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Write, Right, Rite WRITE, RIGHT, RITE Catherine Lim -…
WRITE, RIGHT, RITE
Catherine Lim
Narrative Techniques
Question 1
Epistolary Mode Through Exchange of Letters
[Pia] "...the author subtly projects her
powerlessness
against state interference with literature."
Simulates real-life exchanges and negotiations, allowing readers to gain insight into the challenges faced by writers.
Author's Surrogate Through Projection onto Characters
Why Ambiguous Results
Question 5
Superficial Symbolism
[Prince] "The ending is more of an
insult
towards Singapore than it is a compliment...The story's state itself could represent Singapore's situation of
trying to present itself as a respectable nation but instead lost sense and meaning
in trying to do so."
Subjective Nature of Literature
[Vicky] "...although to some the story is incomprehensible, for others, they acknowledged it as one of the
pioneers of a new literary form.
"
Unique Celebration of Culture
[Kurt] "...even though the narrator's story isn't a hit in the traditional sense, it's celebrated for its
innovation and daring
. It's like a thumbs-up for
pushing boundaries
and creating something totally new, even if not everyone "gets" it right away."
[Rapha] "Despite the possibility of misinterpretation and confusion among judges,
she wrote a text that defies boundaries and and pushes beyond limits
, ultimately contributing to the representation of their distinct culture in a global aspect.
Catherine Representing Singapore
Question 2
What She Felt
[Rapha] "...feelings of
gratitude, pride, and pressure...
implies recognition and honor, but the responsibility of maintaining Singapore's positive image."
[Clare] "...it seemed like she was the
right fit for what the government wanted
— one who can ‘offer only the best’..."
[Clare] She might have experienced a parallel situation where a character had to be changed for
"fear of offending certain cultures."
[Bloo] " ...a great honor yet a
very demanding
task."
What it Suggests About the Role of Writing
[Rapha] Writing serves as a
"tool for national representation and global diplomacy,"
emphasizing literature's role in shaping a country's cultural identity worldwide.
[Clare] "The government expects artists
to present an 'accurate' and 'ideal'
image of the country," implying compliance even at the expense of artistic and general freedom of expression.
[Bloo] "...a means to
display values and symbols
that exhibit the nation's identity."
Singaporean State
Question 4
Image of Modernity and Progressiveness
Unit for the Revitalization of Mother Tongues (URMT)
[Pam] "Moreover, dialects like Hokkien were
not recognized
as a language by the state."
[Stella] "On the surface level, the coerced decision to remove the parrot’s use of Hokkien may reflect the goal of the Unit for the Revitalization of Mother Tongues (URMT) to
unite
Singaporean tongue through enforcing their multilingual policy. (Mandarin And English)"
[Pau] "Hokkien is more often associated with profanity and
vulgar language
...an
obstacle
to establishing Mandarin and English as the primary languages of the Singaporean."
State Authority Vs. Democracy
[Pauha] "These situations show that a government has the power and
authority to regulate
what can be written about their country even though there’s democracy."
[Stella] "This decision reflects the state’s desire to represent and appropriate itself as one that is
modern and developmentally forward
, even if it means the
insidious erasure
and breakage of Hokkien immigrant communities in Singapore."
Catherine's Responses to the State Ministries
Question 3
Expressions of Gratitude and Humble Apologies
[Spencer] She is
"benefiting from a national honor,"
allowing larger entities to exert influence over her without jeopardizing her opportunity.
[Gina] "...she felt compelled to maintain a
respectful relationship
with the state due to the
power
they hold over her."
[Ryan] "reflects her recognition of the
state’s authority and influence,
which necessitates a certain level of submissiveness."
[RG] "...reveals the position of the narrator, as an
ordinary citizen, beneath
the power structure of Singapore."
The Power Dynamic Between State and Writers
[Spencer] The state's "hyper-fixated sentiments on
national image
compromise Catherine's agency and expressiveness."
[Gina] The imbalance implies that "the
state's historical ability to remove 'offensive passages' before publication
pressures writers to align their works with narratives promoted by the state."
[Ryan] The government "uses
coercion and ideological control
to project a 'civilized' image, instilling a culture of fear and conservatism within a country."
[RG] "Government agencies exert power by twisting her narrative to
align with their notion of good writing,
reflecting a power dynamic where the state
indirectly controls the media
to ensure political harmony, resulting in writers feeling disconnected from their craft."
