art does not require a specific set of skills okay for example, uh other sectors in singapore there are many industries like for example uh technology or engineering, okay maybe you need some uh special expertise or a certain educational qualifications


you know before you can fill out the positions offered in this field, but for the arts scene uh like I mentioned before anyone can become an artist as long as you have talent and passion, you can pursue your interest, and if the local arts community


does not provide the platform for our local artists to explore, then there will not be any channel, other channel that the local artists will be given a chance to, uh explore what they are capable of or what their talent can actually uh bring them to so


if we actually focus more to foreign talent, and then the local art scene may just be to clouded with external influences, so even though for example we visit the uh singapore museum


it will be filled with uh #new york# gravity for example, so there won't be any local taste anymore I mean obviously we need global history that is fine, but foreign talent they bring their culture here and then wiping out


(ppc) the local taste in singapore so there won't be any sense of belonging anymore when we visit uh the art museums, it's just like uh you know going to sight seeing


so the experience is just uh it may become flavourless for some of us where uh we would like to actually, see our local artist uh accomplish something so that we can show appreciation


for the local scene towards the art community, so that's why I believe the local arts community should focus more on our local talent rather than focusing on foreign talent first


so Fizah uh do you have anything to say


okay thanks for your input uh okay I disagree that singapore doesn't have the resources, because uh the local government has actually extended several grand programmes to actually support uh the local arts uh community


uh because we know local artists are not able to sustain their livelihood with their passion alone, so they actually hold a day job uh a full time job and then they are pursuing their arts passion at night


so basically the government is well aware of this situation and they are trying to support the local arts scene with uh various uh grants, (UM) to actually purchase resources that are necessary for our local talent to uh pursue the arts scene


so if we do not focus on the local talent uh we are just, uh you know giving away a free platform to the foreign talent and it is not like as if we are limiting


uh our arts community to just showcase local flavours, but our local talent I believe they are far more, capable of reaching international heights they do not have to


you know saw their wings overseas to be internationally recognised, I mean if they can actually reach a certain, uh you know popularity in singapore obviously certain media outlets will cover their story


and this will eventually reach, global exposure so this is when, our local talent will be recruited by foreign arts communities and


this is why we need to focus on our talent we need to sharpen their uh, uh capabilities we need to give the platform uh to them as much as possible, so that they can uh be better and be seen by the world


that's why I agree with focus more on us before anyone else, so Fizah do you have anything to say, okay uh and furthermore as we know singapore is a small country so every industry has its limitations especially in terms of uh


space uh resources funds okay so if we were to, extend our platform to the foreign talent as well so the competition is already so tight, and if you were to extend out to the foreign talents


we will just be restricting our own local artists to get , the full resources that they need to actually be better at what they are passionate about, so right now like I mention the art scene is not able to support uh


is not able to sustain the full livelihood of our of our local artist most of them are, are teachers by day you know or like delivery drivers by day and then artists by night, so we wish to change this situation in order for us to show our full support to them


uh and the government is already stretching out, their assistance by putting in grants, and we as community members we can show our support you know by visiting art exhibit event


you know just supporting them from, community background so that they know that is you know exposure even though locally before they can actually soar into overseas uh market


ya that's why we need to focus more so that they can succeed and after they succeed then we can you know consider focusing on foreign talents


okay thanks for your input oh okay I believe that the current artsuh you know programmes that you have mentioned, uh it is true that they are indeed supporting our economy contributing towards our economy, uh but on the other hand the point that you mention even the locals do not trust


the quality of our local artists uh maybe exhibitions programmes and shows and they prefer like uh overseas shows like cirque du soleil, and etcetera why is that why are we not having trust in our own uh local talent


it is because we have not been giving enough support to them, uh so if we continue this uh notion of not focusing more on our local talent, so our arts community may even be eliminated eradicated completely


and you know overwhelmed with foreign talent, it is true that uh a a majority of, our local population prefer maybe overseas shows overseas acts because we are accustomed to it


we believe that foreign talent are better than us so if we do not focus on our local talent we are just agreeing that oh foreign talents, they are better just recruit them we can boost our economy you know, our local talent just let them use their own funds use their own resources


you know there isn't much to extend to them they can survive on their own so this is a bit upsetting because there is , a dose of unfairness there if we want to be as good as foreign talent


we need to support our local talent, and for them to be internationally recognised, and people will come forward to pay for the acts to pay to watch them, uh exhibit in in galleries in museums you know people from all over the world may even come to singapore


uh as tourists so that will boost our tourism industry if our local talent has reached that international standards, I believe we can as long as we provide enough resources and funds through them uh before we extend


to the foreign talent so that's why I agree with the uh statement that, we should focus more on local talent before foreign talent


submit eh


debate topic one


uh never mind you can go ahead first thank you


okay I would like to highlight uh okay so in this case if you were to mention that the if art is made of uh it's not all if not all art is of equal value uh wouldn't that it shows that, art it has become a financial objective for for people out there because if


to me art is point of is a passion where people have to create they have to they have to squeeze their mind uh but if in the end the intention is to sell their art, uh it will be a form of their the objectives have changed


art in the first place it should come from the passion from the creative idea of a person uh without any uh, without any making money object objection so if you were to if art becomes a


as is in uh comes in the form of sales in in the form of business it it rip it rips the reputation of a of of a masterpiece, so I don't think I disagree that uh anything can be considered as art because uh if it ends up


in a form uh where where you require people to buy your product when you require people to actually , uh has a form of money making business, uh it doesn't it's it no longer fascinates uh the art enthusiasts


out there so like for example if you go to a singapore art museum, those value those sculptures that you see uh in the exhibitions uh they are not for sale, they're more of like historical purpose for us to learn from the uh from what has taken place during the historic times uh and it is very priceless


there is no value uh because uh it is a masterpiece it is a, a special creations that that during our forefather fathers uh has uh came up with, so I disagree with your sentiments saying that where arts


uh eventually uh it becomes in a form of uh financial success uh that happens to a particular piece, ya you can you may continue


nothing from me


no


okay I actually came across a research also whereby a person who who came who identify like uh, who who's who threw his urine to a wall and then he considered it as an a piece of art


sometimes art can be very uh too uh abstract but when it comes to a form where things can be very sexual can be very uh unhygienic, uh I it is quite overboard for artists to actually uh come up with such creative


too creative ideas, and then they call it is a form of art, which I feel uh from that kind of objective it, ends up it gives the idea where uh it gives the wrong uh personification of the of an of an art that


that uh everything can be very arty farty everything can be very creative, so uh sometimes in the first place art has to be a very clear objective can be very uh creative, uh but sometimes if it's too uh too much of uh obscene uh performance or obscene uh acts by the artist


it defeats the purpose of a value , uh it doesn't give a moral good moral value to that piece uh, it might be very meaningful to some artist or person who appreciates art


uh but not everyone can actually appreciate certain types of arts so, uh there are many types of arts that can be very appreciative like for example a simple drawing by uh by a small kid by a kindergarten kids


uh like uh like they can draw an an apple and then after that they can scribble scribble scribble then after that uh it can be a form of art, uh from a point of view from us from uh from a kid but if let's say if you were to compare with a piece of work uh with that kind of uh


value like uh the wrong value like throwing your urine to the wall uh it becomes a different appreciation to a certain group of people , so uh it also takes the the, the uh different agreements of of different group of people uh where the different types of arts should be appreciated


uh but again if you were to take such uh comparison, uh whether it's done by the a different group of people and a different target audience so uh it could create a different value to them to that piece of work


uh so in this case uh I disagree not everyone like uh it depends on the type of target of audience uh create uh that that particular uh piece of work, so uh I disagree with the topic where uh these statement that anything can be considered an art because it depends on the target audience that you are trying to target


uh so it could be a for a different group of people for to a to a different age group who it could be a to a different group of people where they are very interested in kids works, uh it could be your audience can also be to a different group of people where they appreciate all types of abstract works who maybe can be very appreciative of


that kind of work that I mentioned uh so uh and in fact from there it shouldn't , it should uh portray a different uh types of value and the meaning of that particular piece


, what else , uh but again if were I were to highlight uh that some artists are very uh driven by the financial gain, uh I think uh it no longer uh create the passion of that of for that particular piece of work so


not all piece of art can be that can be can be uh can be have that uh can have that kind of value, and can also uh put a value to a particular piece of uh art, like for example historical sculptures like like a piece of err


sketches from a graffiti so it depends on the target audience that you're looking at, so not everything can be considered as art


debate topic two


okay uh I disagree with the statement where fantasy books and films can offer more than escape from reality uh that is because, if we okay like what you just mentioned uh for kids uh it can be very interesting for them to to to get into like fairy tale books


err and learn the positivity messages uh from that that film or from that stories from that books, uh but uh if we were to start young uh with the kids uh showing them that, there is a such thing as fairy tale there is such thing as airy-fairy uh err


life out there uh they can actually uh bring that kind of mentality until when they grow older like for example , they can be carried away by living in a wonderland , so uh according to the singapore mental health in two thousand sixteen one in seven adults have experienced a mental health condition in their lifetime


uh this statement shows that like sometimes, like for example in the situation that you are living now like for example the pandemic situation , you you are living uh you you get shocked people get shocked with the situation that they have to face like for example losing of jobs like suddenly you cannot go travelling uh because uh they're too used to that kind of


life like for example they have been travelling they travel they travel uh people do take uh like for example travelling to escape from reality, uh some people they have that kind of mindset and even uh like for example they they watch


like those jumanji like for example of jumanji and then they watch those uh, uh movies that shows uh wealth or or , okay like for example showing that well the happiness I mean certain shows in certain movies so in that kind of film it also drives them


to to wanting to live in that kind of environment where actually in the reality uh, that is not exactly things uh would happen uh the uh the grass can cannot just uh stay green, for the rest of their life there'll be problems there will be uh an unfortunate events that happens to them so


uh sometimes books and films that shows the fantasy that brings the fantasy in their, uh when they watched the movie or they when they read the books it can uh they can be too carried away, okay you can continue


okay uh I will also like to add uh some of these films, there are also there are uh shows that uh to show that they are escaping from the reality because of the CGI effects and all those special effects that is portrayed


that is used in a particular movie so like for example fantasy movie like lord of the rings they offer a completely different world where, uh it maps different languages and history and it allows viewers to be fully immersed in that universe , which somehow uh interpret uh a different uh


perceptions of person who actually like are who are really into that particular show uh it also , allow the viewer to escape too much of the reality and then when they come back after watching the movie they starts to uh


make a comparison about the life that they're in now the situation that they're in now and the situation that that uh with the movie that they uh just watched uh because , like uh based on my point which I highlighted earlier uh sometimes certain things that and and being an unaccepted for the situation that they're in now it can cause uh


mental health conditions of a person whereby uh they cannot accept the reality they cannot accept changes and they don't like the situation that they're in now it will affect their mentality, and also uh uh, going against the the situation that they're already so animations uh books


uh fiction books especially uh somehow I feel that they are trying to show as much as possible uh cheap and, and uh, cheap objective of to change a person's mindset uh anyway


books and films for example films they're very directed from a particular person like from a director so when a director asked the actor or actress to do something they will end up, to do things err uh that, they don't want to do which is why they are called the actor and actress where eventually somehow it will affect the real life


uh real life lifestyle of a person uh living in a real world, so uh I still disagree where, uh films or book can't offer anything more than just escape from their reality because it affects the person's mental health and also


uh some people uh they are too carried away by that kind of uh phenomenon ideas phenomenon situation where , where life is to perfect uh life has to be perfect like what they see, uh from the show from the film and also by the books that they read


uh although there are positivity uh as in like what you have mentioned uh positive message from that particular uh, uh like for example beauty and the beast uh movie uh but it also still uh for persons who actually have a weak mindset uh or


are really into that particular uh character , uh it will drive them it can drive them uh stressed and disturbed, with such messages when when as if let's say they can't accept the the reality of a particular uh movie uh particular


uh topic or movie that they watched ya you can continue with your next point


okay in reality uh if you were to compare legally blonde and the life, that we are facing right now uh okay we are controlled by the situation where we have a government uh and also our politicians and government are very


uh clear has a very clear objective of how things should be done and how things should go in order uh, movies sometimes can be uh, looks easy for for you to be to envision a certain objection objective but sometimes it's not as easy as it is


because there's a lot of work that you need to do at the on on the other side so , uh even if it let's say uh you want to come up with a new law or new order for the country, uh there's a lot of paperwork uh there's a lot of hard work that you need to go through there's a lot of levels or layers of approvals where you have to get


clearance from all sorts of government and uh ministries so uh, sometimes movies shows uh films that uh are portrayed in the shows that portrayed in the films and the, it can it looks too simple but actually there's a lot of hard work and not all uh countries are able to do such


uh can implement such ideas or or initiative, uhto create a better world or better country so uh, I still disagree that that the message saying that movies or books uh can offer anything than escape from reality


okay that's all, do we have any more time for this topic, okay uh Siti you have anything to sure


okay I still object the that fantasy books and films can offer anything else than escaping from reality because it gives a very bad


uh mindset to people who are really into that particular character and also not everything is easy as it is, uh like uh you can call the, uh legally blonde movies uh you can compare with the legally blonde movies you can compare with the the


the beauty and the beast movies or even uh what do you call that for example maybe the lord of the rings so these are all, uh non-fiction that I mean these are all fiction stories, uh or or not but then uh it is not as easy as it is for you to implement a real life situation or uh and apply it to your life


uh effect of in fact it can also be very stressful if you really want to, to be in that kind of uh situation or character that you envision


part three debate topic three


okay uh actually I disagree, with the statement that uh the arts in our society should focus more on local talents rather than foreign talents that is because, uh when you have international collaboration uh it actually provides uh more


uh it it gives singapore uh to make waves in the art scene like for example uh it can make it can be very impactful (um, uh in the in overseas so like for example if you bring, if you if you bring uh like a show like uh what you call that uh lion king uh


to the theatre uh from america from the states, you you actually is a pull factor for to get tourists to come to singapore , uh singapore uh arts scenes uh don't have the technology don't have the props uh and that creativity


yet to to uh to adapt that, that that movie or that show or that particular show that is already popular in uh internationally , so uh in a way it helps to boost our economy performance and also uh it helps to uh attract more tourists to come to singapore to watch the show


okay you can continue with your next point


uh no you can continue with your next point


okay I disagree with that statement uh okay in singapore it has uh they they already implemented the foreign artistic talent scheme, to encourage international arts professional to become PR here also in order to improve the arts and the culture landscapes in singapore


therefore uh even if let's say you were to ask people to watch a particular show uh some of them they do know uh that particular production but if they bring the cirque du soleil for example uh, people are willing to pay uh so much for that for for uh for the tickets in order for them to watch the show


that is because they already heard about the production uh singaporeans are also tend to actually trust foreign productions more because they are very successful already in overseas compared to the local ones here , also sometimes there are singaporeans who are actually in general they are very skeptical and also conservative


where they feel that uh it's not worth their money to even, to pay for that particular show uh that is made locally uh they think that they would rather spend that is money worth on the foreign production which is why


in order to uh to attract more tourists and build the economy of singapore uh more foreign talent has to be recruited, uh and more foreign productions has to be created uh here to help to sustain the economy and also to attract the tourists


uh even if let's say if you to put aside uh the art scene in singapore uh, like for example Marina Bay Sands uh you cannot just uh ask people to come to singapore to just go to marina Garden by the Bay uh to actually look at the the gardens


uh artists I mean the the the the the landscape the garden landscape or in that , in Gardens by the Bay uh there are more things that uh singapore want to spend money on uh not just the not just by the garden but also they want to pull by the


they want to pull more foreign talents to actually create more uh art scenes, like cirque du uh to attract tourists and uh to come to singapore , uh like last cirque du soleil and then also like F formula one for example


all these err uh overseas brand are already recognised, and already made money uh overseas uh all these foreign ideas has to be uh uh, to to remain uh in order to build the singapore economy


ya over to you Siti


okay err thank you Siti uh another point that I would like to add on is also uh our current media , uh landscape uh which we are in now more and more uh many years to come


uh people tend to actually watch movies watch shows foreign talent shows like from the viu app from Netflix app people no longer watch shows on Mediacorp or on their own TV, that is because some of the shows the talents featured on the local TV scene are not as interesting as those that is featured in Netflix or


uh in the korean drama so , in order to continuously uh to show that a particular country to be very, uh into the entertainment scene uh these foreign talents has to be continuously uh come forward and add on to the landscape


uh so that people don't find singapore is a boring country or people don't have any there's nothing to look forward to uh, when they're in singapore uh besides just creating uh attracting tourists to come to singapore or uh we also need to


think of a long term of how to uh continuously err encourage people to like to know that, uh singapore is accepting of err foreign talents, uh not only for their economy but also uh to uh to uh to boost up the entertainment


uh uh scene uh on top of that uh if you were to uh, count compare in the new generation the millennial generation uh if you were to ask them if they know any local uh celebrities


out there uh maybe less than uh sixty percent of them who, who can really who who really know a particular celebrity like for example from the different TV stations, uh in fact if you were to ask them whether they watch this TV drama or Suria or or Vasantham or channel five uh


uh they also don't know that particular celebrities but if they were to you were to ask whether they know justin bieber whether they know uh miley cyrus, uh because these are the international talents where uh is already well known and that is something that attract the audience to


uh to to come forward and really watch that that show, so I disagree with the statement that uh our society need to focus more on local talent rather than foreign talent


yeah


I read out now is it, part one debate topic one


okay I shall start now hi good afternoon everyone uh okay uh my name jaslin, okay today I'm going to the proposition for today I'm going to talk about err anything can be considered uh art, but not all art is of equal value okay


a very quick simple comparison okay there's so many kind of art maybe I shall touch on those uh design type of art, like graffiti art drawn by street artist okay err along the streets of singapore, versus an oil painting or any kind of canvas painting in the art gallery


ya quoted of different value in terms of monetary ya being paid easily in terms of monetary so I strongly believe, that anything is art but then not all not all art is of equal value and in another aspect let's


let's uh move on to let say performing arts which is music, like err cover bands singing in bistro bars you know they're paid differently err compared to concert players okay which has which is they're playing the same kind of music


probably even same arrangement but then being paid differently uh and while being paid differently there's different in monetary values, so I strongly believe that you know err there is they are being seen differently


and definite err and therefore being paid differently this is what I strongly err agreed upon yeah,


okay but how do you explain like uh the same kind of uh like, let's talk about performing music playing the same type of music, at different venues but bands are being paid differently, uh there's there's clearly uh there's a clear difference that like okay often the musician bands


they're being paid differently by the err venue venue owner, like the pub's owner okay how do they judge whether this band is good or this band is err probably just beginner, they're being paid differently okay and definitely anything is can be considered art because art is something which


err it's it's a expression of emotions it is something that it cannot be explained but yet it triggers, you know that uh emotion inside you okay and it's very subjective like there's even like know err like


prodigy like child prodigy who actually err just scribbled around okay in my perspective he just scribbled around in a canvas and yet it can be sold, in like those auction uh art art gallery auctions like thousand over or hundred over dollars


you know like in the of course in the US over at US country , so like how do you justify this it's like to me it just seems like a abstract art you know like something, just scribbled out of nowhere well if the child can do that I can do that as well so but yet how come when I do that I don't get


as much value in terms of repayment like monetary as as a in comparison, so that's what I strongly agree so I strongly agreed I strongly believe that anything is consider arts based on the several facts that have pointed out ya


okay so err just now you mentioned about err the the pub owner should have, equipped themselves with the relevant err knowledge to judge know the different bands but, very often that the pub manage err the pub managers they themselves don't study music


they are definitely uh uh haveuh a lot of knowledge gained from experience on how to run the bistro bar or restaurant but many times they don't study music, okay yes they may have listened to a lot of bands who have auditioned


you know and played at the bistro bar but they don't really study the music as in are they're playing on beat, are they missing this track in this particular music are their arrangements nice do they make an effort to you know to


construct with a new arrangement and they're performing uh dynamics ya and uh do they have showmanship a lot of things , I would say that all this kind of effort art is something that is uh unmeasurable okay and and so because uh a lot of times bistro uh bistro bistro bar managers and owners right


they themselves don't study music so it's difficult for them to judge okay and it will be also very unfair for seasoned players you know, to be quoted with err same price as a newbie okay then definite there's definitely


difference between an experienced musician and a newbie musician okay , uh let me just quote err a simple example experience musician they know how to play according to the crowd content okay so example


today's crowd you know in a bistro bar setting err, there's all kinds of audience okay sometimes maybe today is more of a mandarin crowd, in a bilingual kind of bistro bar if let's say the next day it can be more of a english crowd so are they


most of the time experienced band they're able to err identify and play to the audience content why today is a mandarin crowd okay I shall play more mandarin songs and I will base on the audience dedication, and then play accordingly example today's uh crowd is like a more like uh they like oldie songs like nineties chinese music then they will play more of


similar to that era kind of music but for a newbie bands they may not have this uh skill set to identify the crops okay so they will probably just do songs that they their best at, which is within their repertoire okay so that's a strong point that's why we're season then err more seasoned experienced musician


they will they will feel short short changed which is uh acceptable and that's why I say that not all arts are equal value okay , but in terms of err in terms of like err the experience and interest of their content so that is under the performing art sector


and it's like err like painting and stuff it's like how you able to convey the message the feeling particular feelings you want and art is often subjective, and err various err in different point of view it's like beauty lies in the eyes of beholder okay so often it is not


uh the same and it needs someone who shares to be uh to share the same mind like minded, okay to to appreciate the value so uh and back to the performing arts and, that's why err the the bistro bar manager like you said err they they should be err hopefully of course


err maybe as time goes by when they have more experience you know look judging at the different bands like, are they going to hype up the crowd all this they will know that oh this band deserved probably uhbetter better pay up as compare to the newbies ya


uh what what you mean is it something like a minimum wages like for for kick starters you know is is is that what you mean


okay okay I I do agree with you that to certain extent that we need to give new people chances know it's definitely, we we needed because we always need new blood in the market irregardless of any trade but uh okay I do agree with you that minimum wages is err


for a for for a trade for entry level it's uh essential, but then there also needs to be a a difference between the experienced one know like often ya in singapore society even let's not talk about arts, let's say in finance or in any other trade it all comes with experience like how experienced are you in making this decision


and to solve this problem and etcetera it comes with experience and often they are being paid differently okay and and especially now back to the art topic, so that's why I mention that it's err it's not of equal value, okay another point I wish to bring up is uh actually just like several months ago you know the straits times listed that artist the number one non essential job


in singapore that's very sad about it isn't it it's like yeah so you know I I I I I personally know a couple of musician friends know both of us are actually from the music, music scene we are all affected we are we we we both of us we feels very upset about this this survey which we we felt that


it is it really essential to you know bring this survey up what uh what what kind of messages are you trying to bring across okay so, so this is a very clear state that art is not being appreciated in singapore and therefore people whenever


there's like a uh and arts happens everywhere okay arts is a very general form not okay let's not talk about music like even this designing this uhthis this video call app, requires design yeah interaction design how you going to use a user interface design you know


how do you going to use this app know all this requires this kind of design the flow interaction flow so but the uh uh, but I believe that they miss out this part in terms of design okay so so other they're going to say that !hey! this is not essential essential since it's number one non essential then why do we make the effort to design okay


so in this case art is been art itself is not being appreciated and not being paid equally in terms of value which are in this context are refer to monetary, okay so this is a a very strong point that I still believe now that uh we are under appreciate and not all kind of art is been you know uh uh of equal value


yeah


okay true to certain extent


can fantasy books and films offered anything more than an escape from reality, uh let me I still got few minutes to it


okay I'm ready okay so yes, yes fantasy books and film is more than an escape from reality, well first of all I must mention that I'm a big fan of fantasy films I'm a big fan of like there's a lord of the rings uh harry potter


and a lot many other kinds like even like the miss peregrine's and home for peculiar children there's a lot many kind of fantasy films okay, I often question myself so besides being as a fantasy


uh in terms of genre itself what would it attract me is it the animation, the uh the fiction of the stories you know uh like or the the the the video effect that, that intrigues me like to be a fan of this kind of fantasy films


often not but then I realise that it it's the story line that intrigued me okay, and when I say storyline uh I would say that it is not something that is uh


uh escape from reality but more often it's something that I can relate in real life, okay example maybe I talk about this fantasy film uh miss peregrine home for peculiar children I'm not sure if uh uh ronald you have watched that film before


okay it okay maybe let me share uh just a a snippet of the story so it's basically about a a time machine, okay that this there's this group of children okay each of them have like X men I believe you have watched X men they have


individual powers themselves okay but they're still children okay and there's this group of scientist, who turn to monster because they want to lengthen the life, they actually uh go for this kind of peculiar children to to consume the eyeballs okay for to to continue lengthen their life okay


so it may sounds like a fantasy like uh you may get lost in this film but then, there is a strong message behind which is uh if you were to get together, to to showcase your individual uh strength you can actually overcome the uh the bad and evil people okay so this is what the film is trying to illustrate


and and just like even let's say lord of the rings it's a it's a it's a it it comes in three episodes, okay it's a very lengthy movie uh I believe that you should have watched it before for lord of the rings


yeah very nice ya okay so so what do you learn from here okay besides you know this uh no fantasy storyline is that if you if you are if you are persistent, you can achieve you can fight the devil inside you so I'll say that many times the film makers


actually they they put in this intention uh there's a message they want to bring across to the audience like it cannot be too direct, so they make use of this kind of fantasy film to bring across this message so that uh we as a audience


besides enjoying the animation and stuff we still can get this message across so in my point of view fantasy books and film is, more than an escape from reality and it has an altercation meaning behind which we can relate back to our reality yeah


okay I would say there can often when uh when there's uh, before the uh showing of the movie or film there's always this disclaimer let's say PG sixteen or PG eighteen you know and, they will say parental guidance is required so that where the teachers or parents or even adults can actually


guide uh children or teenager who watch these fantasy films that, uh this this part is just purely for illustration you know but then you can learn from this part like, how they are persistent uh like uhand the positive parts and values that can bring across yeah so so


so your concern is uh it's been uh well addressed, sinceuh I mean there's always disclaimer of like PG sixteen eighteen this kind of stuff yeah


okay first of all I must, okay first of I I I must mention okay fantasy films of books is something that okay for a for a movie is only about two hour maximum three hours


I would okay I do agree with you that maybe uh for let's say the maximum of one week you will be , that the the scenes will be still in your mind okay probably you'll be still uh indulge in the fantasy


like what you'll be left let's say uh a romantic scene okay let's say uh like titanic, okay is it it may not be like a fantasy but the the way they actually uh project the romantic it's like I mean the romance is the way they project the romance it's like


something not not not everyone is not everything is achievable you know like uh how many of us can really you know, uh die for each other you know like the the kind of like true love kind of thing it's it's considered a bit of fantasy I would say


but uh how do it uh like how it's like , this kind of ideas won't won't last you for a long time as compared to a drama, yeah so uh which which place every every day or weekly okay that you'll be so absorbed into it so I was saying


films are not so as impactful as versus drama okay so and actually we you know that, it it may not be as related but you know that there's isn't one product that's for everyone, it would be that uh what I'm trying to say is the filmmakers


there's something they want to express through the through the movies and they can't think for everyone !hey! this movie is for you and then probably is not for them, it will be difficult okay and and well sometimes I I must say that


once a while if you escape you can escape from reality why not and and our topic today first of all is, more than an escape from reality so you can still be indulged in the uh you can still be indulged in this uh escape from reality but


uh it definitely offers more okay like , like there there's a couple of like like even like uh animations fantasy animation like mister robinson like uh the great inventors those okay so if if


uh children never watch this okay uh or if a teenager who is uh in the in the in the dilemma of pursuing a science subject, or pursuing similar subject okay so , you will be able to get inspiration from this kind of movie !hey! I want to be like them and I want to invent something if this kind of movies or fantasy film is not available how are we going to create


the next you know uh innovator you know sometimes we make this kind of uh imaginations to to intrigue the creativity enough and, and like even like einstein where he was still a child like even the teachers mentioned that he's too stupid study you know so but he didn't give up


okay of course maybe he gets inspiration from like uh some films etcetera or like , you know he believed in in himself like and you know that this kind of films


they have a big impact on the viewers okay rather than uh is we can easily influence someone who watched film them just talk straight to them, example uh I let's say I need you to uh uh pass this exam with a distinction


uh just by talking to you know you may have that uh impact you may not be able to absorb, okay but if you were to watch a very uh uh uh inspired movie with a some bit of fantasy you will be more


determined you know to achieve you know to be like like the superhero, !hey! if there was if my if my superhero can achieve these uh I look upon my superhero I want to be like him you know, this kind of thing ya like a superhero like uhuh that I want to or maybe be inspire to be a police officer


you know this kind of thing, so that's why I I strongly believe that fantasy books and film can uh is more than an escape from reality and it can inspire you to, to proceed to your to progress to your uh to your next big goal


that's okay


so old school


of course it's up to individual and very often is subjective and of course there will always be someone who is so determined and really put their thoughts into action


they put their thoughts into words and words into action okay so , you can't say that there isn't such kind of person at least okay so , it thus can actually affect uh after watching this kind of fantasy it thus it can we be related back


and it thus can have a uh impact those who had viewed films and be inspired to entertain, ya and I agree with you uh action speaks louder than words and I believe there is individuals


who actually uh really uh inspired and put their action into uh put, their words into action the thought into their thoughts into words and words into the action yeah that's what uh I'm trying to convey that uh


fantasy films and books definitely it's more than just an escape from reality it it has a very uh close link to us, and has a very pact heavy impact on us which can of course lead us to do to be better or be worse yeah


uh nineteen minutes fifty seconds


the arts in our society should focus more on local talent rather than foreign talent, hi uh first of all I must introduce that I am a pure singaporean


so and I I feel that the us in our society should focus more on local talent rather than fallen uh foreign talent , this is I will say a very straight forward topic why


okay we may as a singaporeans I is that I was , since born I was in singapore and uh I been with singapore through know uh I would not say thick and thin definitely okay but, it's like I know everything almost everything is like uh uh if let's say singapore needs my help


then that in terms of like err I will definitely you know come forward if there's something that I can offer and, err because I'm a woman err like for my fellow friends guy friends who are singaporeans they serve the uh national service


okay this is an act of uh patriotic okay uh towards singapore, okay this show that !hey! I'm a singaporean I'm I'm serving the nation okay I'm part of singapore , well as compared to err uh like a foreign talent they they just come to singapore


okay and how can they be expected to you know uh enjoy the same benefit, as a non singaporean okay this is a general topic okay now I'm going to dive into the arts segment okay, with with what I have shared just now in my uh especially in our arts society err for I will want to cover about performing arts society! aiya! performing arts err in our society


cause let's say in a in a music setting which uh I know best okay uh our we have a big group of local talents, who who went oversea to study and came back in singapore okay hopefully to you know know they the effort that came back in singapore instead of continue to stay uh oversea for their


uh music career advancement but they choose to come back at singapore to to nurture, the uh fellow uh young singaporeans uh in terms of their err uh speciality and knowledge, okay but then they are met with foreign talents okay


this is something that err we shouldn't overlook because uh they choose to come back to singapore okay to to share the knowledge they have learned oversea with us, okay and , in the end okay example in a in a err performing setting okay like err


I I'm definitely not racist here definitely okay uh comparing asingapore band, err versus a filipino band okay okay we all know that uh, uh philippines country itself uh there's many err music talent uh what I heard that is that uh


in their primary school they're they're already been learning how to play a guita rbut during my time primary school I was taught to learn recorder instead, okay because back then probably our government they want to emphasize more on uh the main subjects and they see music as a extra curriculum which it is still it is a extra curriculum now


uh uh see that's what the government's perspective back then, so they never put emphasis on the music subject which is the arts okay so so these foreign talents like I say example from philippines they came over they want to err


find jobs in singapore like in the performing scene , it's a it's a competition it's a tough competition out there okay what I must what I'm trying to say that if the local bistro bar


never give a chance to our local talent in performing, how are we going to groom more uh continue this uh this art trade okay it's going to, it's going to uh it's going to meet a downfall


okay if we keep letting uh foreign talent to come in to do similar and same job and it is not that we singaporean we can't do it okay in factsingaporean we have a local taste, we understand what is uh uh multi racial we we can be bilingual or even trilingual in our our song repertoire uh we won't lose out in foreign talent definitely okay


so so I believe thatuh I'm not I feel that society should place more focus onlocal talent than foreign talent


okay so uh actually to make myself clear I am not saying that we shouldn't err let foreign talents in no that's not my point uh my point is to focu smore on local talent


and what you just mentioned is correct like uh like you mentioned about seventy percent of local talent which is actually what I'm trying to say that maybe seventy or eighty percent you know, uh more on local talent's arts okay so uh what we just touched on before that like uh like uh performing scene maybe next one I'll touch on arts is like a uh


uh digital works digital artworks that on design stuff okay uh we have a lot of uh we have a couple of universities, err like like uh in singapore that teaches artlike uh okay NAFA I will not say it's a university okay but lasalle all this and we do offer degree courses in arts and stuff so


as err for for people who chosen this uh design trade in arts okay so they they have this uh knowledge already okay so , is is of course it's good to share different err


design perspective uh you know sometimes when you come from let's say and old uh a foreign country because of their culture okay maybe their their the views and perspective of design is different, because uh like maybe it's uh like maybe err if let's say you a designer from malaysia ya maybe uh heavily influence on uh


Penang culture or let's say a batik kind of design like ya so they in their design elements maybe they in certain in certain uh maybe, design project maybe they they have a stronger point in this and that's where the local can actually learn uh and share different views you know all this


but err of course uh uh I I feel that err the err the company the hiring company itsel fshould uh place a higher percentage in local talents okay because uh , uh in in terms of prices like what we are having now in a uh pandemic like COVID nineteen situation look what is happening


foreign talents when they knew upon this uh uh lock down closure they all fly back to their relative country, if we were to focus more on foreign talents what will happen singapore will probably collapse, okay because all of them went back to their country who's going to stay behind it's definitely the locals so having uh a local talent err


have more local talent in your company is better and that's why I feel that, uh our society should focus more on local talent not only in our uh not only in arts not only in arts okay but in many other trade as well and of course I understand that err


so they they'll be certain trades that of course singaporeans won't uh won't like to take up the job, uh and that's where uh foreign talents if they if they're comfortable and if they left their job they can of course uh err pick it up take up the position okay


but uh if let's say there is a fair amount of uh applicants singaporean applicants in terms of jobs uh singaporean should be uh should have the priority yeah shawn


okay uh just ajust a quick share with you on my recent encounters okay you know that being in the music scene we are now actually out of job for the performing performing err performing line teaching not so much okay


so err recently I actually uh went to jobstreet to apply for jobs and and uh I tred to apply for design-related job because I came from a design background as well you know something that is something very err


astonishing which is uh just applying for a simple let's say graphic design job you know how many applicants are there it's about fifty applicants for a for a simple design job, and there's this segment that say that uh how many are foreign applicants there's about let's say err I will say about one third of them is actually foreign applicants


so so it I'll I'll have this I will start to think I wonder if the foreign applicants like uh, would they be chosen if let's say uh there's there similar qualification and similar experience who will who will be given a priority okay so so


it's like it's very sad as a singaporean to witness that we have to fight we singaporeans ourself we need to fight for jobs and we are at the same time competing with other foreigners, who's probably is going to just stay in singapore for a few years and after that and going to say bye bye goodbye okay so it's like


they are not going to stay probably uh for long term then shouldn't singaporeans be uh be put into a priority, okay that is up to each company's discretion of course uh but as a singaporean I will hope that singaporean is given priority


even if I don't get the job I hope another better singaporean who qualify can get this job, okay yeah so that's why I strongly emphasise that I feel that our society should focus more on the local talents okay because, uh we are the ones who's going to stay we are are the one who actually contribute to CPF you know we try to you know uh our roots are here okay


so this is something uh I wish to bring across yeah yeah


but I believe that there will always be like ananother better singaporean candidate who is a who shares similar uh experience and similar qualification who can actually compete for that ya


or, twenty minutes six seconds


part one debate topic one


, good point you raised so if you are saying anything can be considered art I I strongly err disagree, ya on this point because not all because it says there in the question right anything can be considered art but not all art is of equal value


so I feel be it painting uh you mentioned graffiti art oil painting performing arts at bistro bars I feel, err some very strongly that uh despite the trade is is really different the context in in uh


the word being art I feel that I strongly feel that it should be, uh in monetary sense everybody should be given equal uh respect uh monetary sense maybe the, the government bodies or the important err people can come err to a discussion and say eh look uh it should be of equal value yes this is what I strongly feel


(mmhmm)


(mmhmm), (mmhmm)


good question raised I think the education uh is important so in terms of education ah we are not just talking about , education for the individual like for in this case you mention musicians and then uh you talk about artists I feel that err


education is required from people who are uh employing these people so in this case let's say a bistro bar you were saying err , how do you gauge that a a a newbie comes into the trade, and then you have uh very experienced people coming into the trade and then uh have equal value err I always believed in my point of view err


new people uh they may lack the experience part but have definitely have something to offer , the the old timers yes they are good at what they do uh but sometimes they don't reinvent themselves right they we are guilty of it you know sometimes we don't


invent ourself so therefore we stay stagnant so because of this stagnant thing , the bar uh managers to the directors uh find it very hard to justify so , education meaning to say that err we as a individual we have to uh educate the business owners to to understand that uh yes you may think that uh being new


uh don't deserve this amount this X and X amount uh whereas the old timer deserve this because of the namesake okay they have uh authority they have namesake , they've played for big uh names uh same for graffiti and arts or even oil painting the child prodigy versus the


the old uh timer who is very good at it what he do I feel that uh important value has to be, uh education that means we educate them we give them sources err we speak to them uh in a polite manner we


get them to understand that , it can be if of equal value if if they would open their eyes and be more open to new people, uh suggesting new things and then for the old-timers to to reinvent themselves


so that at the crux of the whole thing right end of the whole uh discussion we can come to an agreement to say that look, I feel that you know uh this new person should deserve uh let's say uh let's come out a figure uh two hundred


sure, yup sure, ya so the general the conclusion here that I can draw is that err business owners themselves must equip themselves with, err the education and the know how to understand err bistro bars uh in terms of musicians


and then uh in the arts sector uh graffiti art or oil painting or be it anything that's related to arts to, educate themselves if if not we can uh always chip in with our ideas to educate them to let them understand and then we can come to a consensus eh look


uh X and X amount uh the market uh rate for the amount is two hundred dollars , uh can we agree that this amount can be given to the new person and uh old timer, the old timer cannot complain oh !hey! look this two hundred is is is too low you know they have to come to a agreement in this matter I feel uh strongly that this may work


(mmhmm), sure, (Z<, okay


so err I understand your points you raised some err some points that I I would wish to debate because, err let's talk about err your point here it says err seasoned musicians versuserr the new musicians coming in


so uh this this thing has been going on uh in in in the local scene for the longest period of time, so there's always this err word that I think we can both agree to disagree , uh fairness what is fair okay if given a circumstance where I am just a newbie coming in into the scene


it's just like any other jobs even err I believe artists uh are facing this issue, if the owner the business owner or if the art gallery manager , doesn't appreciate or even give you an opportunity right to to say !hey! look


I'm willing to give this this person a shot uh or this band a shot to to showcase his his uh art or even music abilities then , how can the experience come in just like any other jobs we need to clock their experience yes I I agree on uh the


the amount ya it's a won't it may not seem fair but I think that the the solution again I'm pointing the solution, uh not on a newbie or not on the seasoned err performer or an artist I'm I'm putting this to


uh business owners err and err managers and err uh directors uh who owns an art gallery, or a bistro bar to understand uh that's why I mention education they need to understand that we, err are the ones err helping the company and uh building at the same time building a name for ourselves so


this thing is I can err I I can agree if you feel that okay if we agree uh on a base amount let's say err two hundred dollars for , a a simple painting for example or even a a night of performing but what if we uh can agree to say


let's let's raise the principal amount to let's say double the price because , that were appease the the newcomer uh I mean the seasoned musician and then the new new person will will come in feeling that ah at least the market is paying me this


so hopefully err moving forward we don't have the newcomers thinking oh, uh taking it for granted oh I I'm getting four hundred uh uh this time you know as compared uh to two hundred, but this principal amount that uh that is a grade err will be the market price that set the industry forward


uh yes I I feel uh strongly that uh this will not, uh cause a division so the old timers will not say things like eh I don't feel fair and a new one will say that eh I coming in a market that is good ya


(mmhmm)


fair enough ya


thanks for your summary okay I feel uh your point you have a few err points but err, my argument will always be in this case uh uh experience experience let's be honest experience is overrated sometimes when


somebody says I have ten years of experience and uh compared to a two year experienced person err the two years experienced person can uh can do better than ten year experienced person so ya, ya so sometimes I feel uh strongly against err


business owners not giving the the new uh blood uh a chance you know it's it's difficult to measure uh understandably so , my summary would be if I were to state uh what uh you have just raised err they are important but err I feel that uh my points are


in terms of fairness uh across the board uh it's equally uh, important so which means to say uh be it a new person or a seasoned person or, any sector any person in the arts sectors deserves err equal value that's what I'm trying to ah summarise


can fantasy books and films offer anything more than an escape from reality


(mmhmm), no


, many times


so uh so to to uh after hearing what you have mentioned I I agree on only certain points because my argument here is this


how do you gauge if we will not talk about uh adults first just err maybe the young teenager how do they , uh perceive uh what you have mentioned like uh yes essence uh some movie they have uh very strong uh hidden meaning to uh to generate a positive uh


effect on a on a person so how does it how does the teenager in this case understand that okay it's just a movie I, I am engaged in the movie I I get a positive meaning I'm going to apply it into reality


ya what would be your your answer to this how would you gauge


(hmm)


, I I I I get where you're coming from I enjoy uh fiction uh I'm a big fan of uh movies as well but , by concern is always uh even adults they may take the the meaning the the wrong way even though


uh the guidelines have been given like a PG sixteen twenty one or eighteen like you mention all these just serve as err err, deterrence it does not really say err control or help the person understand that you know it's just a movie please do not


you know they can say okay uh please do not try this at home like uh dangerous stunt please do not try this at home or just watching a movie and you get so last into it because you know it's a, err I feel it's escapism because , if uh we can every one of us uh have uh problems right we all


uh run into problems and once in a while we like to indulge in a movie or get lost in it but uh that is because we we are able to curb our emotions, so for those who are emotionally not strong enough they if you are not able to disconnect then


how how to uh I see it's very difficult to agree that you know it offers you uh just an escape from reality I think it can be , uh really a serious problem uh for those who are not able to disconnect when uh the time comes because when they watch the movie uh yeah


they are able to escape for that period of time if the movie is two hours oh they immerse themselves in the graphics and everything two hours, uh the the message if it's positive good but if, not every director gives a uh wants a movie that's uh generating just positive vibes sometimes uh


uh based on viewers uh discretion and uh popularity they want to try something different okay let's let's put a negative vibe to it so how, uh how can we uh safely say that look , we draw the line uh uh to that if that is so that will you know uh stop the creativity of the director but of course the consumers err are responsible


uh enough to understand but my point is how do you uh how do we , help those who are not you know because, it's it's a very serious problem as uh, uh as quoted in in in US right people are very they get into they get into the character too


too easily because they are influenced by err many err this kind of movies ya


fair enough ,


I agree on your points but the I still feel that we have to be actually uh uh, a believer of our own actions and uh, I feel that uh at a certain point in time we we look to movies we look to uh books uh films to understand


uh but your case here is you say that it offers more than an is escape from reality uh I would still disagree because, uh escape from reality is is is err, phase with a phase that we go go through so if it uh books and films they they help you they aid you in getting


a rough idea of a actualisation that means you realise okay uh uh for just now you mentioned the police officer okay I want to be err taking this police officer as someone a role model that I , I I can ya the a role model that I can take err from to to improve myself but err what I'm trying to say here is in this case right what is the argument here if


he takes the police officers err uh as a role model but he doesn't go about the action, my point is the action is is not there he's just talking okay I want watch the show after two hours maybe the show is about this police officer robocop for example


okay robocop okay I want to be robocop and after that after watching that two hour movie, after the robocop then he doesn't uh he he wants to be somebody the like robocop in uh, and he he he escaped from that reality of his his very horrible life for example I'm I'm not going to


so is not uh he he has this horrible life so he wants to be robocop outright after the two hour finished he showtime is over then suddenly he comes to realisation that you know , uh I'm still that horrible person you know so the the point is how


the breaking point is when you know everybody is responsible for their own uh life their own action so do they, uh when the question is is in this debate is offer anything more how how does it offer you know because , it's it's back to the same well point the person must be willing and the person must take action cannot be just oh


watching two hour show and then he escaped in that reality for that two hours then comes out still realises that he's a horrible person you see that's my, that's the matter I think the that that is a concern that uh, you know many uh artistic people yes they want to drive a positive message but they they often uh it's not their fault it's it's


it's often the person the consumer in this case uh us taking uh reading books uh avid reader or a, a hardcore movie goer but we we are still responsible for our own actions so in this case my my summary is I think actions are err very important so if


to take the next step so I I I get your point about uh escape from reality uh it can be more than that but the more than that has to be the the individual's effort, uh not so much on oh I just read the book and film then suddenly err it can give me a definite answer to to that


ya that's my point


my turn to read ah can I read the at the same time lah


okay one two three the arts in our society should focus more on local talent rather than foreign talent


(mmhmm),


(mmhmm)


okay and so understandably so uh uh I'm a singaporean as well so obviously I uh


obviously I would say that local talents uh should not be left out yeah in the music scene or be it a music scene or even a broader scale in uh any jobs that uh we're supposed to, uh we we studied in uh we put uh effort in but uh foreign talents uh why we have to be open why


uh the government bodies and uh uh the relevant uh decision makers decide on uh foreign talents is, a very simple reason for the fact of having the pull factor so this pull factor means what if I don't


okay let's say if we just focus on the local talent alone okay no names mentioned we already know who are the are the top musicians, we also find out that and we also do our own research that they actually did go to


uh other countries to also get a a short sting or career and built a name for themselves before coming back so basically that uh what you have stated is a a concern uh locally but


uh the foreign talents will not feel that way you know and uh it may feel that okay as a local I feel is very unfair even myself I'll feel that eh how come it's so unfair that you know have this foreign talent come come and take my job uh you know so but in


the eyes of the decision maker they see it as a long term uh solution okay having the necessary they will think having the necessary expertise and connection will create the platform so they are what the the decision makers are trying to say is I'm going to make use of them in a in a


good or bad way I don't know uh use their expertise their connections to pull this into our local shores so if if we don't pull the local for uh the foreign talents in we keep locally we don't have uh, a strong pull of people outside


uh the society in this case outside of a singapore shores to you know to put in and and do the PR the necessary PR and advertising and say look uh we you know, a country itself we can generate and we can attract uh all these talents to come in so if you say locals definitely I agree with you locals that uh


it's not that they don't have the expertise I only can agree with you that uh you said that day they also have the expertise ya but the thing is it's also good to not have a sense of bias we cannot say like totally


we just accept the local talent for you know this expertise that they have but we haven't tried the to to open our eyes to see what's really outside and what they have come to offer so the, the main thing is we have to try uh it's the same ah it's the same as the uh earlier debates that we have that we have to


uh educate but education you know is like I understand that you're the bar owner doesn't have to educate themselves with music to understand or uh the the decision maker in a company doesn't have to know so much about what this person's destination of the job is that I can agree but it's good to


know that foreign talent can have something to offer if we are not buyers the word we cannot be biased but to a certain extent uh yes I think local should also, uh be given larger pie of the job so maybe uh


decision maker can say uh seventy percent to local and then thirty percent to foreign talent but to say uh zero percent we are closing, uh doors on uh a better , better expertise in in the rich uh in the things that they do yup


, yup


okay so I I get your your points there but uh I'm also uh sure that you are aware that the arts industry the arts industry is very uh it's a very untapped potential if, if if art other industries I can understand ya but this industry uh where art is concerned right we have to


we have to after COVID nineteen situation we have to attract the tourist dollar so to attract the tourist dollar right you need to have like you know, uh foreign talents in the arts scene in this case uh you have to attract them to come you know so that they know that okay you know singapore is not like a just a singapore island


you know it's a singapore island where eh I have my uh same uh uh country people uh patronising the place uh coming here for holidays so uh that will attract uh, the and help the industry not just the industry as a country as well so uh if


we I agree if you say that uh there's a certain percentage or priority yes I agree on that as well but uh, to uh foreign talent also cannot be something uh to be overlook I feel that uh they have to be uh equal opportunity maybe not I should feel that uh


ya if you give me a scale I would always say that uh we will not close our minds and say zero you know but we have to, uh have a open mind and say that look we know that it's going to help our industry and it's going to help the country in terms of the tourist dollar it will improve our economy and uh


as you mentioned the COVID nineteen situation is is uh if we close err we will also face this because just now you mention if we close, I don't give the local chance then uh, things will get worse ah not necessarily true because if we open our minds a bit and say


if we are able to come up with a uh plan decision maker can come up with a plan uh to help singaporeans and then to at the same time, use the foreign talent to say !hey! look we we recognise your your contribution we recognise that you have the


the skill set to to help then I think that uh moving forward the the country can have arts in a society in in in that sense lah, yup


(mmhmm)


, (mmhmm)


, fair enough


, fair enough I think uh, focus the the focus why I I have to mention the point on uh my point is uh as the questions state why uh should we focus more


and rather than uh more local talent rather than foreign talent because uh we have to accept the fact that foreign talent, I think any country I I cannot uh, think of any other countries without having uh uh foreigners uh coming in to contribute because I think it's a collective effort from


uh for each individual country to have fire or a certain number a certain number of of people in a certain number of industry so, uh the point that I can agree with you is on uh if a singaporean is not getting a job should give to another singaporean but if as an employer if an employer sees look


yes the local may seem overqualified uh back to the experience take but the foreigner is more experienced, so the new singaporean is the new newcomer you you you see the point the point is it's back to the singaporean is the newcomer ah but I want to give him job because he's local


the foreigner is a old timer who is very good at his job, does the job well uh has the expertise ten years of experience where whereas maybe that person it's just two years so two and ten uh, this is always the the the thing that is going to weigh on the the employer or the decision maker yeah


in in summary I would say that uh this is a very


uh this is a very touchy subject because local talent and uh foreign talent, uh human beings ah human beings ah everybody I would have to agree that everybody has something uh good to offer it's back to the decision makers again I the, the whole point of uh trying to bring across his uh


education like I said I keep stressing education because uh the decision makers must be the one uh really trying to understand yeah and and be on the ground so I'm not going to give names not going to give designations but the, they have to be equipped with the know-hows to help our society yup


yup twenty minute eleven seconds


part one debate topic one


so while brendan has mentioned that the modern technology improved the quality of a human life right okay my personal point of view is that


as much as it improve but it also take away other aspects of the quality life in human being why do I say so, because as technology advancement or as times change okay more things are evolving uh it makes life like looks simple faster easier but at the same time people are are neglecting a lot and a lot of social skill


so like let's example like what brendon has mentioned okay ah kids these days they know how to use this uh handphone the smartphone or even the technology conveniently, but how often when we are eating out right uh you just you all you need to do is just to turn to the next table okay and conveniently you will see the kids eating with their smartphone right in front of them


but if you think back about it does modern technology help in this way, is is a question mark but does it really uh improve the quality life as a family unit or as a family relationship because more often people are a lot of people are working whether you are working from home or you are working back in the office


family time is a good time where everybody comes together socialise but these days you will see that even though people are coming together and eat together like a mealtime but it is as if that, you can just have your meal by yourself with your phone right in front of you does that mean you improve your quality life I I doubt so because you are neglecting the social skill the human relationship or even


the quality time with your loved one and that's just point number one that I want touch on the other point okay you see the kids are using uh technology and so forth but, these days statistics has already shown the children at a very very young age are already wearing spectacles


and it's going to affect their vision in long term because at young age probably you will see eh maybe it's like uh, no longer upper secondary or even the adults okay the young young children are already wearing the specs, so guys know okay where some of the occupation eh if you are wearing specs it could be not convenient it could be a hazard or it it's just like not conveniently


so does modern technology always improve the quality of uh people's life it is a question mark, why do I say it's a question mark because it it improve but does it really always improve is no for me I don't think so over to you brendan


ya !wah! okay when you say about this technology uh information okay are easily accessible these days as compared to back then the generation


but how often this information that is easily accessible is it as accurate or is it, uh wherever they plug it is where is it coming from, so there's a lot of things that people can scrolled through on the ah on the technology part


about how true is it uh the information is another point of view there's like always two sides of the coin, so how would a person or even a child or even whatever we are sitting on the technology or when we are going through how often do we know


whether this is true uh this is just a myth until where we like you know you really need wait to read up more in depth and you read to see to see maybe case studies or read to uh reference back, to different point then you can see uh whether is it really true or not


okay when you talk about the medical part uh where technology help in advancement so people uh, uh have a longer lifespan okay but when you say about longer lifespan does it means that they have quality life


this isn't true even statistics have shown that uh probably people these days maybe from two thousand onwards people these days are having maybe ten fifteen or even twenty, year uh longer lifespan than back then okay but when we're talking about uh lifespan having better with uh uh medical technology or all these


does we also agree that people do not have a better quality of life why do I say so because people are depending, on medical to sustain longer lifespan so is that what uh everybody one is that like really uh reflects on the quality of the life is different okay because


if a person have good quality of life they do not need medical okay to like extend the quality of life or even, uh and they need advancement of technology for different treatments of ah health complication or uh non infectious diseases


so


but this only applies if uh the the patient is living in a first class country if with modern technology if this patient is living in the rural area, there's no way even with modern technology they can have better quality of life at all


so when you talk about this uh what you mean it's like it's easier for the student to access to uh education despite the pandemic these days, because of the modern technology with the uh conference that the teacher is able to have classes or the children are able to do work homework right


but if the modern technology is so good why , is the hacker possible to hack you to the classroom setting where the teachers is having lesson, so is it the advancements of the technology has benefited them or it is causing disturbance that uh our minister need to address it at a national board on this day and then temporarily uh


cancel the lessons on this part


so as uh like what we are talking on this strike as modern technology advancement of course it uh it is supposed to help people live to get better it's supposed to improve the quality of uh human life


but uh less example okay now like everybody know the pandemic so there's just take that example in singapore aspect, okay ah where everybody has to be stay home and not allowed to leave your house unnecessary and most of the people are working from home


okay and while the kids is having school at home and the parents is having to work from home, does this really improve the quality of life, what do you think I don't think so because it's very very difficult for the parents to manage their job where they have to work longer hours ah why because


their boss is conveniently uh asking them okay ah through technology they have to do this do that but when you are working at, the office you're at like you know you have to work eight to five okay specifically or eight to six okay this time you are working but with modern technology is supposed to make


life easier for everyone but it seems like to take away the time away like uh with your families and even the kids have to manage everything on their own, the parents have to manage their job and how can there be a improve in quality of their life there's no uh no way on that part


yeah what what you mentioned is that uh the modern technology allows the parents to like made probably work from home like uh having quality time


okay with their loved one but how often or I I I should say uh how much of the percentage okay does this really help, it it might be if the parents is like stay home okay stay home mum is not working but majority of the family in singapore right both husband and wife need to work


when people are working and the kids are having school it's a very disruptive even with this modern technology it seems like it's helping but it doesn't like necessary make it at a holistic aspect, and that is where probably a lot of conflicts is coming in and then a lot of uh uncomfortable or a lot of tension is happening and that is why uh people can't release the tension of it


okay so when you are talking about this okay ah like these days


I don't think they have like really quality time on this part because, with the modern technology okay nobody need to connect with everyone's everybody just connect or their phone by themselves all the time it's not like uh when the, kids are in school or the parents are at work is all the time so there's no quality time as a unit as a family


why because people these days you just see okay everybody is like connected to the phone twenty four seven all the time all the time, it's by themselves is not like improving the quality time uh or quality of people life and when people are so engross or so addicted


to their phones the game or social media and that is where people are like uh sometime they just, just not going to rest or just not going to eat and then glue their eyes onto the drama series or the korean drama during this circuit breaker, so this like is not like really improving the whole aspect of the quality of the human life


so to recap what brendan has mentioned okay he feels that the modern technology has helped to improve the quality life of human being okay not only on


uh the education but not only on medical not only on uh, this uh pandemic period but he feels that it really improves all aspect of their life but whereas I myself I don't feel that modern technology


always the word is always improve the quality of human life because it also at the same time as much as you want to improve the quality life okay, but it's going to take away some part of your human life so the question now backs to everybody is


are we willingly to pay the price okay with technology advancement at the same time improving the quality of our human life and see which aspects do we really want ah on this part


okay so uh I think uh on this run right with the modern technology okay, during this pandemic it will be a very very good time for us to judge okay uh how whether how


uh much it improved or how it can make it better or how like does it really affect our life that's all


part two debate topic two


okay as much as uh you mentioned that how science has benefited effective farming okay and we all know that as the world population start to grow the demand of food start to get higher okay


but with science it seems like it can make the production or the or the production or the yield of the crops, like faster speed up the process faster but more often okay it has a lot of like ah additional stuff inside like namely pesticide


hormone injected or even trace minerals are commonly found in the food that we are taking these days so does that really benefit us, it's another question mark so how effective the farming process is being advanced okay with the science


uh if it could be better then it wouldn't have so much uh are harmful things to our body already


so yeah uh we can have the crops or the food any time of the year that we want there's no particular seasons of the year, uh that we are looking forward to like probably durian or probably any stuff that we want to eat already


so as much as the science has help in effective farming but this also have lost some uh, some uniqueness of the food or probably it has made the fruit become genetically modified so


as these days more and more people are are having more awareness of health or nutrition, and people are not wanting to put so much genetically modified food into their body, so where does this genetically modified food or the crops or things that we are eating coming from


is it because of that uh effectiveness farming through science or through technology


so as much as the farmer want to speed up the process of the crops uh and have uh, more different ah quantity of crops coming into different countries of course okay we understand their purpose is to have making more profit from


uh their production okay but during the process of this when when we are talking about effective farming, are we just talking about the quantity of the food or are we also talking about the, quality of the food that the consumer are having because these days


everyone know you can get food at a convenience of your finger tips you'd be no longer need to even go to the supermarket to buy anything we can just scroll through the phone and then uh can have the food that we want to eat already, but then what are we eating are we really eating the food are are we really eating chemicals or hormone so this is another question because


the the chicken cannot grow up instantly like that right but with science is possible with the homos injecting it but there will be a lot and a lot of complication to our health, but uh but very commonly we just eat it because uh it it's just convenient next to us so how does effective farming


actually with science advancements help in the beneficial of the human being in terms of health aspects


okay so when you mention about that so when we talk about ah on this part right effective science uh effective farming with ah science


but how to how can we relate this back to the place where they are not so are easily accessible to food or like those are rural areas, they are not like the city so even with the advancement of the science with the food


the the people living in a rural areas they are still having their own crops they are still having their own plants they are still growing their own chicken the traditional way, without any science at all they are still able to feed their family or probably a lot of people in the village are also doing this just


without the science and they are still able to go through the farming and the process and all, because when we're talking about effective farming with science definitely it's going to cost a lot and lot and lot of money


right but where like just take a look at our neighbouring country when we're talking about like uh farming like uh indonesia where uh after the harvest of the, crops already so there isn't much money that the farmer can use okay the next easiest things they can do is just burn the plantation instantly they can have


natural fertiliser but there is going to uh also benefit them because when they don't have so much money and invest back to their crops or their plantation and then with the science help, so that is where the farmer will goes to this way but yet they are still able to have their uh plantation going on


so like what you have mentioned okay the farmer is able to predict when are the crops can be uh done and then where they can harvest it and than uh, sell it and make profit like then before that they can do on marketing side right with the


advancement of uh science this is possible but without science this is impossible at all because it's all unpredictable is that what you mean, okay so that is rare okay why would it be predictable why because they have added in additional may probably uh


production stuff or the uh ingredients to make the growth of the uh food okay, suppose okay to be ripe at this period of time but sometimes it doesn't go this way because probably because of weather because of climate change because of a different situation goes around the world


but why the food can be still sell as specific time uh of the uh farming is just, because uh they just beat up the process and they just don't bothered they I mean they are the farmer okay, the farmer okay just speed up the process and they just don't bother what exactly is going on when the real food or not


and so that is why where people are getting like organic food whole food okay a lot of consumer are willing to pay higher price if you buy and check it up higher price or they are willing okay to wait, for the food that right naturally instead of using the science to speed up the process pick the


and products okay predictable at this point of time and when the the food is being uh speed up because of uh, of wanting to fetch more profit bag okay that is where in fact a lot a lot of nutrients are being lost so commonly we when we buy the fruits


okay and apple used to taste so sweet used to say an apple they keeps the doctor away why because it has so much nutrition, uh content inside and a fruit okay example an apple by these days because of modernise technology in farming okay with the help of science


these days it's no longer the issue already people are just eating the things that it might look good but it doesn't have any benefit for us at all, so even if it it seems to be quick in production with the science help does he have any beneficial so there is a question mark


ya so with science yeah it seems that it can live better getting the essence out from the food okay there it make the process like easier, uh like what you have mentioned right back then okay so uh but we're talking about effective farming is a process is a process where the seat is being planted and then


the uh until the consumer get their raw uh raw food right I mean the raw uh the end products dried so on this part itself okay, so how effective can this farming process be


it is only effective okay it will only be effective with science if, okay the manufacturer is gonna invest a lot of money on this part and if, okay the farmer or the manufacturing company is able to uh manufacture the end product with quality


but often enough if the manufacturer is going to manufacture something that is uh effective with science and low costs, do you think they can make a profit I don't think so because no manufacturing company going to do charity on this part right


so is it effective possible to go with science is a question mark how to the extent is it possible, okay and how does it like really benefit uh the consumer or the farmer or the manufacturing just want to make profit with science


so does it mean that with like the example that you quote right like the fuji apple okay so that is the the, the example that you illustrated so with science is going to help it tastes sweeter of course with technology that's where we can have enjoy the fuji apple in singapore


conveniently at our house without having to go to japan right especially during this uh locked down period in both of the country but, how how effective is it with science is it possible or not


why because as much as the things have been manufactured what have science do to benefit it, does it speed up the process of uh farming or does it speed up the production of the end products or does it with science benefit the end


the end product that a consumer is having so as much as okay we wanted a uh uh effective farming, that with science it make the process easier cheaper manufacturing costs and of course during the harvest period okay the end products are good with quality with nutrition


but does it also mean that with science it will come at a cheaper price for consumer, no it doesn't mean that at all because as much effective it can be but with science definitely is going to cost more right so as the consumer are having it but then


how how with this effective farming okay will be possible without science, what about without science back then in the olden days there isn't any science that all look the amount of quality food people are having look how fresh the food is


look how sweet the apple is okay and also look at how uh a lot of people having the real food or the real organic food back then has it benefit their health


part three debate topic three


yeah I think we should embrace it okay because with this AI it really really makes the process, okay of all aspects so convenient so with the technology advancement of course now we are living in this century this era


not only do we does it help to benefit us I think mean like what our government has said and moving forward in the direction in singapore, the industry is going to become a five point zero is because of the advancements with this AI it has uh going to benefit us in more aspect


yeah I also agree on that like at let's example with this pandemic okay, ah where patient has to be quarantined okay or the ah patient has to be you know staying in the hospital


and as much as possible okay the medical staff uh wanted to assist wanted to help but of of course they are also concerned about their health or their life at risk right, so with this AI okay I saw that okay a lot of places okay are they are


helping okay humans to transport the food to these people who are on quarantine and that uh uh, bringing them food or necessity making it safer okay uh not only for the people in quarantine place but also for the uh front liners


okay where they also at the same time fight the virus or at the same time take care of their health so this is like really really beneficial


ya so definitely it's like in short makes life so simple is like so, able to help uh lot of humour being and benefit on this like let's example if it is not uh uh inevitable uh if it's not good


why why does like Apple you know they have like the device or even Android they have the device where you can just, make your house the smart house and easily conveniently just saying some words of commenting or something and the device is able and the AI I should say that AI


the artificial intelligence will be able to help you to like probably, monitor okay your house situation or probably uh help you on the basic necessity turning on the lights okay heating up your stuff for you


so of course like uh when we are talking about this uh AI let's example the camera will do if you we have a kids example if a person have a kids at home, okay or they need somebody to like monitor the house or their where they're going travelling and so forth so with this AI okay uh or I should say the cameras and all this it helps


okay to look after the property or even the uh younger one and see how are they uh well being and the


and then it's gonna help to uh take care of their well being


so definitely it looks like uh on this part right they have made a tremendous uh help to the, banking uh the financial industry so it can like make it simple because it's quite impossible if without this


uh AI is quite impossible to keep track on every single person who is having a bank account to know their exact transaction in and out and on uh, the transaction part on that


!wah! it looks like it has so much benefit now then I know oh AI has the weak AI then what we commonly are using or even the strong AI, there is like in the driving device in the car it helps like example if a person can't do parallel parking so probably it helps


but definitely it's going to be so much beneficial, but uh in the hospital aspects it makes the uh probably the procedure like more precise okay and more accurate since is an AI


!wah! that is good you know so precise so accurate so it makes driving like more safe it makes driving like uh, without having the headache of parking or probably it make like accident rate tremendously been minimises already


yeah !wow! it's good it has so so much beneficial on this part not only on that like what we discussed and mentioned earlier on, but in our career it also make like the job more uh easier and then we can do more stuff uh getting more stuff being completed


so probably uh branden could you share what is your personal experience of using an AI have you ever used an AI before


okay probably maybe I share with you okay other than using the handphone, uh that we have like I'm using the iphone right it has siri's and probably like android okay, and so forth like uh and then good experience like uh my kids having like the AI


okay so one day then we just went over to a friend's house eh we don't know her house is oh everywhere it's a smart house okay, ah smart house as in everything is being uh, digitalise okay from the fan to the light to even the heater and so forth okay and apparently they are having this


alexa the alexa is the while their control all the things at home so uh my little girl was so shocked oh by talking to a device, okay actually the device is able to control the whole hub so it not only controls the house


of course the owner have to do setting to it right so it not only controls, the lightings it not control the electricity and very commonly this is where okay uh it indirectly helps to lower the electrical bill


so you might be wondering how can it indirectly lower the electrical bill it's because, very commonly we just go from one room the other room or go to do this task at home or these chores at home and we don't really remember to on eh off the lighting


so with AI is going to help you whether you are in the other room the other toilet you can just command the AI AI is going to make your job done and make job so simple


yeah yeah I agree with you on that too so there's once where I went to the library I also shocked you know but because why because library is like commonly the librarian, so usually librarian are the one that sort out the books okay and then


sort out the books and or helping you to look for the stuff that you want but the library these days are helping also, to uh with the AI the artificial intelligence okay to help to speed up the process, of sorting out of books or even assisting okay uh the reader shouldn't have any needs or any uh assistance so it made like the process like so much easier because in library


you don't often see a library librarian coming to you or like uh uh uh, if you need any help you saw a librarian, but with AI is like everywhere eh probably just a few turn then you can have a AI who is assisting you out already


so it makes like uh more companionship right for the elderly uh and then they have can, like relate back is so nice right because sometimes ah the kids or the family members are so busy with work


and the elderly might be neglected so with this AI okay it helps, the elderly but uh not in like you know talking ya so far but taking their attention away or probably make the time pass even faster right


that would be a great experience you know, because when people are are with AI right sometimes they don't even know where exactly is or how to go to a specific place, like let's example say okay the commonly as people are using ah like google or even waze their waze their apps right while they're driving


okay so it if it if it isn't because of AI, !wow! are you impossible for people to travel and drive on the road already so it's like you know is a foreign land, and you have to remember the things specifically so it's very impossible but with AI it makes


uh life more meaningful or I should say it makes life more easier and not so complicated


!wah! that must make the journey like travel faster and make the journey less stressful already


part one debate topic one


does modern technology always improve the quality of humans life yes for me I totally agree with this why I say so because, as now you can see technology seems to be advanced so quickly and they are so many innovations and


and you were also see less impossible things uh, it's possible things as recreated with technology nowadays, and it actually help humans to save lots of time and also uh money and


why I say technology help to improve human life just in back when during our grandparents' time, even they want to see each other they have to write a uh a letter and it


usually take up at least a few months to reach, one another but look at now maybe one have a handphone, even five years old children they also have a handphone and


as young as three years old they know what is called tiktok what is called social media and all this thing they, all this uh technology uh advancement it actually bring humans have a uh better understanding


each other they know outside world better and they, they uh it also shortened uh shortened the communication time with each other


okay thank you so much vanessa okay when you talk about, uh he uh when you talk about a question mark whether it's seems to be in a to be improve or not let's me show you some examples why I'm so firm with technology increase humans life


don't you agree that nowadays uh children are more knowledgeable than, our uh our our generations or our uh grandparents' generation