Rojak, Salad or ...
A journalist in My Paper today revisits the issue of what constitutes "Singapore culture". On the common criticism that Singapore culture is like rojak, she quotes 蔡光明's remark that we should aim for a salad mix instead, where the unique colours and tastes of the salad ingredients are retained, the clash of which sometimes exploited (色彩斑斓，偶有冲突的salad 精彩).
I like his ensuing advice: to successfully present intercultural interactions (文化间的互动), one first needs to assimilate each culture's uniqueness before synthesizing them; simply adding Chinese drums to Indian Dance will not do. Singapore composers, pay heed!
But then again, should it be salad instead of rojak? Or, perhaps, Nonya-style synthesis?
Labels: musical thoughts
posted by ec @ Thursday, June 24, 2010
4 comments
4 Comments:
I tend to want to disagree with the journalist. She seems to imply that rojak is a more "lowly" rendition of a compositional idea.
Let's not forget that the salad tradition is entirely western, which I would interpret as different western elements(e.g. spanish, italian, french).
In the Asian context, in which music is more diversified and coloured, a forced blend of ethnic instruments definitely will not do. But if used cleverly and creatively to enhance the musicality and serve a greater compositional function, then why not?
Many compositions of great composers were treated as works of ridicule during their time. It all boils down to how music perception changes over time. In some ways, perhaps it's the presence of rojak that people choose to appreciate salad. But, let's not forget that there are plenty of rojak lovers out there too!
Hey 十三幺, welcome to my music blog and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with you that our so-called Chinese salad (aka Rojak) has its merits too, not forgetting its cravers (of which I am one, but one who also need to exercise some self-restraint for health reasons). But I guess Chua's point (quoted by the journalist) is that the Rojak sauce makes everything look monochromic.
Your point about clever and creative use is certainly well said. In this regard, I think rojak doesn't fair too badly: colour aside, the distinctness in taste and texture of its ingredients--crunchy turnip and cucumber, succulent pineapple, well-toasted tao-pok, etc--is indeed a wonderful mix. Thank goodness no one has suggested a rojak juice mix!
Perhaps adding Chinese drums to Indian Dance would be like adding western salad veggie (e.g. Romaine lettuce) to rojak or replacing tao-pok with croutons?!
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Actually, I think adding Chinese drums to Indian Dance is not that bad after all - it does give another taste/colour/side to the performance. I think it really depends on how you look at it - the intention behind the addition is very important. If someone were to just add Chinese drums to the Indian Dance thinking that THIS implies fusion culture, then I think it's very much too surfaced and possibly "ignorant" already; on the other hand if I were to put them both together with the intention of creating a new form of "art", then I think it is acceptable. I hope I am making sense at 1.30am... -Benji
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