Here comes my annual music awards again! With further ado let's reveal the results!
Best Male Album: 萧敬腾 《同名专辑》
(close contender: 林宥嘉 《神秘嘉宾》)
Best Female Album: 郭静 《下一个天亮》
(close contender: 梁静茹 《今天情人节》)
Best Group Album: 五月天 《后青春期的诗》
Best Debut Album: 萧敬腾 《同名专辑》
Most Fascinating MV: 收藏 - 萧敬腾
This time, I'll be ranking my top 20 songs of 2008 in order, unlike the previous years. The songs will be judged according to impression, significance, ability to spur emotions and desire to listen. Popularity is not a factor.
20) 你不是真正的快乐 - 五月天
19） 冲动 - 萧亚轩
18） 不想懂得 - 张韶涵
17) 牧羊人 - 张信哲
16) 传说 - 林宥嘉，刘力杨
15) 一颗心的距离 - 范玮琪
14) 庆幸有你爱我 - 蔡淳佳
13) 我很好 - 刘若英
12) 洋葱 - 杨宗纬
11) 限时的遗忘 - 潘嘉丽
Top 10!
10) 伯乐 - 林宥嘉
9) 怪胎 - 郑中基
8) 半情歌 - 元若兰
7) 那些女孩教我的事 - 品冠
6) 你是此生最美的风景 - JS
5) 下一个天亮 - 郭静
4) 明天以后 - 林峰，泳儿
Down to Top 3!
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3) 今天情人节 - 梁静茹
2) 收藏 - 萧敬腾
And the Top song of 2008 goes to...
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1) 带我走 - 杨丞琳
Wow, shocking right? Didn't expect Rainie to top my chart as well, but this song indeed scores well in every of my judging criteria. Thanks to 不良笑花 as well, I grew fonder of this song. Came to this conclusion after several considerations. Watching the drama (or movie) does really help to improve the impression and feeling towards its theme songs.
I guess my chart is very different from others as big names and singers did not appear at all. Congrats to Yoga for having two songs on chart!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2008 Review (Movies)
Out of the 12 movies I watched in 2008, 9 are Asian-produced! This year’s definitely the Year of Asian Movies, compared to 2007 Year of Blockbusters. As expected, I watched fewer movies this year, probably due to the lack of anticipation of sequels. As for 2009, the 2 sequels I’ll be looking forward to would be Red Cliff 2 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Any others?
Similar to previous years, I’ll be listing the movies I’ve watched this year according to personal ranking.
12) 12 Lotus
881 scored badly in my review last year too. Somehow I just can’t seem to appreciate Royston Tan’s movies. Or maybe I can’t appreciate musicals, especially of getai kind. The box office sales was relatively poor and even my parents felt disappointed after watching. The bad reviews were not unexpected however, since the plot seemed to go haywire at the 2nd half. Though humorous, the part about washing Guanyinma’s hair was rather unnecessary. No idea why it was allocated so much screen time.
*Okay I noticed the two consecutive 'twelves'*
Rating: 5/10
11) Kungfu Dunk
Probably we’re getting tired of mystical, supernatural kungfu movies; it doesn’t have the impact like the previous kungfu movies I’ve watched. Once again, Jay Chou was acting his own personality, and his in-movie talent seemed to be too far-fetched for the effect. Furthermore, his ultimate skill appeared to be bit ‘cold’. -__-“ The rest of the characters were quite forgettable…
*Was not feeling well at the time I watched this movie, so the enjoyment factor significantly dropped*
Rating: 5.5/10
10) Twilight
The love story between a mortal girl and a vampire guy seems cliché in this time and age. The plot went slow at the start, but began to pick up midway with a simple and predictable storyline, unfortunately. One noticeable thing is, most characters in this movie appear to have very pale faces. Whether deliberate or not, it enhances the ‘zombie’ ambience and gives a creepy feeling. Fangirls should be going gaga over the gothic male lead.
*The final statement is indeed true...*
Rating: 6/10
9) Ah Long Pte Ltd
This is so similar to Just Follow Law, in terms of the personality contrast between the male and female leads – tomboy vs sissy. Funny, but the novelty does wear off. For the second time, Fann had shown her versatile acting skills. Mark’s accent was really unique too. However this movie somehow lacked originality. Even the ‘durian soccer’ scene looked awfully familiar.
*Watched this movie right after CJ7; experienced a little movie fatigue*
Rating: 6/10
8) Red Cliff I
Actually the storyline is quite simple but there were lots of fillers within the movie, perhaps to extend the screen time. A single movie would be too rush, while 2 may appear draggy. Having prior knowledge to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, thanks to video games and anime, there was no problem following the plot. An interesting observation is, several animals are introduced throughout the movie (eg. dove, horse, tiger, goose, cow, etc). Who can forget Zhuge Liang’s brilliant reply of ‘lue dong’, haha.
*Hopefully the 2nd part will have a bigger climax. Looking forward to the battle scenes!*
Rating: 6.5/10
7) CJ7
An interesting movie title. Stephen Chow’s successful Kungfu Hustle in 2005 had created lots of anticipation for this movie, but unfortunately it did not live up to its hype. The little boy’s (or should I say girl?) acting was commendable, and the Qizai doll was really cute too =). A good marketing strategy eh? The disappointing thing was, I felt the characteristic Stephen Chow’s humour wasn’t enough. When the credits started to roll, there was a ‘Oh, that’s it?’ feeling.
*Still prefer his classic comedies*
Rating: 6.5/10
6) Nim’s Island
I enjoyed the scenery and setting in this movie. Never knew living in a deserted island can be so exciting. Making friends with animals looks fun too. The plot was simple and easy to follow, and its humour still ‘haunts’ me till today. A light hearted movie indeed. The part on chasing the tourists out of the island reminds me of Home Alone, haha. Setting traps is fun =p.
*Rain of lizards...heh*
Rating: 7/10
5) Money No Enough 2
With the rise of home-made, dialect-included movies, the 2nd installment can never be as fresh as the 1st. I remember the first installment 10 years ago had wowed many Singaporeans and set a record box office sale. This movie indeed came at a right time, during the current wave of economic recession when we find ourselves short of money again. The ERP debate was used to illustrate the theme. Current affairs aside, the movie became very touching towards the end. Li Ming is definitely worthy for her nomination in the Golden Horse Awards.
*Will there be Money No Enough 3 in the next recession 10 years later?*
Rating: 7.5/10
4) L Change the World
Glad to see L on the big screen once again. His antics never fail to amuse us. Though the spin-off storyline was rather weak, the individual events that happened during L’s escape from the authorities were quite exciting and trilling. Oh, the part where the scientist died in the laboratory was really gross and horrible. The scene where blood was tearing from the woman’s eye was impactful as well. Am I describing a horror movie? Haha.
*The real world really needs someone as intelligent as L*
Rating: 8/10
3) Cyborg She
Sounds like a female counterpart to Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)? Not really. There were several twists in the story. You can never expect what is going to happen next. Similar to Secret, the entire flow will become clear right near the end, when bits and pieces appear to fit together. The actress’ ability to imitate a robot is really remarkable. The atmosphere in the movie was unexpectedly dark (with all the disasters and such).
*FYI the darkest movie I’ve ever watched was War of the Worlds. The atmosphere was really gloomy and depressing.*
Rating: 8/10
2) The Dark Knight
Another superhero movie, but the limelight is stolen by Joker. (poor Batman) Though it appears to be a typical Hollywood action movie, the underlying theme can be quite deep. It explains how even a righteous person can turn really wicked. The numerous action scenes kept me at the edge of the seat, while I was struggling to understand the flow of the story. A pity that the actor starring as Joker has passed away. We would want to see more of his potential works.
*Undoubtedly the best Hollywood movie of the year*
Rating: 8/10
And the top movie is...
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1) Cape No.7
Now I know why this movie became extremely popular in Taiwan. Unlike most movies where we just watch and forget, this movie left the greatest impression on me with its plot, characters, music and of course the 60-year late letter addressed to Cape No. 7. The theme was open for the audience to interpret. The characters came from differing backgrounds and eventually gathered on the basis of a outdoor beach concert. The movie soundtrack is really really nice. Last but not least, the touching love letter, written in Japanese, was read out part by part throughout the movie. The deep storyline may be difficult to grasp for some, but I feel this is what made the movie truly unique and exceptional.
*This movie indeed reflects the melting pot of cultures and languages*
Rating: 8.5/10
Generally Japanese films tend to do well in my ranking as I felt that they have sufficient depth, originality, thrilling climax and unexpected twists, yet simple to understand. 20th Century Boys would score really high if I had watched it.
Hopefully this year will see a better balance of Hollywood and Asian films.
Similar to previous years, I’ll be listing the movies I’ve watched this year according to personal ranking.
12) 12 Lotus
881 scored badly in my review last year too. Somehow I just can’t seem to appreciate Royston Tan’s movies. Or maybe I can’t appreciate musicals, especially of getai kind. The box office sales was relatively poor and even my parents felt disappointed after watching. The bad reviews were not unexpected however, since the plot seemed to go haywire at the 2nd half. Though humorous, the part about washing Guanyinma’s hair was rather unnecessary. No idea why it was allocated so much screen time.
*Okay I noticed the two consecutive 'twelves'*
Rating: 5/10
11) Kungfu Dunk
Probably we’re getting tired of mystical, supernatural kungfu movies; it doesn’t have the impact like the previous kungfu movies I’ve watched. Once again, Jay Chou was acting his own personality, and his in-movie talent seemed to be too far-fetched for the effect. Furthermore, his ultimate skill appeared to be bit ‘cold’. -__-“ The rest of the characters were quite forgettable…
*Was not feeling well at the time I watched this movie, so the enjoyment factor significantly dropped*
Rating: 5.5/10
10) Twilight
The love story between a mortal girl and a vampire guy seems cliché in this time and age. The plot went slow at the start, but began to pick up midway with a simple and predictable storyline, unfortunately. One noticeable thing is, most characters in this movie appear to have very pale faces. Whether deliberate or not, it enhances the ‘zombie’ ambience and gives a creepy feeling. Fangirls should be going gaga over the gothic male lead.
*The final statement is indeed true...*
Rating: 6/10
9) Ah Long Pte Ltd
This is so similar to Just Follow Law, in terms of the personality contrast between the male and female leads – tomboy vs sissy. Funny, but the novelty does wear off. For the second time, Fann had shown her versatile acting skills. Mark’s accent was really unique too. However this movie somehow lacked originality. Even the ‘durian soccer’ scene looked awfully familiar.
*Watched this movie right after CJ7; experienced a little movie fatigue*
Rating: 6/10
8) Red Cliff I
Actually the storyline is quite simple but there were lots of fillers within the movie, perhaps to extend the screen time. A single movie would be too rush, while 2 may appear draggy. Having prior knowledge to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, thanks to video games and anime, there was no problem following the plot. An interesting observation is, several animals are introduced throughout the movie (eg. dove, horse, tiger, goose, cow, etc). Who can forget Zhuge Liang’s brilliant reply of ‘lue dong’, haha.
*Hopefully the 2nd part will have a bigger climax. Looking forward to the battle scenes!*
Rating: 6.5/10
7) CJ7
An interesting movie title. Stephen Chow’s successful Kungfu Hustle in 2005 had created lots of anticipation for this movie, but unfortunately it did not live up to its hype. The little boy’s (or should I say girl?) acting was commendable, and the Qizai doll was really cute too =). A good marketing strategy eh? The disappointing thing was, I felt the characteristic Stephen Chow’s humour wasn’t enough. When the credits started to roll, there was a ‘Oh, that’s it?’ feeling.
*Still prefer his classic comedies*
Rating: 6.5/10
6) Nim’s Island
I enjoyed the scenery and setting in this movie. Never knew living in a deserted island can be so exciting. Making friends with animals looks fun too. The plot was simple and easy to follow, and its humour still ‘haunts’ me till today. A light hearted movie indeed. The part on chasing the tourists out of the island reminds me of Home Alone, haha. Setting traps is fun =p.
*Rain of lizards...heh*
Rating: 7/10
5) Money No Enough 2
With the rise of home-made, dialect-included movies, the 2nd installment can never be as fresh as the 1st. I remember the first installment 10 years ago had wowed many Singaporeans and set a record box office sale. This movie indeed came at a right time, during the current wave of economic recession when we find ourselves short of money again. The ERP debate was used to illustrate the theme. Current affairs aside, the movie became very touching towards the end. Li Ming is definitely worthy for her nomination in the Golden Horse Awards.
*Will there be Money No Enough 3 in the next recession 10 years later?*
Rating: 7.5/10
4) L Change the World
Glad to see L on the big screen once again. His antics never fail to amuse us. Though the spin-off storyline was rather weak, the individual events that happened during L’s escape from the authorities were quite exciting and trilling. Oh, the part where the scientist died in the laboratory was really gross and horrible. The scene where blood was tearing from the woman’s eye was impactful as well. Am I describing a horror movie? Haha.
*The real world really needs someone as intelligent as L*
Rating: 8/10
3) Cyborg She
Sounds like a female counterpart to Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)? Not really. There were several twists in the story. You can never expect what is going to happen next. Similar to Secret, the entire flow will become clear right near the end, when bits and pieces appear to fit together. The actress’ ability to imitate a robot is really remarkable. The atmosphere in the movie was unexpectedly dark (with all the disasters and such).
*FYI the darkest movie I’ve ever watched was War of the Worlds. The atmosphere was really gloomy and depressing.*
Rating: 8/10
2) The Dark Knight
Another superhero movie, but the limelight is stolen by Joker. (poor Batman) Though it appears to be a typical Hollywood action movie, the underlying theme can be quite deep. It explains how even a righteous person can turn really wicked. The numerous action scenes kept me at the edge of the seat, while I was struggling to understand the flow of the story. A pity that the actor starring as Joker has passed away. We would want to see more of his potential works.
*Undoubtedly the best Hollywood movie of the year*
Rating: 8/10
And the top movie is...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1) Cape No.7
Now I know why this movie became extremely popular in Taiwan. Unlike most movies where we just watch and forget, this movie left the greatest impression on me with its plot, characters, music and of course the 60-year late letter addressed to Cape No. 7. The theme was open for the audience to interpret. The characters came from differing backgrounds and eventually gathered on the basis of a outdoor beach concert. The movie soundtrack is really really nice. Last but not least, the touching love letter, written in Japanese, was read out part by part throughout the movie. The deep storyline may be difficult to grasp for some, but I feel this is what made the movie truly unique and exceptional.
*This movie indeed reflects the melting pot of cultures and languages*
Rating: 8.5/10
Generally Japanese films tend to do well in my ranking as I felt that they have sufficient depth, originality, thrilling climax and unexpected twists, yet simple to understand. 20th Century Boys would score really high if I had watched it.
Hopefully this year will see a better balance of Hollywood and Asian films.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sayonara 2008
As it's time to welcome the new year, I've given my blog a fresh new look. I think the sunset theme is pretty nice, and has some sort of a calming effect. Still in the process of adding more elements, so the next few days will see more changes to the layout. =)
Basically my 2008 is divided into 3 phases: NS phase in the 1st third of the year, Slacking phase in the 2nd third, and University phase in the 3rd.
Ever since taking up administrative jobs in my NS unit, I found work more interesting and days easier to pass. Much thanks goes to my friendly and caring Platoon Commander. I was involved in planning the unit's CNY celebration this year. It was rather fun though hectic (and problematic in seeking permission as well). Guiding an understudy can be pretty enjoyable too. I was fervently counting down to my ORD date while teasing his, haha.
Nothing much happened during the slacking period in the middle of the year. I was just rotting at home with Xbox, RPGs, MMOs, Jdramas, studying for JLPT, etc. Getting to know the Zhui Xing clique is probably the most significant event then.
So came the Uni phase. It wasn't really as enjoyable as I expected before. In fact I felt busier than during JC, even without any CCA participation. Didn't make much new friends too, as I often hanged around with my previously known ones. Except for two, I haven't been keeping contact with the rest of my orientation groupmates. The frequency just doesn't match.
Looking at the resolutions I made last year, I guess most of them are more or less fulfilled. No point making resolutions which I've no enthusiasm or ability in fulfilling.
My resolution for 2009 simply covers studies, friends, health, Nihongo and savings. Thanks Reiko for consolidating my resolutions on the Zhui Xing blog!
Hope to have a more enjoyable semester next year, despite the ugly timetable. Lots of expectations coming up for the next school holiday though!
Sayonara 2008!
*have to go to ZH's house now for 'countdown' gathering*
Basically my 2008 is divided into 3 phases: NS phase in the 1st third of the year, Slacking phase in the 2nd third, and University phase in the 3rd.
Ever since taking up administrative jobs in my NS unit, I found work more interesting and days easier to pass. Much thanks goes to my friendly and caring Platoon Commander. I was involved in planning the unit's CNY celebration this year. It was rather fun though hectic (and problematic in seeking permission as well). Guiding an understudy can be pretty enjoyable too. I was fervently counting down to my ORD date while teasing his, haha.
Nothing much happened during the slacking period in the middle of the year. I was just rotting at home with Xbox, RPGs, MMOs, Jdramas, studying for JLPT, etc. Getting to know the Zhui Xing clique is probably the most significant event then.
So came the Uni phase. It wasn't really as enjoyable as I expected before. In fact I felt busier than during JC, even without any CCA participation. Didn't make much new friends too, as I often hanged around with my previously known ones. Except for two, I haven't been keeping contact with the rest of my orientation groupmates. The frequency just doesn't match.
Looking at the resolutions I made last year, I guess most of them are more or less fulfilled. No point making resolutions which I've no enthusiasm or ability in fulfilling.
My resolution for 2009 simply covers studies, friends, health, Nihongo and savings. Thanks Reiko for consolidating my resolutions on the Zhui Xing blog!
Hope to have a more enjoyable semester next year, despite the ugly timetable. Lots of expectations coming up for the next school holiday though!
Sayonara 2008!
*have to go to ZH's house now for 'countdown' gathering*
School Nostalgia I
Went back to my alma mater yesterday morning for my sister’s Primary 1 Orientation. There wasn’t a special day set aside for orientation when I was P1 back then, so the very 1st day I met my teachers and classmates was the 1st school day after New Year. I remembered many P1 students crying as they had to separate from their parents and assimilate with the big crowd of strangers in the hall. It was a chaotic situation and the cries and screams made the already noisy hall even noisier. I was afraid of the crowd then, but I think I didn’t cry, just feeling very tense and lost. Thus the pre-school opening orientation is good in a sense to prevent such disorder resulting from unfamiliarity and fear.
Though I only spent my last 2 years of primary education in the school, it still holds my greatest impression and best memories in my entire primary school life. This is where I met my ‘oldest-still-in-frequent-contact’ friend XH too. The school compound has changed a lot throughout the years, with more colourful painted walls, extended shelters, additional erected barriers, playground, nicer-looking canteen, etc. Most of the facilities and structures have been modified to become more user-friendly children-safe and aesthetically pleasing.
I was surprised to see some teachers still teaching in the school after 10 years. It was lightening to know that they have been promoted to HODs or senior teachers. However the same person remains as the discipline master. (XH do you remember who was he?)
---
On my 1st day, I was brought to the classroom for administrative matters. Several pamphlets on healthcare, moral habits, tuckshop (super outdated name for canteen), and academic information were handed to us. “Keep it properly. If you lose it, you are stupid.” This was what the teacher-in-charge said to us. Wow, what an impactful statement. (that’s why I remembered it till today) I doubt any teachers will say such things nowadays haha.
While we were inside the tiny classroom, our parents were eagerly observing us through the windows from the corridor. That resulted most of my classmates, including myself, to become distracted and not focused on what the teacher mentioned. Somehow I just can’t lift my eyes off my mum, who was smiling at me all the while. At that age, I’m still very much dependent and afraid to be alone. I think the teacher also had problems in keeping the class attentive.
---
Back to my sister’s classroom, it is huge and spacious, and even has room for parents to enter to join their kids. There is a shutter behind the classroom, which if opened, can combine the adjacent classroom too. Of course for such a big classroom, a microphone is present on the teacher’s desk, especially useful for soft-spoken teachers. The best thing is, there are computers lined up along the sides of the classroom! So convenient! I wonder if the P1 will be taught how to use a computer, though I feel it’s a little fast. I didn’t know how to use a computer until P4, but I was already playing video games on the TV since kindergarten. (educational games lah)
---
The bell rang and it was time for my very first recess. My mum brought me to the canteen cum hall and helped me buy a bowl of porridge. My first recess meal was so memorable that I think I still remember how the porridge tasted like. There was no buddy system that time hence the parents had to guide their children in buying food. A really chaotic scene indeed.
The recess dreadfully ended and we had assemble, line up, then return to our classrooms. Once again, I reluctantly parted with my mum, who went off somewhere. This time there were no parents watching us from outside. Self-introduction proceeded but most of us could only murmur inaudibly. I wished the day would end quickly so I could go home.
My form teacher taught Chinese, which means we didn’t get to see him quite often. Since there were many more English lessons, my class had the false impression that our English teacher was our form. This was still alright, until P2 when my form teacher taught Malay. Didn’t even get to see him at all. I wonder if he even knew me (and the other Chinese students). The comments he wrote on the report book were only based on my results...
---
Likewise, my sister has a Mother Tongue teacher as form. But there is a co-form teacher as well, who teaches English so that everyone can see her frequently. I think having two form teachers is not bad, at least there are more teachers who can hold responsibility for the students hehe.
Hopefully my sis will be more independent than me on her 1st day of school this Friday. The briefing has assured that the P1 will be properly looked after by teachers, buddies and prefects such that they will be able to go around without the help of parents. Looks like a lot have changed since 15 years ago eh?
Though I only spent my last 2 years of primary education in the school, it still holds my greatest impression and best memories in my entire primary school life. This is where I met my ‘oldest-still-in-frequent-contact’ friend XH too. The school compound has changed a lot throughout the years, with more colourful painted walls, extended shelters, additional erected barriers, playground, nicer-looking canteen, etc. Most of the facilities and structures have been modified to become more user-friendly children-safe and aesthetically pleasing.
I was surprised to see some teachers still teaching in the school after 10 years. It was lightening to know that they have been promoted to HODs or senior teachers. However the same person remains as the discipline master. (XH do you remember who was he?)
---
On my 1st day, I was brought to the classroom for administrative matters. Several pamphlets on healthcare, moral habits, tuckshop (super outdated name for canteen), and academic information were handed to us. “Keep it properly. If you lose it, you are stupid.” This was what the teacher-in-charge said to us. Wow, what an impactful statement. (that’s why I remembered it till today) I doubt any teachers will say such things nowadays haha.
While we were inside the tiny classroom, our parents were eagerly observing us through the windows from the corridor. That resulted most of my classmates, including myself, to become distracted and not focused on what the teacher mentioned. Somehow I just can’t lift my eyes off my mum, who was smiling at me all the while. At that age, I’m still very much dependent and afraid to be alone. I think the teacher also had problems in keeping the class attentive.
---
Back to my sister’s classroom, it is huge and spacious, and even has room for parents to enter to join their kids. There is a shutter behind the classroom, which if opened, can combine the adjacent classroom too. Of course for such a big classroom, a microphone is present on the teacher’s desk, especially useful for soft-spoken teachers. The best thing is, there are computers lined up along the sides of the classroom! So convenient! I wonder if the P1 will be taught how to use a computer, though I feel it’s a little fast. I didn’t know how to use a computer until P4, but I was already playing video games on the TV since kindergarten. (educational games lah)
---
The bell rang and it was time for my very first recess. My mum brought me to the canteen cum hall and helped me buy a bowl of porridge. My first recess meal was so memorable that I think I still remember how the porridge tasted like. There was no buddy system that time hence the parents had to guide their children in buying food. A really chaotic scene indeed.
The recess dreadfully ended and we had assemble, line up, then return to our classrooms. Once again, I reluctantly parted with my mum, who went off somewhere. This time there were no parents watching us from outside. Self-introduction proceeded but most of us could only murmur inaudibly. I wished the day would end quickly so I could go home.
My form teacher taught Chinese, which means we didn’t get to see him quite often. Since there were many more English lessons, my class had the false impression that our English teacher was our form. This was still alright, until P2 when my form teacher taught Malay. Didn’t even get to see him at all. I wonder if he even knew me (and the other Chinese students). The comments he wrote on the report book were only based on my results...
---
Likewise, my sister has a Mother Tongue teacher as form. But there is a co-form teacher as well, who teaches English so that everyone can see her frequently. I think having two form teachers is not bad, at least there are more teachers who can hold responsibility for the students hehe.
Hopefully my sis will be more independent than me on her 1st day of school this Friday. The briefing has assured that the P1 will be properly looked after by teachers, buddies and prefects such that they will be able to go around without the help of parents. Looks like a lot have changed since 15 years ago eh?
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Anomie
This sociological term is what I've learnt from my module. Put it simply, 'anomie' refers a state of normlessness, or a malady of infinite aspirations. I found this word interesting as I feel it accurately describes the mental state of many people in the society today (probably including myself too). To avoid falling into this social trap, I guess it's important to understand what anomie is about.
In the society today where there is huge surge of information through the Net, and when traditional habits start to erode, we are faced with numerous possibilities to fulfill our personal satisfaction. For example, we can earn as much money as we want, pursue as much education as we want, strive for any kind of job based on meritocracy. However as a result, we tend to set high expectations for ourselves, up till a point where it might be impossible to attain. Though the goals may seem attainable individually, society as a whole may not be able to accommodate the demands from everyone.
We all hope to get rich, we aim to possess at least as much money as we could spend. However if we think on the bigger scale, is it really possible for everyone to get rich? Even in a small country like Singapore? Economic resources are definitely insufficient to go around and ensure each and every individual is satisfied. (That's one reason why the study of economics exist.) If we are lucky to have a combination of factors that contributes to material success (eg. family background, opportunities, ability), we might be able to become a member of the upper class, amassing large wealth and income. But majority of us could only linger around the middle class region, which is not that bad actually. The unlucky ones would be thrown into the lower class, where they would be trapped in a vicious cycle and unable to break out from their poverty state.
Similarly, we all want to secure good-paying jobs. The media has also helped in advocating the belief that prestigious jobs equate success. The idea of becoming a doctor or lawyer might be outdated now, but we still desire to have an above-average pay. If we look at the population aiming for such jobs, then look at the number of positions available. Is it really possible to satisfy everyone? The mismatch between job demand and supply has resulted in a harsh struggle within the society. We want to gain a step ahead of the rest, and to achieve a head start early in life. That's where education comes in.
The 'competition' starts the moment we are born, when our parents inculcate knowledge and beliefs to us, which might prove useful in our future. "If you study hard, you can succeed." Not implying that this statement is untrue, there are limitations to it. We all can study, but can we all succeed? Of course such route to success is the norm, but that are cases where success is achieved by other means. We cannot hope that just studying hard will bring us success, neither should we think that by following alternative means, we could succeed as well. Failures do exist on both sides of the spectrum.
So why are we so obsessed in pursuing possibly unattainable goals? Like what the saying goes: 'Life is a game of chance.' If there is a chance to become successful, why not? While striving for our aspirations, we must also realise the limits. Think about it, how many others are seeking the same ambition as us?
Personally I think it's fine to have big goals, but potentially damaging to carry rising expectations. In other words, we must be prepared to accept failure while we aim for our goals. It's up to the individual to decide if he/she wants to live with the current state, or continuously seek to surpass others. But most importantly, it's necessary to observe the big picture of society rather than looking matters in a personal perspective.
Let's imagine if everyone's goals are satisfied. If everyone were to earn a monthly income of 4k, inflation would definitely follow where a plate of chicken rice no longer cost a mere $3. If everyone scores excellent grades in school, the academic standard will be increased. If everyone has a university degree, it will be as useful as toilet paper. To prevent such situation from happening, there will always be differentiation and classification to distinguish the 'good' from the 'bad', or maybe the 'best' from the 'good', or even the 'most bestest' from the 'best'.
By realising limits, we can probably lower expectations, minimise disappointment and reduce emotional stress. Disillusionment and despair usually follow those who don't notice the problems of social accommodation. Therefore we must be careful not to fall into trap of infinite aspirations, created by the mass media and modern capitalism. Countering anomie is more of overcoming a psychological barrier.
In the society today where there is huge surge of information through the Net, and when traditional habits start to erode, we are faced with numerous possibilities to fulfill our personal satisfaction. For example, we can earn as much money as we want, pursue as much education as we want, strive for any kind of job based on meritocracy. However as a result, we tend to set high expectations for ourselves, up till a point where it might be impossible to attain. Though the goals may seem attainable individually, society as a whole may not be able to accommodate the demands from everyone.
We all hope to get rich, we aim to possess at least as much money as we could spend. However if we think on the bigger scale, is it really possible for everyone to get rich? Even in a small country like Singapore? Economic resources are definitely insufficient to go around and ensure each and every individual is satisfied. (That's one reason why the study of economics exist.) If we are lucky to have a combination of factors that contributes to material success (eg. family background, opportunities, ability), we might be able to become a member of the upper class, amassing large wealth and income. But majority of us could only linger around the middle class region, which is not that bad actually. The unlucky ones would be thrown into the lower class, where they would be trapped in a vicious cycle and unable to break out from their poverty state.
Similarly, we all want to secure good-paying jobs. The media has also helped in advocating the belief that prestigious jobs equate success. The idea of becoming a doctor or lawyer might be outdated now, but we still desire to have an above-average pay. If we look at the population aiming for such jobs, then look at the number of positions available. Is it really possible to satisfy everyone? The mismatch between job demand and supply has resulted in a harsh struggle within the society. We want to gain a step ahead of the rest, and to achieve a head start early in life. That's where education comes in.
The 'competition' starts the moment we are born, when our parents inculcate knowledge and beliefs to us, which might prove useful in our future. "If you study hard, you can succeed." Not implying that this statement is untrue, there are limitations to it. We all can study, but can we all succeed? Of course such route to success is the norm, but that are cases where success is achieved by other means. We cannot hope that just studying hard will bring us success, neither should we think that by following alternative means, we could succeed as well. Failures do exist on both sides of the spectrum.
So why are we so obsessed in pursuing possibly unattainable goals? Like what the saying goes: 'Life is a game of chance.' If there is a chance to become successful, why not? While striving for our aspirations, we must also realise the limits. Think about it, how many others are seeking the same ambition as us?
Personally I think it's fine to have big goals, but potentially damaging to carry rising expectations. In other words, we must be prepared to accept failure while we aim for our goals. It's up to the individual to decide if he/she wants to live with the current state, or continuously seek to surpass others. But most importantly, it's necessary to observe the big picture of society rather than looking matters in a personal perspective.
Let's imagine if everyone's goals are satisfied. If everyone were to earn a monthly income of 4k, inflation would definitely follow where a plate of chicken rice no longer cost a mere $3. If everyone scores excellent grades in school, the academic standard will be increased. If everyone has a university degree, it will be as useful as toilet paper. To prevent such situation from happening, there will always be differentiation and classification to distinguish the 'good' from the 'bad', or maybe the 'best' from the 'good', or even the 'most bestest' from the 'best'.
By realising limits, we can probably lower expectations, minimise disappointment and reduce emotional stress. Disillusionment and despair usually follow those who don't notice the problems of social accommodation. Therefore we must be careful not to fall into trap of infinite aspirations, created by the mass media and modern capitalism. Countering anomie is more of overcoming a psychological barrier.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Judgment
About 10 hours more before the judgment's out. Currently feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement. Right after the exams, I wished the results would be released immediately, but now I hope the day wouldn't come as soon.
This is so similar to receiving O and A Level results, just that we have to face it twice a year. Really hope for a pleasant surprise, and in order to minimize disappointment, I shall try not to make any prediction nor carry high expectations. But I can't help thinking about how this semester's result is so crucial to the rest of my university life.
Looking forward to the celebration on Wednesday does make me feel much better. Merry Christmas in advance to all =).
This is so similar to receiving O and A Level results, just that we have to face it twice a year. Really hope for a pleasant surprise, and in order to minimize disappointment, I shall try not to make any prediction nor carry high expectations. But I can't help thinking about how this semester's result is so crucial to the rest of my university life.
Looking forward to the celebration on Wednesday does make me feel much better. Merry Christmas in advance to all =).
Monday, December 15, 2008
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