The gaze and Singapore as a global city.

• Main Author: Chan, Clara Siying.
• Other Authors: Lim Khek Gee, Francis
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48251
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The landscape of Singapore is adorned by mega structures that have at some point been promoted as symbols of the country and/or a means to meet the goals of the Singapore government, such as to increase tourism receipts or to boost the development of the arts scene. As Singapore strives to bring the city-state closer towards global city status, the significance of these symbols comes into question. Who are they meant for? Do they represent Singapore as a globalising city? What do Singaporeans’ and tourists’ perceptions of these symbols mean to Singapore’s goal of becoming a global city? This research attempts to understand the interplay between the perceptions of these mega structures and Singapore’s movement towards becoming a global city by studying the gaze of both Singaporeans and tourists on four specific mega structures, namely the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade-Theatres by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands.