore for this part. He salivate Hong Kong for tolerating all this unsightly culture and accepting their roots and culture progress as well.

These enough, Hong Kong is one rare country which is a first world country, yet keeps its second world country street behavior. But it is due to this rareness that makes Hong Kong one of the top financial centres in Asia, yet is also one of the most likeable traveling countries for photographers and tourists.
If we are to look at the environment and neighborhoods we live in, we will not be able to find much roots to any history. Everywhere in Singapore is way too clean and manicured. But from “12 stories”, we can see that Eric Khoo captures grittier, less sanitized images of Singapore’s underbelly that contrast with the projected images of tourism hungry Singapore. However similar to Hong Kong, there was aesthetics beauty found into the dilapidated back alley and crumbling old buildings.

Thinking about it, if we also try to retain more of our China heritage or other heritage over the years, Singapore might not even need Integrated Resorts and Casinos to attract tourist. Our 4 racial cultures certainly could contribute to more tremendous dramatic contrast of street beauty better then Hong Kong and other countries.

13) What do you think in retrospect – 2009 about Gibson 1990’s speculations about the significances of the internet? (The signification of cyber cultures to the ways in which Singapore operate, to the interactions between the bodies of Singaporeans and the cities through which they dram their lives?

In 1990s, Gibson had predicted that Singaporean being a “mode citizen” will certainly not try to exploit the best uses and ugly sexuality side of internet. The feels that we Singaporeans might even choose to turn away as far away from internet as we could, just because in his eyes, Singaporeans are the “good boy” lots who always heed our Big brother advice and stay out of trouble. But apparently, Gibson is very wrong. Not only does most Singaporean know how to use the internet, we can use it well and even play it around our fingers. Singapore serves to have the 1st world stuffs. Computerized immigration passport system, Ez-link to use got transport, payment and even ERP system are all adopted by Gibson’s “good boy” representatives, Singaporeans.
Even Gibson agrees that we are good, really impressed by our evident willingness to view such technology with the most utmost seriousness.