Recently there has been a huge uproar regarding the acts at the getais that is shown during the Hungry Ghost Festival. There were pole dancing, strip tease, cross dressing and it was raised by some in the community that it was unpleasant and a poor example to the young ones. These incidents got so serious that it involved the police. The police actually arrested some of the performers.
Now, these getai shows have always been part and parcel of the Hungry Ghost Festival. Usually, it would have been the song and dance, littered with casual chats of the hosts with the performers. The age groups of the performers have been rather wide, from as young as the primary school kids to the aunties of the 40s. They would be the entertainment for everybody watching.
However in recent years, the people that have been watching these shows have gradually gone down. As there is better entertainment at home, people are less willing to step out of their houses to watch such performance. Yes, they may be interesting, but it is hard to imagine anyone to actually fight for a place to watch these shows. Hence the organizers have come up with various ways to attract the crowd back again. With the usual song and dance, pole dancing, strip teases and cross dressing have become the ‘in’ thing now.
I am pretty surprised at the uproar regarding these incidents. These acts have always existed in Singapore, be it pole dancing in pubs or cross dressing. From my point of view, I think these organizers are trying hard to do their best to attract the crowd back. The usual song and dances are so common so such performances are required to get the crowd excited.
It has been said that the performances are suggestive in nature, but it is really how we perceive it. One’s perception is not necessary the same of others. Some may see it as a poor example to the younger generation, but others treat it as a form of entertainment. Of course these acts have to be moderated accordingly, but taking out these acts and just belting out the songs just takes away all the fun. These acts don’t happen all the time, just for a month. If people are fine with just songs and dance, fine by me. If you ask me, I would want these performers to be credited as they are sacrificing themselves for the joy and entertainment of others. However if the government wants to clamp down on them, what can we do?
And we talk about having a liberal society all the time. Oh well.
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Hi Justin!
ReplyDeleteWell I believe that there's such a huge uproar of the issues you brought up because Singapore is a rather conservative society and many people just cannot accept less orthodox stuff.
I do agree with your point of view and I guess because such performances are more public than those indoors and hence much more attention will be given to this phenomenon.
I reckon it will take a long long time before the Singapore society can start being more open-minded about such stuff. Let's just wait and see. =)
Eilania
lol rather well written blogposts!
ReplyDeleteHI JUSTIN!
ReplyDeleteI think that it was unacceptable because of the perception our society has about what is appropriate and what is not. We are still considered fairly traditional and conservative. Furthermore, getais are aimed at the older crowd who are definitely more unreceptive of too extreme acts. Such acts may be already be present in certain pubs/clubs, but all these all sort of a close-door function, whereas getai's audience are of a larger scale of many different ages.
cforceleste.blogspot.com
I don't see it as liberalization. What is inappropriate will always be inappropriate. For the getai, such suggestive and racy performance has never been a part of it until this year. Getais remain to show a the retention of our culture and with these acts, there is effectively a lost in our culture and the true meaning of these getais.
ReplyDeleteLike what Celeste has mentioned, such acts can be in pubs, clubs, parties and private events. We're liberalized to accept it. But it all has its own time and place. Getais should remain the way they are, and not taint our beautiful culture.
I still prefer the old, traditional way of getai performance even though the new shows may be more eye-catching and relate better to the younger generations. Like what JunYing wrote, getai represents the retention of our culture. Imagine a getai with 100% modern performances of dancing and singing, wouldn't that be similar to what you get at clubs and private functions?
ReplyDeleteGetai is part of our culture and one of our main attractions for the tourist. If it loses its traditional flavour, we will lose both our roots and our income at the same time.