Reflections on the Singapore Writers Festival 2011 (No.1)

Glad I made it to this early Saturday morning panel discussion at Writers festival. The subject of the discussion was 'The electronic age: Who is still buying books'.

I attended it because I was curious about the Chinese literature community in Singapore. I always said, I can't read chinese, only can listen but I wanted to find out what is the situation the Chinese Literature community faces. This stems from my research interest of collective activity in Singapore.

I suppose if we compared the different communities in Singapore and try to see the similarities and how each community strategises itself when dealing with problems, we could all  learn something more about the cultural scene in Singapore.

In addition, I was also interested in Yeng Pway Ngon, a well known poet and writer who operated a 'indie-intellectual ' bookshop called 'chao gen' (Cultural medallion receiptient). Although I have met him several times before on different occasions, I have not heard him speak publicly before.

The session finished on time and that probably because the moderator, Dan, managed the time well. In short, I did manage to take home some thoughts from the session.

From Left to Right: Dan, Mr Chong, Mr Yeng

I remembered Yeng's presentation. He mentioned the closing of Borders and said something like if the big book stores cannot survive, how does one expect the smaller ones like 'Chao gen' survive. Chao Gen stock serious literature and non-fiction and does not sell stationery or school assessment books.

Yeng laments ironically or cheekily about how 'Chao Gen' stocks and sells books that no one really want to read and hence, it does not sell many books. That being said, he said it is the goodwill of the small handful of people who do not want to see it close which have kept it going. During the Q&A segment, a member of the audience commented that these days, Singaporeans don't want to read serious literature and prefer 'lighter reads'. Overall, the panelist did try to address the session question of' 'The electronic age: Who is still buying books' - I know this is not a very exciting question considering that E-books have been introduced a long time ago but I felt that the crux of the issue, as I interpreted from the panelist did revealed something else that was happening in general with the scene or Singapore readers - that the consumption patterns are changing. People preferred something 'light' and popular to 'serious literature'/'cultural works/critical texts. 

To which, I felt this familiarity with my experience of 'running of small independent' cultural projects like p-10 and Post-Museum. Perhaps, many friends and colleagues understand and sympathise with Yeng's struggle to some degree. On the surface, cultural consumption is on the rise but there is not much evaluation of what these cultural 'products' actually are. A painting is like any painting, a book is like any book - as long as people read, appreciate art - it doesn't matter what it is as long as it is popular. Since there are no critics or discussion on the value of these cultural products, it is often interpreted by what we know, quantitative indicators like economic value and audience numbers. In Chao Gen's context, Yeng raised the often quoted KPI of bookshop where these are often measured against its 'market demand' and hence its sustainability.

I remembered that a journalist friend asked me if I was sad about Borders closing for her article. I never got round to answering that as I was too busy then. But I rarely visited Borders anyway.

Then I thought of all the new 'indie' bookshops which have been established in recent years like Woods in the Books (http://www.woodsinthebooks.sg) or Booksactually (http://booksactually.com/) who provide a design experience and niche selection of books. I am proud of these indie bookshops making a stand and still standing while big bookshops like Borders are closing. Importantly, they provide some ground (this is early stage) supporting local writing and translating reading into a hip experience.

On the reflection of bookshops, I was also reminded of Tan Jing Quee's memorial – where a speaker mentioned that Tan with friends started a leftist bookshop in the early days, Buka Rakyat. Not very sure where it was located but it was where people could get hold of literature which mainstream bookstores did not carry. I asked the person sitting next to me for more information, he said, “yes, yes, he remembered the shop and it was quite sometime ago”. I imagined it must be a little like the leftist bookshop my friend, Lucas took me to in Sydney where the owner was singled out with some anecdotes shared about him and shop. I sensed my friend's pride in the 'survival' of this bookshop and that this shop had a place in the city and a stake in it for him somehow.

A friend of mine Isrizal, commented jokingly on Dan's FB wall to the discussion topic, 'The electronic age: Who is still buying books' that he would still be buying books from Select even if he have his own shop. And would buy from Chao Gen if I can read Mandarin.

Returning to Chao Gen, I wondered if the survival of the new bookshops offered any hope for Yeng. I never got around talking to Yeng after the discussion on this. I suppose that wasn't an appropriate occasion to talk about his bookshop. Like Isrizal, I feel that Chao Gen and Select Books are more than bookshops, they have an important place in Singapore because of what they stand for which makes me feel like I have a stake in it. But I know that I have not been to both these shops enough! So my actions do not reflect this. I have become entrenched in work and have found too many excuses for not being able to 'make it' there. So shame on me.

This is the problem. If we believe that something is important and have a place in our hearts. Shouldn't our actions reflect that? I think this is not just about buying books but it is about giving them capital (cultural and economic) so that they know that their existence is not futile. I wished that the passion and excitement that Singaporeans have when they decided to form long queues outside H&M on Orchard Road or Borders could be equally visible for Chao Gen or Select Books.

So Jen and me walked to the Writer's Fest bookshop where Select presented its selection – and we found something to buy. I know that this purchase is not really a 'resolve' but a reminder to myself that I should start evaluating those things and people that are dear to my being and start bloody something to make their time and existence worth it.

Starting now please visit these fine bookshops:

Chao Gen and in chinese is: 草根书室
Check out its fanpage: 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grassroots-Book-Room-%E8%8D%89%E6%A0%B9%E4%B9%A6%E5%AE%A4/318452848166283

It's address is 420 North Bridge Road #03-06, North Bridge Centre, Singapore 188727. It is opposite National Library.

Yeng Pway Ngon's chinese name is: 英培安

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