Have You Heard?

Name: Lim See, John (16263)

Have You Heard?

An Argument to Preserve Superstition in Singapore,

Where it Reflects Our Inner Desires and Fears Through Design.

02/10/2015

Adviser: Stanley Lim

BA (HONS) Design Communication – Graphic Communication

Faculty of Design

Lassalle Collage of the Arts

Introduction

In this modern century, Singapore are currently facing an issue on younger generation neglecting their roots to their cultural understanding, where most them consider these practices and beliefs are a form of superstition or magical thinking. To them, if the traditional practices could not provide any reasoning or facts, such practices will fall under the category of irrational thinking, where they will consider it as a form of superstition beliefs. As a designer, it is important for us to learn and understand the meaning of these traditional practices left by our forefather, and helps to preserve and celebrate these traditional beliefs and the ideology for our future generation. “Science of today, the superstition of tomorrow. Science of tomorrow, the superstition of today.” (Fort, 2011, pg 164)

Firstly, in this thesis will be looking into the concept of how superstition affects on Singaporean daily life and how it reflects on thier behaviours, fears and desires, where (Hood, 2010) and (Vyse, 2000) famous writer and psychologists will be explaining on the ideology of superstition, and the reasoning of irrational thinking from a scientific point of view. In additional, will be also looking into different superstition in Singapore context, and case study on different issues where non-believer reacts towards these irrational beliefs and practices. Also from behavioural economist and writer (Ariely, 2010) and psychologists (Hutson, 2012), they will be explaining their theory on superstition and the needs to preserve these...