Looking Back to the Future
Prof James Warren, author of several groundbreaking subaltern histories of Singapore including "Rickshaw Coolie: A People's History of Singapore 1880-…
Tag: Culture
The Citizens’ Agenda: The Parties Respond
Nearly a year ago, we embarked on the Citizens’ Agenda: our quest to find out what our Singaporean community thinks are the most important issues fa…
About Happiness
While cock-fighting is frowned upon by the local authorities in Indonesia, residents of Toraja in Sulawesi still enjoy this centuries-old form of ente…
The Last Wrongs: A Woman’s Burial in Medan’s Mass Graves
The way people are dying in Indonesia has changed. And under the country’s draconian COVID-19 protocols, even those who have tested negative for cor…
Fighting Fowl in Sulawesi
Chickens hold prestigious positions in Toraja, South Sulawesi. Their presence is embedded in local mythology and history, and cockfighting is an activ…
A Porcine Paradigm
Halal tourism has become big business in Southeast Asia in recent years. But in communities that have traditionally celebrated pigs, this initiative b…
The Art of Censorship in Malaysia
A new censorship scandal has struck the Malaysian art scene. This isn’t new for the country’s National Art Gallery, but Ahmad Fuad Osman’s case …
The Awkward Reality of Thailand’s Established Buddhism
Paintings depicting Ultraman in poses usually associated with Buddha caused an uproar in Thailand, and the artist eventually forced to apologise. Yet …
Timor-Leste Draws its Line on Domestic Violence
The first effective sentence handed down by a Timor-Leste court for domestic violence signals a new line in the sand for the newly public crime.
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What Makes Our Makan
Food occupies a very special place in the Malaysian psyche. But what is it that makes a dish authentic?
