The Construction of 'Singapore' in Singapore Cinema

Abstract

My PhD will explore Singapore's 'identity' as it is constructed through the lens of Singapore cinema, a complex task given the country's multiracialism, diasporic past and present, and the ever-changing cultural landscape of the country. My research will cover national and cultural identity in Singapore, local film culture, and the relationship between identity and film representation. As my PhD is with Creative Practice, I will also be producing a feature documentary as part of the research process. The documentary exemplifies the concept of 'research-led practice' (Smith & Dean, 2009, p. 7), while the in-depth interviews with a diverse range of people featured within provides qualitative data for the written component of the thesis.