Music and Cultural Politics: Ideology and Resistance in Singapore

This paper focuses on popular music written and produced by Singaporeans to illustrate the nature of social relationships based on ideological hegemony and resistance. Analysis is based on two groups of music: 'national' songs supported by the government in the 'Sing Singapore' p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kong, Lily
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 1995
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1865
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3122/viewcontent/Music_Cultural_Politics_av.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Institution: Singapore Management University
Language: English
Description
Summary:This paper focuses on popular music written and produced by Singaporeans to illustrate the nature of social relationships based on ideological hegemony and resistance. Analysis is based on two groups of music: 'national' songs supported by the government in the 'Sing Singapore' programme; and songs brought together in Not the Singapore song book. Interviews with local lyricists and analysis of video productions provide supplementary information. Music is used by the ruling elite to perpetuate certain ideologies aimed at political socialization and to inculcate a civil religion that directs favour and fervour towards the nation. Music is also a form of cultural resistance against state policies and some social-cultural norms. Music embodies social commentaries on aspects of Singapore society, such as controversial government policies and the ostentatious lifestyle of many Singaporeans.