T H E M E R L I O N I D E N T I T Y # 1
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T H E M E R L I O N I D E N T I T Y
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The Merlion has been Singapore’s trademarked symbol since 20 July 1966. It was designed by Alec Fraser-Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board. The Merlion is a made up mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion. The term mascot is defined that represents a common public identity. While others have been no mythical references, the idea of creating a mythical creature for an ever-developing nation to questions it motives.
What makes Singaporeans, Singaporeans? Referring to the recent 2013 National Day Message, which is more focused on the more general vision of the development in Singapore. Naz question his existence in this idea of a correcting nation. Exploring the idea of identity as a social construct, Naz investigate this through a method of study called priming in psychology, which is an implicit memory effect in which exposure to a stimulus influences a response to a later stimulus. An experiment of self-identity is created. 30 participants ranging from 21 to 30 years of age undergo this ‘survey’. They are instructed to identify and spell out their names with the letters found in the message until all possible words have been used. Finally they are also asked to highlight those words that were circled that relates to them. It is an experience of finding one's purpose and importance, the idea of isolation from this message is a thought of being rejected by others. Can this idea of a Singaporean is as mythical as the construct of the Merlion? |
