“OutCASTed”

by Nanyang Technological University, AY 2015/16 Semester 2.
Cheng Hui Jie, Yeo Wei Yang, Muhammad Harith bin Hamzah, Nur Faeza Bte Md Kefli 7 Pandiyarasi Chidambanathan Subramanian

Research Question: In modern Singapore, why do some people still identify themselves as a member of a certain caste/arab family instead of subscribing to prescribed racial identities included in Singapore’s CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others) model?

Abstract:
What are you? In Singapore, one would think that the acquisition of our common language—English—would enable citizens to communicate better and allow for more open discussions about inter-ethnic differences that leads to harmonious relations among citizens from various racial backgrounds and ultimately, promotes a sense of unity. However, regardless of how modern or westernized Singapore’s society and economy has become, some still place a great emphasis on exclusive traditional group identity, such as caste systems or family lineages. In effect, instead of solely identifying under the prescribed categories of the government’s ‘neutral’ or secular CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others) model, some may choose to involve their cultural capital. Since cultural identities are highly political, it often takes a hierarchical form. This would result in the marginalization of certain groups; being ‘outcasted’ based on fixed notions of biological determinism.

In Singapore, the early Chettiar legacy is still littered around Singapore, in the form of shop houses, temples and road names. The power dimensions of the caste system is sophisticated and persistent as it has its roots entrenched in an age old value system and social consciousness. To date, people still hold pride in their “Chettiar” identity in Singapore. The same tradition can be observed with the Arabs, where there is a strong preservation of family roots through the upkeep of family names.

We hope to explain how and why traditional value systems such as the caste system or family lineages are still preserved and sustained in a ‘globalized’ and meritocratic country like Singapore through this short documentary. Theories that will be explored include the Weberian concept of rationalization, Marxism’s approach of economic determinism, Spencer’s essentialist-perennialist theory and Bourdieu’s concept of habitus in relation to ethnicity and identity. These theories will be discussed in reference to the propagation of traditional identities through belief systems, economic and social inequality, group membership and cultural reproduction.

Video-sketches are centred around a curious protagonist in search of answers as to why rigid traditional identities still exist in a somewhat Westernized and ‘liberal’ world. Interviews on individual stories and oral histories will be utilized to make the documentary informative yet engaging.

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