LAYERS OF MEANING : A STUDY ON HISTORIC MONUMENTS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Worldwide, there is growing heritage consciousness which translates into support for preservation and conservation of various kinds. Within the urban environment, monuments in the First World have been studied and preserved to a greater extent than in the Third World. In Singapore, a transitional society straddling the two worlds, monuments are a comparatively neglected subject of study. Although monuments as a subject matter is not entirely ignored, there has been no attempt to move beyond a description of these structures. This academic exercise thus tries to bridge the gap by studying the layers of meanings attached to historic monuments by different groups in society in the context of Singapore. The layers of meanings invested in monuments are uncovered through two approaches. The first adopts the perceptual approach where monuments are treated as objects of focus to elicit respondents' cognitive recognition, familiarity with nomenclature and historic knowledge (chapter three). The other, the emotive approach, treats monuments as subjects which evoke feelings, attachments and meanings from the respondents (chapter four). The academic exercise also moves beyond treating people in society as a homogeneous body, with similar perceptions, attitudes and meanings. Four groups in society are therefore given closer attention. First, the state is analysed as it 'produces' national monuments through the selection and gazetting of landscape features. Second, interest group members which in Singapore's context come from the Singapore Heritage Society, contribute yet another perspective on the meanings of monuments. Third, the public is investigated as they 'consume', interpret and invest their own meanings in these structures. Moreover, the degree of personal contact people have with the monuments affects the investment of meaning, hence the public is further divided into the 'outsiders', who have no contact with the monuments and the 'insiders', who have. In order to investigate these multiple layers of meanings, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 284 respondents, followed by in-depth interviews with a select number. This academic exercise found that respondents generally have a fair visual recognition of Singapore's national monuments, although nomenclatural accuracy and historic knowledge of these structures are less forthcoming (chapter three). It is further found that the meanings invested in monuments by the different groups generally converge with minor divergences. For instance, all groups were more comfortable with monuments possessing a 'good' sense of history and supportive of the 'conservative view' of heritage as well as calling for the 'radical' view of heritage. However, the state and the respondents disagreed on other counts, such as whether living persons should be commemorated in the form of monuments. Moving to wider issues of preservation (chapter five), convergence and divergence of opinions are also present. When evaluating general issues of preservation, all groups in society agreed that preservation benefits most the future and present generations of Singaporeans, notwithstanding the apathetic attitude adopted by Singaporeans. Divergence in opinions showed up more clearly when evaluating some specific issues of preservation, such as the priority of building types for preservation, the importance of continuing the function or activity of a preserved building and the maintenance of preserved buildings. In evaluating the role of the Preservation of Monuments Board, respondents in general felt that it has not sufficiently preserved enough monuments, nor consulted or provided information to educate the public. In sum, this study on historic monuments allow for a 'reading' of the values held by Singapore society. The broader context surrounding monuments and suggestions for the future are discussed in chapter six.