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WRITING SINGAPORE Literary Forum 2013 SERIES Huai Ying : Experience of Writing a Novel 怀鹰: 我写长篇小说的经验 Writing Singapore (书写文学) and the Arts House

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WRITING SINGAPORE Literary Forum 2013 SERIES Huai Ying : Experience of Writing a Novel 怀鹰: 我写长篇小说的经验 Writing Singapore (书写文学) and the Arts House CONTENTS 01 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 06 SING LIT 101: HOW TO READ A 02 LITERARY ARTS SINGAPOREAN POEM 14 LITERARY ARTS: TALKS & WORKSHOPS 17 FILM 21 MUSIC 25 VISUAL ARTS 28 EvENT LISTINGS 30 SHOP & DINE 04 MINORITY REPORT AT THE ARTS HOUSE 31 THE ARTS HOUSE BOX OffICE 32 OUR SPACES 33 AbOUT THE ARTS HOUSE 27 20 WHITE PRINCESS TYRANNOSAUR ALIAS MONT BLANC 23 AMNI CONCERT 26 Cats OF The World Photo EXhibition The information is accurate as at time of print and changes could have been made since then. For updates, please visit our website at www.theartshouse.com.sg DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE My favourite Singapore novel is Goh Poh Seng's If We Dream Too Long. Set in Singapore in the 1960s, it follows Kwang Meng, a young man who was trying to figure out what to do with his life. The novel is prescient in capturing the anomie and anxiety of a young generation at the cross-roads, in a country that is undergoing rapid transformation. Published in 1972, the book, widely recognised as the first Singapore novel, has lost none of its power and relevance today. Its themes of belonging, identity, connection and alienation are still very much pertinent today. Anyone who wants to know more about Singapore then and now should read it. In fact, anyone who wants to understand Singapore better should also attend our new programme, Sing Lit 101: How to Read a Singapore Poem (pg 6). It is said that poetry is closer to vital truth than history. So over six weeks, noted writer and lecturer Dr Gwee Li Sui will take us through the writing of six seminal poems by six writers (Edwin Thumboo, Arthur Yap, Wong May, Lee Tzu Pheng, Chandran Nair and Goh Poh Seng) to get straight to the heart of Singapore. You don't have to be a writer or a poetry acolyte to enjoy his "lessons". Set in a faux classroom setting, the talks will be thoughtful, passionate and witty. What better way to (re)acquaint yourself with Singapore than to enjoy Singapore poetry during our National Day celebrations! Over two weekends from September to October, we are also celebrating the art of short form writing. We Love Shorts (pg 3) fetes everything short and casts the spotlight on this underappreciated form of writing. And join us too in welcoming Scottish poet John Burnside and Egyptian writer Shereen El Feki, who will be featured in our World Voices series (pg 7) in a new partnership with the Melbourne Writers Festival. See you at The Arts House! William Phuan Director, The Arts House 1\37 literary arts Wong May Dragon-fly Dragon-fly Ah, your bride, your diaphanous happiness Your37\ diaphanous2 wings Brittler than your veil, Brittler than any bride’s Brittler than any dragon-fly’s wings. Diaphanous veil. Kiss the ripple, dragon-fly, featured WE LOVE SHORTS! A short story might be brief, but writing a good short story is an art The Arts HOUse form of its own, requiring precision and a great deal of editing as every word matters in delivering the greatest impact with the least Various rooms number of words. We Love Shorts! celebrates the art of short form 26 - 29 Sep & 3 - 6 Oct writing, gathering local short story writers and readers over two weekends to share their love for this genre. For more information, please visit www.theartshouse.com.sg Starting off in September is the staging of a multidisciplinary theatrical production based on Zakaria Ali’s Gajah Putih (White Elephant) and Rasiah Halil’s Pertemuan (Encounter), held in conjunction with the National Library Board’s Read! Singapore initiative. In addition, aspiring writers can explore various techniques in short story writing in a writing bootcamp facilitated by our local writers. But Is The Book Better? also joins in with a two-month focus on master writer of science fiction and short story, Philip K. Dick. In October, we shine the spotlight on Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (1892 – 1927). Widely regarded as the Father of the Japanese short story, Akutagawa did not write any full-length novels, focusing instead on short stories of which he wrote over 150. In addition to showcasing film adaptations of Akutagawa’s works such as Rashomon, The Outrage and Iron Maze during But Is The Book Better?, there will be a panel discussion on his legacy and how his short stories transcend various mediums to films and stage performances. 3\37 featured Considered as one of the most important science fiction and short story writers of his generation, American Philip K. Dick pushes BUT IS science fiction to its extremes without losing his touch to entertain. In conjunction with We Love Shorts!, we bring you the best of Philip BOOK K. Dick with a two-month focus of some of the best films adapted THE from his short stories. T he A rtsBETTER? HOUse About Philip K. Dick Philip K. Dick was born in Chicago, Illinois on 16 December 1928. His twin sister Jane Charlotte Dick’s death six weeks after their birth affected Dick’s life profoundly, leading to the recurrent motif of ‘phantom twin’ in his books. Dick published 121 short stories and 44 novels in his lifetime. Most of his career as a writer was spent near-poverty as he received little to zero recognition. He became famous posthumously, for the cult films Blade Runner and Total Recall. Screening Room \ 24 Aug – 14 Sep \ Free admission BLADE RUNNER Adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner is set in the year 2019 where genetically engineered organic robots called replicants are manufactured by the powerful Tyrell Corporation and burnt-out expert Blade Runner Rick Deckard is tasked to hunt them down. The film’s dark and futuristic style created a benchmark that went on to influence subsequent science fiction films, video games and television programmes. 24 Aug, 3pm & 13 Sep, 7.30pm Director: Ridley Scott \ Writers: Hampton Fancher, David Peoples Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer 1982 \ UK \ 117min \ NC16 MINORITY REPORT It is the year 2054 and “Precrime”, an elite law-enforcing squad, is able to arrest criminals before they commit their crimes. An officer from that unit found himself accused of a future murder. In this film, besides making obvious changes to the setting from New York City to Washington D.C., Baltimore and Northern Virgina, Spielberg also altered the main character to an athletic officer and captured the audience’s imagination with technology which was unheard of at that point in time. 24 Aug, 7.30pm & 14 Sep, 3pm Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Scott Frank, Jon Cohen Cast: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton 2002 \ UK \ 145min \ PG 37\4 featured THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU The Adjustment Bureau is a romantic action thriller loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s short story Adjustment Team. In 2006, congressman David Norris unsuccessfully runs for the United States Senate. While researching his concession speech, he meets Elise Sellas, a ballerina. However, mysterious forces seem to keep David and Elise apart. The New York Times called the film “a fast, sure film about finding and keeping love across time and space . [that] has brightened the season with a witty mix of science-fiction metaphysics and old- fashioned romance.” 26 Aug, 7.30pm & 12 Sep, 7.30pm \ Director/Writer: George Nolfi Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Michael Kelly \ 2011 \ UK \ 106min \ PG PAYCHECK In this adaptation by John Woo, reverse engineer Michael Jennings wipes out the knowledge of his engineering to protect his clients’ intellectual property and himself. Based on Philip K. Dick’s book of the same title, Paycheck is a departure from the book. While the short story is more subtle and thought-provoking, the film used the premise of the story and extends it into an action film with fight scenes and the typical car chases. 27 Aug, 7.30pm & 11 Sep, 7.30pm \ Director: John Woo Writer: Dean Georgaris \ Cast: Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart 2003 \ UK \ 119min \ PG A SCANNER DARKLY A faithful adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1997 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) award winning novel, A Scanner Darkly takes the viewer on a visual spectacle unlike any other. The film was shot digitally and then animated using interpolated rotoscope, an animation technique which have animators tracing over footage, frame by frame over the original footage, giving it a distinct animated look. 28 Aug, 7.30pm & 10 Sep, 7.30pm \ Director/Writer: Richard Linklater Cast: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder 2006 \ UK \ 100min \ M18 5\37 featured SING LIT 101: HOW TO READ A SINGAPOREAN POEM Gwee LI SUI and In an inspiring new series that celebrates the life and power of The Arts HOUse Singaporean poetry, let literary critic and poet Dr Gwee Li Sui bring you on a literary journey with a local flavour where he packs six Screening Room major English poems from Singapore's formative decades in an easy- to-digest format. 17 & 31 Aug, 14 & 28 Sep, 12 & 26 Oct \ 11am - 1pm 17 Aug: Edwin Thumboo’s Ulysses by the Merlion Panel Discussion: Easily Singapore’s most famous poem, Ulysses by the Merlion is also Blue Room its most misunderstood. Since its publication in 1979, this poem by 23 Nov, 3.30 - 5.30pm Edwin Thumboo has attracted many, sometimes conflicting critical and poetic responses. $20 per session; 31 Aug: Arthur Yap’s 2 mothers in a h d b playground $100 per season pass It may be the late Arthur Yap’s most popular poem, but it is also one Student Concession: of his technically unusual pieces.
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