Citizen Historian Updated! (Dec 2007 / Jan 2008)
Dear subscribers, friends and history enthusiasts
We have update citizen historian for Dec 2007 / Jan 2008 with six new
articles:
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A Singapore History Proposal
Four are selected essays written for an assignment set for a Singapore
Studies class in NUS – SSA2211 Evolution of a Global City-State (currently
lectured by Chua Ai Lin and Kwa Chong Guan):
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Question / Scenario
The aim of this assignment is to think about the possibilities of how the
history of Singapore can be told, and decide on a storyline for
Singapore’s history which you think is most appropriate.
You are a student of Singapore history. A foreign television producer from
The History Channel contacts you and says that she is making a documentary
on Singapore’s history, and would like your advice on how to approach the
subject in a meaningful and interesting way.
Write an essay of 800-1000 words, explaining your proposal for the
documentary. What would be the main plot of the script? Which time
periods, events, individuals, themes, issues etc. would you choose to
highlight? Explain the reasoning behind your choices.
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First up is Lim Shu Hui’s concept of observing two groups of students
taking a history-class journey. Contrasting her experiences in secondary
school and NUS, she suggests a new way of introducing Singapore history to
students.
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/a-singapore-history-proposal-singaporeducation/
Second, in suggesting a documentary focusing on one of Singapore’s early
politicians, Ivan Toh argues for a more even-handed understanding of the
historical context of pre-1965 Singapore to better appreciate the persona
and actions of Lim Chin Siong.
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/a-singapore-history-proposal-lim-chin-siong/
Third, Janice Tan proposes a more personal yet not unfamiliar concept at
looking at Singapore history. Familiar because our parents, their parents,
and their parent’s parents would almost have first encountered Singapore
in similar fashion…
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/a-singapore-history-proposal-where-we-came-from/
Fourth, Shiela Winata discusses the benefits of multiple perspectives in
her proposed concept, so as to provide a more balanced account of the
past. There is no one “right” version of history, only layers waiting to
be uncovered…
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/a-singapore-history-proposal-diverse-perspectives/
Invisible City
Keeping with the theme of documentaries, Ho Chi Tim looks at how aspects
of Tan Pin Pin’s Invisible City can refresh conventional approaches to
thinking and writing history.
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/experiencing-invisible-city/
Book Review – 10-Stories: Queenstown Through The Years
In his first contribution, Loh Kah Seng provides a review of the
recently-published 10-Stories: Queenstown Through The Years, a book that
looks at the development of Singapore’s pioneer suburb.
http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/review-10-stories-queenstown/
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We will be updating again before the end of January. We hope you enjoy
reading the articles. Please feel free to comment or feedback on the
articles or on citizen historian in general.
Have a great New Year ahead! Many thanks for taking the time!
Chi Tim
for the Editors, citizen historian