It ends with XYZ
Feb. 22nd, 2009 06:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spiderpigThere is some fundamental problem when the main reason (though, not only reason) why I cannot take part in global programes, and hence "give myself more opportunities" is because I don't have the money to travel to location XYZ. Of course the second other main reason is because Singapore is painfully meritocratic so hey, I'm not worth it no mater how much they try to deny that CAP is not the deciding factor.
So it turns into this whole nasty Catch-22 where I can't take part in programmes because I have never taken part in any of the previous programmes.
Random side-note: I've been trying to help my dad do the Pet Society moneyhack but it keeps timing out before we can save the damn game? I think PlayFish has like, resolved the damn hack issue. NOOOOOO. I want my father's pet to be insanely rich!
Attended the Young Writers Seminar yesterday and found it pretty inspiring for most parts (thumbs up to the LitSoc for organizing it!).
So I arrived 15minutes late and missed a good part of Dr G's part on Singapore Lit (note: he sounds a lot more confident vs when he speaks in lectures and class LOL) but managed to hear Toh Hsien Min's full presentation/speech/thingum. Pretty interesting but it was well, it didn't rouse anything in me. Though, the Q&A session made me go a little wtf.
That's kind of understandable because most of the people there were secondary school and JC younglings so it's kind of a given that they're all in-your-face and raring to go. One boy (I have no idea how old he is, which is kind of sad for him) was so aggressive in his questioning ("So what do you mean by Singaporean Literature? It seems that you aren't clear at all" etcetc) that I wanted to take a brick and smash it over his head. Then again when you're young and impressionable you kind of think that you're right and everyone else (even though they're fucking more experienced than you) are wrong. I was like that once, oh so angsty and I art better than thou, so I closed one eye. I was pretty turned off though. What pretentious kids! Being able to write, or wanting to write does not make you better than everyone else.
So anyway, the talks about publishing and bookselling were pretty interesting. The Kinokuniya representative was really :D because it was clear that he loved books and graphic novels and that made for a really upbeat presentation. I mean, it's really nice to know that there are people who really love books buying the books in Kinokuniya.
But the third (and final) plenary session was one that blew my mind away. Not figuratively or literally, but I couldn't think of a better expression. It's kind of an electricity that courses through you when you hear Daren Shiau and Cyril Wong speak. I've heard the latter speak many times before (what to do, I'm a lousy tutorial student, just sit and listen to him talk lol) but every time he manages to make me feel that passion is worth purusing and that I don't have to be anyone but myself. This sounds like Chicken Soup for the Soul already. :\
I had so many things to write down when they spoke, it was wonderfully lyrical lines and poetic prose that flowed out of their mouths that I struggled to keep track of what they were feeling. It was personable, it was relatable, it was down to earth.
I felt comforted that they felt the same way about Singapore literature. There is a "cutural cringe" when it comes to Singapore(ean) literature. We talk about the same old things over and over again. HDB blocks being hive-like conglomerates, wet-markets, public holidays, things that nestle safely in what society expects Singapore(ean) literature to be. Personally, I feel that we shouldn't be concerned (I get the impression that they feel the same way, if I interpreted their words correctly) about whether our writings are "Singaporean" or not. We should just write whatever we want or feel like writing and then let whoever and whatever locate our voice. Why should we pander to some framework to simply be "Singaporean"?
While Cyril was speaking, I quickly wrote some thoughts about his session - it's all very disjointed but I needed to record them down somehow.
Pretty awesome stuff, the last plenary session.
The film review workshop was alright I guess. We had to write a short review, less than 4 sentences, in about 3 minutes so I scribbled this down:
LOL Twilight review. I shamelessly volunteered mine (because I am BHB like that) and gave it 2 out of 5 stars which illicted a "Wow that bad ah? That's harsh!" from Yong Shu Hoong. A couple of boys in the second row were like "WE GIVE IT ZERO STARS!" EL OH EL. Went up after the workshop to ask him how to like, sell myself to publications as a freelance writer and he told me that building a portfolio is the best. Then I went, "Well what if I have a portfolio already? Should I just like, e-mail the publications and say 'Hello I'm interested in free-lancing...?'" but he got distracted by the mohawk RP student. Oh well. I'm not strong enough a presence to retain anyone's attention.
But I've more or less decided that lifestyle writing is the way to go for me? I'd like to experiment with hard news (hence my pending entry into Campus Observer) but I like writing with a bit of attitude?
Oh. There was this kid with an attitude at the workshop. Writing for some student-run newspaper. He was so rude to Yong!
Yong: *talks about how there's a reviewer in the audience*
Boy: I. Did. Not. Say. That. I. Was. A. Reviewer. Per. Se. I do more journalistic writing.
Like wtf kid, lay off the attitude towards people in the industry. If I was Yong I'd have blacklisted him forever, but that's just me being mean. Can't even remember what the kid was writing for. Can't bother!
The graphic novel session with Jerry Hinds was... okay lah. He's an awesome person - extremely funny even though most of it is toilet humor - and that made up for the lack of what I wanted. Then again it's not like a professional workshop so what can I say!
All in all (pun not intended), All-In was a good experience. It made me sufficiently guilty about not writing everyday and procrastinating so much. My writing muscle has grown flaccid and limp and I shall not be such a lazy ass anymore. Shall attend next year if I'm in Singapore! :)
Rest of the day was spent with T04 at Lau Pa Sat and the CBD area where we stuffed our mouths with food and then proceed to walk along the river. Fun times! Alvan (such a nice guy!) sent all of us home 'coz it was late.
Next week's going to be almost too-busy for me so I am going to SLACK AS MUCH AS I CAN NOW!
Note: I'm looking for a Korean shopping service, does anyone have any to recommend me? (I've emailed on LJ user who does a shopping service but she hasn't gotten back to me yet so I'm just keeping my options open!
So it turns into this whole nasty Catch-22 where I can't take part in programmes because I have never taken part in any of the previous programmes.
Random side-note: I've been trying to help my dad do the Pet Society moneyhack but it keeps timing out before we can save the damn game? I think PlayFish has like, resolved the damn hack issue. NOOOOOO. I want my father's pet to be insanely rich!
Attended the Young Writers Seminar yesterday and found it pretty inspiring for most parts (thumbs up to the LitSoc for organizing it!).
So I arrived 15minutes late and missed a good part of Dr G's part on Singapore Lit (note: he sounds a lot more confident vs when he speaks in lectures and class LOL) but managed to hear Toh Hsien Min's full presentation/speech/thingum. Pretty interesting but it was well, it didn't rouse anything in me. Though, the Q&A session made me go a little wtf.
That's kind of understandable because most of the people there were secondary school and JC younglings so it's kind of a given that they're all in-your-face and raring to go. One boy (I have no idea how old he is, which is kind of sad for him) was so aggressive in his questioning ("So what do you mean by Singaporean Literature? It seems that you aren't clear at all" etcetc) that I wanted to take a brick and smash it over his head. Then again when you're young and impressionable you kind of think that you're right and everyone else (even though they're fucking more experienced than you) are wrong. I was like that once, oh so angsty and I art better than thou, so I closed one eye. I was pretty turned off though. What pretentious kids! Being able to write, or wanting to write does not make you better than everyone else.
So anyway, the talks about publishing and bookselling were pretty interesting. The Kinokuniya representative was really :D because it was clear that he loved books and graphic novels and that made for a really upbeat presentation. I mean, it's really nice to know that there are people who really love books buying the books in Kinokuniya.
But the third (and final) plenary session was one that blew my mind away. Not figuratively or literally, but I couldn't think of a better expression. It's kind of an electricity that courses through you when you hear Daren Shiau and Cyril Wong speak. I've heard the latter speak many times before (what to do, I'm a lousy tutorial student, just sit and listen to him talk lol) but every time he manages to make me feel that passion is worth purusing and that I don't have to be anyone but myself. This sounds like Chicken Soup for the Soul already. :\
I had so many things to write down when they spoke, it was wonderfully lyrical lines and poetic prose that flowed out of their mouths that I struggled to keep track of what they were feeling. It was personable, it was relatable, it was down to earth.
I felt comforted that they felt the same way about Singapore literature. There is a "cutural cringe" when it comes to Singapore(ean) literature. We talk about the same old things over and over again. HDB blocks being hive-like conglomerates, wet-markets, public holidays, things that nestle safely in what society expects Singapore(ean) literature to be. Personally, I feel that we shouldn't be concerned (I get the impression that they feel the same way, if I interpreted their words correctly) about whether our writings are "Singaporean" or not. We should just write whatever we want or feel like writing and then let whoever and whatever locate our voice. Why should we pander to some framework to simply be "Singaporean"?
While Cyril was speaking, I quickly wrote some thoughts about his session - it's all very disjointed but I needed to record them down somehow.
Wong brings up the well-loved ghost stories of yesteryear (Russell Lee) with panache. Talking about how they were relegated to the margins, unable to be taken seriously because of the headless women flying away
Wong's very personal account of his r/s with SG, writing and SG writing strikes a chord in this writer's heart.
"There is a deceptiveness about the current literary scene at times."
Wong is straightfoward, candid and his words flow like softnessthings cotton wool. It's easy to hear, easy to understand, easy to digest. Simply *unintelligible* I love the way he moves effortlessly from one topic to the next.
Pretty awesome stuff, the last plenary session.
The film review workshop was alright I guess. We had to write a short review, less than 4 sentences, in about 3 minutes so I scribbled this down:
LOL Twilight review. I shamelessly volunteered mine (because I am BHB like that) and gave it 2 out of 5 stars which illicted a "Wow that bad ah? That's harsh!" from Yong Shu Hoong. A couple of boys in the second row were like "WE GIVE IT ZERO STARS!" EL OH EL. Went up after the workshop to ask him how to like, sell myself to publications as a freelance writer and he told me that building a portfolio is the best. Then I went, "Well what if I have a portfolio already? Should I just like, e-mail the publications and say 'Hello I'm interested in free-lancing...?'" but he got distracted by the mohawk RP student. Oh well. I'm not strong enough a presence to retain anyone's attention.
But I've more or less decided that lifestyle writing is the way to go for me? I'd like to experiment with hard news (hence my pending entry into Campus Observer) but I like writing with a bit of attitude?
Oh. There was this kid with an attitude at the workshop. Writing for some student-run newspaper. He was so rude to Yong!
Yong: *talks about how there's a reviewer in the audience*
Boy: I. Did. Not. Say. That. I. Was. A. Reviewer. Per. Se. I do more journalistic writing.
Like wtf kid, lay off the attitude towards people in the industry. If I was Yong I'd have blacklisted him forever, but that's just me being mean. Can't even remember what the kid was writing for. Can't bother!
The graphic novel session with Jerry Hinds was... okay lah. He's an awesome person - extremely funny even though most of it is toilet humor - and that made up for the lack of what I wanted. Then again it's not like a professional workshop so what can I say!
All in all (pun not intended), All-In was a good experience. It made me sufficiently guilty about not writing everyday and procrastinating so much. My writing muscle has grown flaccid and limp and I shall not be such a lazy ass anymore. Shall attend next year if I'm in Singapore! :)
Rest of the day was spent with T04 at Lau Pa Sat and the CBD area where we stuffed our mouths with food and then proceed to walk along the river. Fun times! Alvan (such a nice guy!) sent all of us home 'coz it was late.
Next week's going to be almost too-busy for me so I am going to SLACK AS MUCH AS I CAN NOW!
Note: I'm looking for a Korean shopping service, does anyone have any to recommend me? (I've emailed on LJ user who does a shopping service but she hasn't gotten back to me yet so I'm just keeping my options open!
