10. Role Of Media In 2008 American Elections: Friend Or Foe?

Sarah Palin's October 18, 2008 guest appearance on ‘‘Saturday Night Live" was a huge hit. Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American sketch comedy/variety show based in New York City, which features a regular cast of typically up-and-coming comic actors, joined by a guest host and musical act.

This video was all over the news after it's broadcast and I felt like it tells us a lot about the role of media in politics, especially in the 2008 American Elections.

Enjoy :)

9. Culture As A Commodity?

The Pussycat Dolls wore black Saris by designer Rocky S at the Conde Nast Media Group's 5th Annual Fashion Rocks benefit on September 5, 2008.

8. Intercultural Communication: The Middle East

From Bahrain to Beirut, the Middle East spans from Asia to Africa, consists of 22 countries (who are also part of the Arab League), is also the historical origin of three of the world’s major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and represents a myriad of cultures, languages, history, art and architecture. Though always considered strategically, economically, geopolitically, culturally, religiously and historically significant, the Middle East exploded into mainstream news media (and also into our vernacular) after the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the invasion of Afghanistan shortly after, and Iraq in 2003. With all these political developments and attention being paid to the region (kudos also to the oil industry), the Middle East has become a "hot" topic of discussion, and unfortunately, the people too are not spared.

Though on good terms with the West, do their differences reflect a "clash of civilizations"? In this blog entry, I will be doing a case study of the Middle East and intend to debunk stereotypes of the their people, culture, values and religion, as I feel that these stereotypes act as attitudinal barriers to intercultural communication, and do not promote proper dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.

Since September 11, people from the Middle East have been stereotyped in the mass media (specifically in the West), and this has exacerbated the prevalence of negative social attitudes
towards Arabs and people of Middle Eastern origin. Here are some common stereotypes:

Stereotype #1: The Middle East is one big sandy desert with lots of camels, populated by men in turbans and long white robes, women in black with their faces covered, men waving long curved swords, etc.

Debunked: Air-conditioned super-malls, designer labels, shiny new Hummers, valet parking and trendy nightclubs are part of living in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait and Israel. Though, deserts are common due to the arid weather, areas with inhabitants are equipped with the necessary living essentials.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Stereotype #2: "Arab" and "Muslim" refer to the same people.

Debunked: Arabs are people who speak Arabic as a native language and identify themselves as Arabs; Muslims are those who practice the religion of Islam.
Many Arabs are not Muslims, and not all Muslims are Arabs. More than a billion people in the world are Muslims, but fewer than 15 percent of Muslims are Arabs. The Middle East is very diverse in terms of religion, as close to half of Lebanon's population includes Christian Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants and large Christian communities also exist in Egypt, Syria, and Israel. Judaism (Israel) and Zoroastrianism (Iran) are also practiced in the region.

The women of the Middle East

Popular Lebanese Singer, Haifa Wehbe

Benazir Bhutto

Stereotype #3:

Women are oppressed and all of them have to wear the veil.

Debunked:

In Amman (Jordan), women hold important government jobs, drive, vote, and study. In many Middle Eastern countries, laws allow women to vote, work outside the home, and even run for office. Though, in some countries, custom and practice may not always be as liberal as the law allows. It all depends on the role and interpretation of religion in society and government, and to what extent theocracy plays a role in day to day life. In countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, the veil (burqa or hijab) is enforced, though not in countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and Israel.

Queen Rania of Jordan (Pictured above and below)

These stereotypes have been perpetuated by the media, and can be seen in Hollywood films, and also in a lot of Western news media. Coupled with 9/11 tensions, Arabs and others who hail from the Middle East (or those who look Middle Eastern, but are not of Middle Eastern descent, in terms of ethnicity or nationality) have been targeted, harassed and discriminated against in the United States and other parts of the world. This has led to poorer relations between the United States and countries in the Middle East, and with little cultural knowledge and understanding of the Arab region, it is hard to avoid miscommunication. Furthermore, in the highly collectivist Middle East, cultural norms and values differ from country to country.

7. Communication In Relationships: Britney's 'Womanizer'

In this entry, I will be discussing communication in relationships and will be referring to Knapp’s Model of Relational Development. For my media text this week, I decided to choose the music video, 'Womanizer' by singer Britney Spears, as I want to look at how relationships are being portrayed in music videos shown on television, online, etc. Plus, I decided to use this music video as a reference, as I thought it would be interesting to analyse an American point of view, in regards to communication in relationships.

Britney Spears first took the world by storm, when she released her debut album in 1999. This single was released to radio stations on September 26, 2008 and the video premiered online only a few hours ago. I also chose this clip, as it does not just revolve around sex, but explores relationships and communication between lovers.

In my opinion, I feel that the relationship between Britney Spears and the male lead (played by Brandon Stoughton), proves that the stages of Knapp’s Model are not linear, and that sometimes, people in relationships might want to take a step back, and as a result, this might cause the relationship to regress to a previous stage or skip a stage.

In reference to the music video, at the beginning; Britney and her boyfriend is featured in a plush New York apartment, which is equipped with a sauna, and we can see her lying down, while her boyfriend is having a shower in the background. In the next scene, we see her serving breakfast to her boyfriend in the kitchen. Thus, this shows that they are in Stage 3 of the "Coming Together" stages, as they are portrayed living together, and this shows a sense of increased commitment, awareness and participation in the relationship. Obviously, they have passed the Initiating and Experimenting stages, as they look pretty comfortable with one another. She is serving him breakfast in her lingerie, while he's checking his schedule for the day. This shows a certain amount of relational identity, disclosure of feelings to the other party; due to their proximity, and physical contact which shows a significant amount of intimacy.

Then, in the next scene, Britney is seen in her boyfriend's office, incognito, perhaps to test and see how far he will go when faced with temptation with the "secretary". He "checks" her out and actively pursues her, thus indicating Stage 1 of the "Coming Together" stages, Initiating, though she rejects his advances and pushes him away while singing, "Boy don't try to front, I know just what you are-are-are".

Her actions are semi-violent, she physically pushes, kicks and slaps him, though ironically, her actions unnervingly motivates him to continue with the chase. Though, this shows a strong sense of differentiation from her side, thus indicating Stage 6 of the "Coming Apart" stages, Differentiating. She pushes his hands away, reaffirming her individuality and refuses to encourage his advances. In the next scene at the bar, she continues to tempt him, though keeping him at a distance. Here, she dances around him, calling him a "Womanizer"and I feel that this reflects her just 'going through the motions of the relationship'. She continues to tease and taunt him, though he revels in it, to her chagrin.

As his driver, she tries to scare him by driving nonchalantly, thus indicating Stage 9 of the "Coming Apart" stages, Avoiding. Here, she seems sure of the outcome of the relationship and tries to give him a hint. In the last scene, she confronts him violently, by shoving him on the bed and kicking him around, until she changes her bedspread, and an empty bed appears, indicating Stage 10 of the "Coming Apart" stages, Terminating.

Thus, I do feel that Knapp’s Model is based on typical behaviours seen in a relationship, and assumptions based on society's interpretation of the motives that drive and define relationships. Not everyone's perception of initiating and experimenting would mirror that described in Knapp’s Model. Some people might initiate or experiment with sex, as opposed to waiting till the intensifying or integrating stage. Others might want to wait till marriage to explore physical intimacy with their partner.

Plus, the “Coming Together” stages are based on society's perception of relationships, that they all lead to marriage or a family. However, not everyone might view their relationship in this manner. Like Britney featured in the video, some might be satisfied with just dating and living with their significant other. In conclusion, the video shows that relationships may regress to a previous stage or skip a stage.

6. Good Examples Of Agenda Pushing: Sexvertising?

The eye wear advertisement featured below for Tom Ford Sunglasses, from the risqué designer Tom Ford; was banned earlier this year by Italy’s advertising watchdogs, the Institute for Advertising Self-Discipline (IAP), for being “vulgar”, “beyond bad taste” and "offending the sensibilities of viewers" and The Italian Advertising Institute (IAA); which labeled it as “sexually implicit”. “[It] goes beyond acceptable limits for advertising aimed at the general public”, says the institute.

However, the Tom Ford perfume advertisements(http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scentedsalamander/2007/08/new_ose_advertising_for_tom_fo.html) used in the United States of America were not censored or banned. (I decided not to feature the American advertisements on my blog, as I did not want to offend anyone or push the buttons too far, however, the link featured above would enlighten you. Viewer discretion is advised).

Generally, Europe is viewed as the continent that exhibits the most liberal attitudes toward sexuality and sexual behavior, and is more tolerant in regards to the display of sexual content in the media and society, while the United States, though liberal in many aspects, was founded on a religious foundation, and is considered more conservative (some use the term prudish or puritanical, recap Janet Jackson's Super Bowl controversy in February 2004) in terms of attitudes towards sex. Thus, I find it ironic that these advertisements were banned in Italy, though published widely in the United States.

However, Italy (where 87.8% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholic) differentiates itself from other European countries by displaying a mixture of modernity and tradition, all fused into its society and culture. The church (including the Vatican) wields a lot of power socially and to a certain extent; politically, in regards to Italian society. Thus, anything deemed too provocative or risqué could be banned or censored by the Italian authorities. This shows that within their culture, paradoxes exist, as Milan is regarded as the fashion capital of the world, and Italy has also produced the world's best in visual art, literature, music, theatre and architecture, and all these cultural spheres encourage freedom of expression and, to a certain extent, sexuality. Furthermore, Ilona Staller, a former Italian porn-star, who became famous around the world for flashing her breasts in public, was even elected to the Italian parliament in 1987 with 20,000 votes!

In conclusion, culture tells us a lot about who we are, what groups we belong to and how we live our lives. In this case, it dictates where to draw the line, reflects the value system of Italy, as well as influences and interprets behavior. In terms of the continent, European culture is dynamic and multifaceted, as identities tend to overlap. These different identities result in different cultural norms and values across the continent. Thus, stereotyping and assuming similarity would jeopardize intercultural communication. I will end this entry with a quote from Ms. Ilona Staller (former porn-star and member of Italian parliament):

"I am here not showing my breasts. Now, I am speaking about poor people so it is not necessary -- not because I don't have beautiful breasts ... even now. But it's not necessary showing because poor people have no interest in my breasts."

(Staller, once a member of the Italian Parliament, campaigning for the common folk in Hungary in 2002).

5. Non-Verbal Communication: Levi's 501 Jeans

This entry will be looking at the use of non-verbal communication in the new Levi's 501 Jeans television commercial. As I was pondering about which media text to choose, I sieved through quite a few advertisements, both television and print, and realized that a lot of television commercials use non-verbal communication to convey their message, in a bid to communicate with the audience and promote their products. The only difference is that, some are more effective than others. I saw this advertisement on television last week and decided to use it for my blog entry, as it is a good example of the use of non-verbal communication in television advertising. Plus, due to it's risque' plot and sexual connotations, certain groups in the United States have spoken out against the advertising campaign; http://www.nationalcoalition.org/liveunbuttoned.asp (National Coalition For The Protection Of Children & Families), terming it as too 'sexually suggestive', 'blatant sexualized marketing', and encouraging 'a moral philosophy of sexuality' among the youth. The advertising campaign has sparked a lot of controversy worldwide, and that is also another reason why I am featuring it in my blog.

(Of course, I also chose this advertisement, as it’s different, cool, the music is something that I would totally listen to, the models look good and it looks edgy and provocative. I am a sucker for good-looking people in nicely-done television commercials. Who isn’t?)

The campaign launched a month ago, entitled 'Live Unbuttoned', is the Levi's brand's first integrated global campaign, the biggest marketing program the brand has ever undertaken, and spans TV commercials, print and outdoor ads, public relations, retail windows set-ups, etc. Though, for my blog entry, I will only be analyzing one of the television commercials used in the campaign.

The theme of the 'Live Unbuttoned' campaign centers on the experience of "unbuttoning" yourself and breaking free from inhibitions and convention, urging the wearer to live and adopt a carefree lifestyle and attitude. The campaign utilizes the act of "unbuttoning" Levi's jeans as a symbol of personal expression, revelation and evokes the "unrestrained, free-spirited and self-expressive attitude". So, apparently, if you live unbuttoned, you’re invincible.

As part of the "Live Unbuttoned" campaign, Levi's has also launched a website where users can digitally "unbutton" artists (music to pop culture to sports), revealing their inner truths and encouraging all people to "unbutton" their inner artist and enjoy freedom of expression. The site features music artists such as, Estelle, Nikka Costa, etc. I feel that this approach of using new communication technologies adopts the interactive model of communication, and thus allows the receiver to be an active participant in the communication process.

Moving on, the commercial totally relies on non-verbal cues (and to a lesser extent, verbal communication). Although the characters speak during the 1 minute of interaction, a lot is conveyed via their facial expressions, body language, movements and the music that is played throughout the commercial. Thus, the non-verbal cues used are extremely influential in our perception forming process, as it contains intentional symbolic behaviour. In terms of channel, there is simultaneous use of non-verbal cues, in tandem with verbal communication. This can be seen at the end, when the commercial showcases the brand name, Levi's and the tag line "Live Unbuttoned". Thus, in this context, the verbal message "Live Unbuttoned" is used to complement and accentuate the non-verbal cues, by re-instating the functions of the product: that it allows you to meet the person of your dreams, to look 'cool', etc and by conveying relational information, such as the company’s tag line. The music also helps to regulate our reaction to the commercial, as the pauses coincide with the movements of the characters. Thus, it is used to convey emotion.

Now, let us look at the various types of non-verbal communication used in this commercial:

1. Kinesics - In my opinion, kinesics or body movement is the main form of non-verbal communication used in this commercial. From the very beginning itself, we see both of them hugging, flirting, and touching each other. Then, the female character pushes the male lead away, in a coy and suggestive manner, indicating that the flirtation would resume, but only on her terms. Then, she walks up the stairs and unbuckles. As the commercial progresses, the sexual tension between the both of them increases by the use of affect displays, and their body language shows that they are both heavily attracted to each other, and of course their actions show that they are willing to take risks and live "unbuttoned", and this is further emphasized when the female lead states, "this isn't my apartment".

2. Paralinguistics - In this commercial, from the very beginning, the sound helps to establish the environment, directs our focus to their behavior and the music evokes a serene, casual atmosphere. The song is easy to listen to; with it's gentle guitar strumming, thus indicating the metaphorical ease and carefree nature of youth. The conversation between the two characters is casual and personal, as they confess to a series of white lies. Lastly, their breathing noises at 00:37 and from 00:43 onwards evokes sensuality, passion, a rush and excitement.

3. Oculesics - Eye contact between the characters help to convey tension and emotion, and this can be seen throughout the commercial; specifically when the female lead holds the male lead. Lust can also be seen at 00:36-00:50, when the camera focuses on the eyes of both of them and when the male lead gives off a look of content.

4. Haptics - The use of touch is also very significant in this commercial. This can be tied to the point of sexual tension that I mentioned above. As the commercial progresses, the perception of liking between the both of them increases, but they still carry on with the flirtation. From 00:36 onwards, they seem to get intimately closer and the sexual tension between them can be seen in their proximity.

As much as there are other non-verbal cues such as chronemics, proxemics and physical appearance that can be discussed, I decided to focus on the ones mentioned above. Plus, I did not want to analyse the commercial too much, and spoil it for everyone. I like this commercial for its provocative and raw appeal.

4. Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Under Barack Obama (Rihanna's Umbrella Parody)

I found this video extremely entertaining and a good example of verbal and non-verbal communication used to express humour. This video was aired on the American sketch comedy television series, MADtv on 24 November 2007. Firstly, I found it ingenious, with the fusion of the concept of Rihanna's Umbrella video and the incorporation of both the Democratic Presidential candidates. Secondly, it is insanely hilarious (if you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? *winks*) Not only are their impersonations almost perfect and spot-on, the lyrics of the song is insane, risqué and drenched with wit and perfect comic timing. Additionally, the excessive use of sexual innuendos is extremely entertaining. Don't we all enjoy a bit of bawdy humour once in a while?

The writers of the song must have spent a lot of time trying to fit the right words into Rihanna's Umbrella, and I suppose the actors also had to put a lot of emphasis on their non-verbal cues, such as oculesics (the 'Barack' in the video has an extremely cheeky glint in his eyes), haptics (I don't think I need to explain this aspect right? *winks*), proxemics (with their 'extremely' close proximity in the video, it is hard to take them seriously!) and lastly, their physical appearance. The actors look somewhat similar to their real counterparts, kudos to the use of costumes, make-up, expressions and voice-impersonation.

My favourite aspect of this video is the pun used in the song's title: Under Barack Obama. It could be referring to being under him, as a President and being led by his administration, and also literally being 'under him'.

Enjoy :)

3. Verbal Communication - Hip-Hop Lingo & Culture

For my entry this week, I am going to refer to the lyrics of a song (that topped the American Billboard Charts two weeks ago and is still currently at #1 on the charts) in relation to verbal communication. Specifically, this entry is going to explore the language used in Hip-Hop culture, what it represents and how it has affected (and is still affecting) mainstream communication, media and culture. Hip-Hop has always been regarded as a sub-culture, where external elements such as beat-boxing, hip-hop fashion and hip-hop slang have derived from.

Beat-boxing by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland

Hip-Hop fashion line by rapper Jay-Z called Rocawear

However, nowadays, Hip-Hip culture (which consists of music, movies, dance, fashion, DJ-ing, beat-boxing, break-dancing, graffiti art, rap and Hip-Hop lingo), is considered more of a mainstream phenomenon, as opposed to a mere underground movement. Though the movement started out in the United States, Hip-Hop music and culture has crossed social and ethnic barriers and has spread to all other parts of the world.

One of the main reasons why I decided to focus on Hip-Hop culture this week (apart from being a fan of Hip-Hop and Rap music myself) was due to all the recent endorsements of Hip-Hop musicians by the fashion industry. Many big fashion labels and departmental stores have approached famous Hip-Hop artists such as, Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, to design their own clothing lines and thus, establish their own fashion labels. Adidas has been using Missy Elliott as their spokesperson for the past few years. She signed a deal to launch her own line called, Respect M.E. Rapper Jay-Z also has his own fashion line, Rocawear, which has annual sales of over $700 million. Thus, the Hip-Hop genre provides a huge profitable market for companies and business organizations to tap into.

Plus, lately, local television programmes on Channel 5, Channel NewsAsia and even media texts such as, The Straits Times newspapers, and numerous local magazines have incorporated Hip-Hop lingo into their vernacular. It is common to hear reporters in the news use terms like "bling", "phat", "dis" and "crib". This shows that Hip-Hop lingo is now very commercialised and is being used (in the context of Singapore) to appeal to a younger audience.

Language and words help to convey ideas, opinions, thoughts, emotions and influences the way we think. In terms of Hip-Hop, a lot of the influence on language has come from rapping, also known as the delivery of rhymes in rhythm. The quick repetition of repartee' and speech resulted in people incorporating the style of rap, into verbal communication. Rap has got American Blues, Jazz, West-African and Caribbean-style DJ'ing roots. This can be seen in the Jamaican, reggae, and dancehall influences in today's Hip-Hop music and lingo.

Historically, Hip-Hop emerged as a cultural movement in America in the 1960's and 1970's among the urban youth in New York (Bronx), Miami and California. As Rap was associated with gangs and crime, Hip-Hop emerged as a conscious alternative to violence. The White population had their Rock 'N' Roll, and the middle and upper class Black communities were into Jazz and Blues. Thus, Hip-Hop was embraced by the poorer Black and Hispanic communities and they used it to express their views about society, their social status and issues like race and gender. That is why Hip-Hop artists use expletives to express themselves in their music, as that is how they want to talk about their problems; without any restrictions or censorship, as that defines their reality and represents the "raw" aspect of their culture and socialisation. Thus, Hip-Hop lingo is viewed as a symbol of freedom and identity.

In terms of the properties of Hip-Hop, the language in the genre has a very unique and distinctive slang. Compared to other musical spheres, such as Rock, Pop, Alternative, Indie, Classical and Jazz, where the language used is predominantly mainstream vernacular, Hip-Hop has its own system of symbols. The phonemes or pronunciation of words are usually similar to mainstream English, but spelt differently. For example, "phat" is pronounced just like "fat". Plus, the semantics or meaning of words used in Hip-Hop usually differ from mainstream English. "Hood" does not literally refer to a hood, but to a neighbourhood. "Holla" (sometimes spelt as "holler"), is used to say goodbye and end a conversation. In T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" (featured below), he mentions "ice", which actually means "jewelry". Though both words might seem totally unrelated, there is a cultural connection. The rise of such slang and jargon could be attributed to their need to establish their own way of communication and the difference in the meaning of words would also represent the different socialisation and experiences of the African-Americans in the 1970's and 1980's, as Hip-Hop was emerging.

In terms of the impact of Hip-Hop, the language used tend to propagate a particular lifestyle and culture, filled with power, money, respect, sex and drugs. Thus, a lot of the terminology used in Hip-Hop culture is symbolic, in its affiliation to success and power. In reference to the lyrics indicated below, the title itself "Whatever You Like", reflects abundance. Plus, the song talks about taking shopping trips, mentions a "five million dollar home", "Bentley" and T.I. (whose real name is Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.) also professes to having his own private jet. The whole song talks about living the high life, like a billionaire and being spoilt with extravagances (Bentley, stacks on deck; referring to money, ice; referring to jewelry, vacations in the tropics, etc).

Many Hip-Hop artists rave about money and power, due to the fact that they grew up poor and on the streets. Thus, now that they finally have the recognition and means, they feel that they have the right to enjoy and flaunt it. Nevertheless, a lot of Hip-Hop artists portray a persona in their music and videos, but in reality live a much simpler and less glamorous life. The persona acts as a form of artistic freedom and expression. This can be seen in the use of nicknames, such as T.I., Lil' Kim, Lil' Jon, Lil' Bow Wow, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco and Ms. Dynamite in Hip-Hop music.

In terms of language-based barriers to communication, Hip-Hop jargon is still not understood by everyone, and only those who listen to the music and expose themselves to the culture, would be aware of the slang.

The song featured below, "Whatever You Like" is from T.I.'s #1 album, Paper Trail, which was released earlier this month:

Whatever You Like

I said you could have whatever you like (you like),

I said you could have whatever you like (you like),

Yeah.

[Chorus:]

Stacks on deck,

Patron' on ice,

And we can pop bottles all night,

Baby you could have whatever you like (you like),

I said you could have whatever you like (you like),

Yeah.

Late night s**, so w**, you're so t****.

I'll gas up the jet for you tonight,

Baby you could go where ever you like (you like),

I said you could go where ever you like (you like),

Yeah.

[Verse 1:]

Anytime you want to pick up the telephone,

You know it ain't nothin to drop a couple stacks on you,

Wanted you could get it my dear,

Five million dollar home, drop Bentley's I swear.

Yeah I want'cho body, I need yo body,

Long as you got me, you won't need nobody.

You want it I got it, go get it I buy it,

Tell'em other broke n***** be quiet.

[Repeat Chorus:]

[Verse 2:]

Shawty you da hottest, love the way you drop it,

Brain so good (good) swore you went to college,

Hundred can't deposit, vacations hit the tropics,

Cause errbody know it ain't trickin' if ya got it.

Ya need to never ever gotta go to yo wallet,

Long as I got rubberband banks in my pocket,

Five six, rides with rims and a pocket kit,

Ya ain't gotta downgrade you can get what I get.

My chick could have what she want,

And go in any store for any bag she want,

And know she ain't never had a man like that,

To buy you anything ya heart desire like that.

Yeah I want'cho body, I need yo body,

Long as you got me you won't need nobody,

You want it I got it, go get it I buy it,

Tell'em other broke n***** be quiet.

[Repeat Chorus:]

[Verse 3:]

I'm talkin' big boy rides,

And big boy ice,

Let me put this big boy in yo life,

The thang get so w**, it hit so right,

Let me put this big boy in yo life,

That's right.

Yeah I want'cho body, I need yo body,

Long as you got me you won't need nobody,

You want it I got it, go get it I buy it,

Tell'em other broke n***** be quiet.

[Repeat Chorus:]

Flowers By The Roads Of Kabul

Hmmmmm, I’m not sure what to analyze for my next blog entry. I have already done a reflection and an analysis of a postcard, perhaps I should analyze a song, music video or drama programme?

Choices, choices… Grrrr.

2. Our Perception: AIDS In Singapore

For my entry this week, I have decided to analyse a postcard distributed by the Action For AIDS Organisation in Singapore. Action For Aids (AfA) is a voluntary community-based organisation, that also acts as a charity. It is also a member of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). The AfA usually distributes postcards about HIV testing, safe-sex practices, and general information about sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) at public events, such as fund raisers and on their website at http://www.afa.org.sg/. This postcard was printed about 4-5 years ago, but is currently still being used on their website to promote safe-sex practices.

I was looking through a pile of postcards, when I came across the one featured above and decided to use it for my blog entry analysis, as I felt that I had a lot to write about in terms of perception and human communication. To be honest, I deliberated for quite a while over the postcard, as I was not sure if the content was too provocative or risque’ to be used on my blog. However, the fact that I deliberated over it and even asked my friends for their opinions, convinced me even more that I should use it, as it made me realize that I myself had formed perceptions over it.

My first impression of the postcard was the message. It was in contrast to the surroundings, and I found the pun on the “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil” proverb ingenious. Most people would get the indirect message of the postcard, which is “Spread No AIDS”. I found the use of this proverb in this context extremely apt, as it has intensity due to the fact that it is widely known, and this would increase the probability of people getting the message, thus fulfilling the AfA’s aim to educate Singaporeans about HIV and AIDS.

It was only after a few seconds, that I realized that there were only men displayed on the postcard. It was only then, when I started to deliberate about using it for my blog. Due to the frequency of the men displayed nude on the postcard, I felt that the AfA was solely targeting a homosexual audience and as a result, committing the error of oversimplification, as it was only addressing one spectrum of society. Plus, by only putting men on the agenda, the perceptual error of omission was also committed, as it gives the impression that women do not suffer from HIV or AIDS. There is also distortion, as it perpetuates an erroneous impression that the majority of HIV/AIDS patients are homosexuals.

The main cause for my deliberation was the schema in my framework, which made me think of the governments’ stance towards homosexuality. This postcard was disseminated in public, and the organisation has certain ties with the government. Thus, to a certain extent, it appears to undercut the governments’ stance, as it acknowledges the homosexual presence in society.

Then, I decided to look at the message printed behind the postcard:

Based on the above caption, the postcard is trying to draw awareness towards the discrimination of HIV-positive people. If that’s the case, then the picture could be interpreted from an entirely different point of view. The “Spread No Evil” message could be referring to discrimination, not HIV/AIDS. The men could have been displayed purely for emphasis and to grab peoples’ attention. The nudity could be reflective of humanity’s vulnerability to this epidemic. Thus, it can be argued that it does not subvert the governments’ stance. As a result, I feel that there is subjectivity of interpretation in relation to the motives of this postcard. I also feel that the ambiguity of this postcard was deliberate, so as to grab the attention of the public.

It is hard for me to disregard my first impression, and thus I still do feel that the message is referring to AIDS, due to the use of the AIDS symbol in the “No” part of the message and the way the postcard is portrayed. Thus, if it is targeted towards a gay audience, it tells us a lot about how society views homosexuals in relation to HIV/AIDS in Singapore. Statistically, the percentage of HIV cases among heterosexuals in 2006 and 2007 constituted to about 65% (statistics from the Ministry of Health website, http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/statistics.aspx?id=246#table1) of all cases in Singapore. In my opinion, the postcard reflects an attribution error.

Furthermore, I can conclude that the postcard is perpetuating a personal construct of gay men, that they are all muscular, fit and thus concerned about their appearance. I can also say that, as much as the postcard has good intentions, it is propagating a stereotypical point of view in regards to gay men. This could lead to people being very judgemental towards muscular men, and also pressurise gay men to feel the need to live up to a certain ideal.

Lastly, I also observed the use of an organisational principle, figure and ground, on the postcard. Although the message is strategically placed in the middle, the picture takes up the whole postcard, and thus exerts a considerable influence on our perception.

From Bangkok, With Love

I miss Bangkok so much! The last time I visited the city, was in late May; earlier this year, and I had such a good time. I miss coming out from Suvarnabhumi Airport and looking at all the buildings - the ones half-complete, dilapidated, in contrast to the sprawling sky-scrapers in view. I miss the street-food, friendly shop-vendors at Chatuchak and Suan-Lum Night Bazaar, the bourgeois Siam-Discovery Mall and Central and of course the high ceilings of Siam-Paragon. I loved the basement, where the Vietnamese soft rolls and fried rolls are sold for 85 baht. And of course, paying homage to the temple, Zara, on the 3rd or 4th floor. I miss the clubbing, Patpong, Siam Square - Dunkin’ Doughnuts and the orange juice from the street vendors! I miss getting great deals and cool gifts for my friends and family….. *groan*

Darn, I miss Bangkok so much. Krungtheb sanuk-dee!

1. Stereotypes: Perception or Reality?

In this increasingly globalized, inter-connected, ever-changing world, time has become a priceless commodity, that we are constantly trying to find new ways, gadgets, etc, to minimise and save time. Personally, I feel that we have become so obsessed with saving time, that we apply the same strategies we use when doing our work or school assignments, to when meeting or judging people. With wireless, home-delivery, Speedpost, MSN, SMS, MMS, credit card bookings, and the countless number of technological innovations that are available out there to give us what we want, and when we want it, we have become a "me" generation. And with that, the exacerbation of stereotypes.

In this first entry, I decided to write a personal reflection, as I felt that the content regarding perception and communication that was covered last week is very relevant to countless of my personal experiences. I will also be looking at stereotypes in Singapore from a social constructionist perspective. I realized that in Singapore, we are extremely judgemental and stereotypical, which is ironic, considering the fact that we represent an amalgamation of cultures, influences, languages and views. With such diversity, you would expect less stereotypical perceptions and categorization. However, with the country working by the second, time is precious. This is reflected by the people who shove on the trains, and are constantly on the look-out for a seat, and by those who are constantly running for buses, taxis, etc.

In Singapore, the mass media, our society and our education system contributes to our influences of selection. All these form our social network, and thus contributes to our preferences, beliefs, value systems, and stereotypes. As a result, the conversations I have had with people have given me insights to their perceptions and stereotypes, and in many instances, even I was the subject of controversy:

A: Your name is Steve Andre? Are you Catholic?
S: Hmmmm, no.
A: But you have a middle name?
S: You can have a middle name and not be Catholic or Christian right?

J: Are you Singaporean?
S: Yes.
J: But you don't sound like one...?
S: Ermmm... how is a Singaporean supposed to sound?
J: I don't know... you have an accent..
S: Oh... you mean, I don't speak in Singlish!

R: What are you?
S: Erm.. human?
R: No, what's your race?
S: Human race?
R: Seriously la.. are you Malay, Chinese or Indian?
S: Oh.. you mean ethnic group or heritage? Well, I have Indian and Chinese heritage..
R: Oh... Do you have a Chinese name?
S: No....

D: Oh, are you fasting?
S: No. Why would I?
D: I don't know.. all my other Muslim friends are fasting..
S: I'm not Muslim..
D: Oh.. I thought you are Malay...

Those are just snippets of conversations I have had with people in Singapore. I realized that we have become so accustomed to categorizing people into the categories of Malay, Chinese, Indian or Others, that we immediately associate people to a particular ethnic group if we see any resemblance, in terms of outward appearance or behaviour in reference to our preconceived notion of the individual ethnic groups. From a name, people like to see what ethnic group you belong to, and from there, religion, and then; economic background. From the way you talk, people here also draw conclusions on whether you are a Singaporean, or judge your level of Singaporean-ness. If you speak proper English, chances are; you are not a Singaporean. I find that absurd, that we think so little of ourselves, that we assume that our people can only be Singaporean, when they stutter in Singlish. Not like I have any objection towards Singlish, I myself switch from proper English to Singlish time to time, but people tend to view speaking proper English as a foreign 'thing'. Let's give our schools and English teachers more credit, please?

With a population of approximately 4.84 million people, at least 1 million people in Singapore are non-Singaporean born residents. These 1 million people constitute of immigrants, PR-status holders and new citizens. Thus, how would we classify them? We have thousands of Japanese, Indonesian, Thai and Filipino expatriates working and living in Singapore. Additionally, 9 million tourists visit Singapore annually. At such crossroads of cultural fusion and interaction, I would think Singaporeans would try to keep an open mind and move with the changing times. Not only is Singapore getting smaller, the whole world itself is shrinking, kudos to new communication technologies and globalization. Singapore is reminiscent of any other cosmopolitan city such as, New York, London, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

(At my best friend, Adrianna's 21st birthday bash - multi-cultural/ethnic Singapore)

Looking at this issue from a social constructionist perspective, I feel that Singaporeans use the tools provided by their culture to create collective representations of their reality. That is why, they tend to have the perception that if you're Malay, you're supposed to think a certain way, and if you're Indian, you're supposed to look a particular way. Plus, Singaporeans are guilty of not experiencing the world directly, and constructing their world of communication by what they learn in school, experience around them, and hear from other people.

Pagan Poetry

What a week. From the Comms test to the Nutrition Lab Report and to the realisation that I have 2 projects due this semester, and 3 assignments due by this weekend, let me just say that I was so grateful when Friday finally came. I could finally come home and plop myself into bed. It wasn’t a bad week - I think I’ve pretty much adjusted myself to school life again and I do get the expectations and requirements, etc. Sorta miss the carefree bliss of the school holidays a few weeks back - but oh well, c’est la vie.

Can’t wait for the upcoming holidays! *Counting down the days….*

Debut

Just like that, a week has passed. It has been quite a good week - getting back into the groove of schedules, assignments and proposals. After a month hiatus from studying, I guess it’s about time I get things going along. I was pretty lost this week, literally. Last week, I wasn’t even sure where certain rooms where. Thankfully, I networked and made a few new friends and I so, so missed the old ones and it was nice to see those familiar faces again! You know who you are :P

The first Comms lecture was basically an introduction to the whole course and we started work almost immediately. Now, that took me by surprise. We had to form our groups and discuss about the work. The pace is pretty fast and I think that’s good - keeps me on the ball and motivates me to do what I need to do and not procrastinate. It also makes me aware of the seriousness of the work and the requirements I need to fulfill, which can be kinda stressful, though inevitable.

So, I survived the first week. Yay.