G Byrne R=Brackwen. A walking tour singapore. Singapore: National Library Board.
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Thursday, 19 April 2012
Conclusion- on Arab Street
Due to modernisation and commercialisation, it is almost impossible to reintroduce culture into Arab Street. This is because Arab Street has long become an attraction for tourists. With a constant incoming of tourists from all over the world of different cultures, it is definitely difficult to maintain culture.
All in all, the government should still be credited for their attempt to reintroduce culture through physical structures. It is not at all easy to recreate culture especially with commercialisation and constant globalisation as mentioned above.
Personally, I suggest that the government strive to strike a balance. The government should leave the existing cultural shops alone . This way, culture can develop and develop best with minimal interference from the government. Even though this culture will never return to its original state, at least culture will become more tangible and evident.
The government should still be able to set up tourist-related shops. However, these shop lots should be occupied by museums that at the minimal, still preserves culture. This will allow Arab Street to support the tourism industry while at the same time retaining culture.
Government--measures taken, opinions and views
In recent times, the government has noticed the dilution of culture in Arab Street. They have taken measures in hopes of rebuilding culture and preserving whatever remnants of culture left behind.
Measures being taken:
1) ‘No Drinking’ posters placed in Arab Street-
This campaign advocates not taking alcohol, as Muslims believes that alcohol consumption is sinful. However, I believe that this is not effective in creating culture as the concept behind it will probably not go pass face-value for the average person.
2) Architecture-
The government had been imitating and transferring Islam symbols and imagery symbolising Muslim culture onto the faces of shop lots. Although there is a conscious effort in recreating the Muslim culture back when Arab Street was culturally-rich, I do not think that this is very effective in rebuilding culture, as culture is something that is built by common identity; and the architecture have no way of creating common identity in the first place.
Furthermore, though the faces of the buildings are being modified to look more traditional and Muslim, the products being sold in the shop lots speak otherwise. The shops seem to be selling many modern things. E.g. Within a short stretch of Arab Street, we spotted 2 camera shops .
Thus, there is a clash and confusing mix of traditions and modernity. This mishmash certainly does not allow for a conducive environment in which culture can be built.
Varying viewpoints
Through conducting interviews of various people found in Arab Street, we were able to attain their opinions and views of the recent changes in Arab Street such as the modernisation of products sold and the general government action in the area. (Decoration of buildings etc.)
An interview of a longtime shopkeeper (60 years old) at Gim Joo Textiles selling cloths showed that he was well aware of the modernisation of Arab Street. In fact, he felt that it brought him more customers and was good in general. Thus, it can be inferred that he did not mind the loss in culture during the process of modernisation.
Contradicting him, was a middle-aged women who resented commercialisation. She was at Arab Street to buy cloth. According to her, cloth prices were rising rapidly and were way cheaper 30 years ago.
An interview of a tourist from England(22 years old) showed that he felt Arab Street lacked in culture in comparison to back home (UK). Thus, it can be inferred that he would have liked for Arab Street to be more cultural in nature.
From the interviews, we realised that most people associated Arab Street with being a place for shopping and not somewhere to visit in order to find out and experience culture. From the general viewpoint , we can further ascertain that the government has not been successful in recreating culture. But at the same time, this lack in culture does not curry any strong opinions, showing that many (Singaporeans , foreigners) do not for the issue of culture and identity.
Common Space
Common Space
Physical Common Spaces:
Arab Street is lacking physical common spaces. There are not many common spaces where people can interact in and form commonalities, apart from coffee shops which are few and far between.
Non-physical Common Spaces:
Arab Street also is also lacking in non-physical common spaces. Over the years, due to commercialism brought about by globalisation, Arab Street has become more of a business district and less of a residential area. Most people visit Arab Street with a specific purpose in mind. This allows for minimal interaction. With Singapore’s quick-paced living, people tend to interact less, thus lessening the opportunity for commonalities to form. This is the same in the case of Arab Street.
Due to a lack of common space (both physical and non-physical), commonalities are close to or completely inexistent. Without commonalities, common identity of the target audience cannot form and thus the collective identity of people and of the place (Arab Street) does not exist.
Culture and Identity of Arab Street
As mentioned before, culture in Arab Street has diminished. What has caused culture to diminish?
During the 1820s, Arab Street was a trading centre for materials such as spices, rattan products and textiles. Arab Street was also a residential kampong for the Muslims of Arab, Malay and Indian descent. It sold oriental carpets, fabrics, Muslim apparel and cuisines catered specifically towards the Muslim community.
However, in modern times, culture in Arab Street has diminished and it exemplifies the mishmash of cultures found in Singapore. There are several causes that lead to the diminishing of culture in Arab Street, main reasons being globalisation and commercialisation.
Globalisation:
Due to globalisation, there has been an increase in different types of culture in Arab Street.
In the past, Arab Street sold only exclusive goods from Arabia. These Arabian goods attracted Muslims. However, globalisation has enabled Arab Street to bring in materials from all over the world. This not attracts people of different races and religions, bringing in new cultures. This introduction of “new cultures” leads to a dilution of culture. There is an integration of culture and Muslim culture no longer solely defines Arab Street.
Image of a trishaw rider that symbolises commercialisation as it caters to the needs of tourists.
Commercialisation:
Furthermore, globalisation brings an emergence of commercialisation.
Commercialisation also causes loss of culture at Arab Street. As the world undergoes globalisation, “culturally rich” areas such as Arab Street are driven towards commercialisation to fuel tourism. More souvenir-shops and information stations begin to replace traditional shops selling authentic Arabic goods. This leads to an immediate loss of culture of Arab Street, since before commercialisation Arab Street’s culture partially consisted of its authentic Arabic goods.
Furthermore, commercialisation drives the tourism industry, attracting people from different cultures. Arab Street then changes to meet the needs of the tourists, instead of to the needs of Muslims like before. This again, leads to the mishmash of cultures and thus dilution of culture at Arab Street.
Arab Street- a brief history
Picture depicting some regular shop lots at Arab Street
Arab Street was drawn up during 1822, in Sir Stanford Raffles’ Town Plan. Residents consisted largely of Malays and Muslims of other races( majority Arabs). Thus, Arab Street was also known as “Muslim Quarter”. Muslims saw Arab Street as the town centre. It catered to Muslim needs and thus had a Muslim culture.
Much has changed since the 1820s. The culture of Arab Street has become increasingly diluted and almost intangible. The richness of the culture in Arab Street pales in comparison to other ethnic neighbourhoods, such as Chinatown. Unlike Chinatown, Arab street today does not feature distinct cultural and historical significance.
The speciality of Arab Street has not changed that much, especially since Arab Street is still known for their textiles and materials. However, the targeted audience of Arab Street has changed significantly; the shops in Arab Street no longer cater specifically to the Muslim community. It caters to people of differing racial, age and religious demographics. Thus, there is no longer a specific culture, but a mixture of cultures, causing a dilution and loss in culture.
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