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ANALYSIS OF 'THE PARENT TRAP' EPISODE - THEMATIC APPROACH

In this episode, there is quite a few specific cultural references that are either accurate/inaccurate representation of Singapore's culture. Some of these are some that only a Singaporean would understand -Singaporeanism. Let us take you through and have a look! :)

Singlish: 3:15-3:30mins (Accurate to some extent)

Phua Chu Beng (PCB): "Margaret is forcing me to speak properly just to impress... It is times like this that i want to yell out lah meh loh! ... are very fundamental part of our lives... because it is fun and mentally good"

- This shows us how Singlish is such a huge part of our lives but yet we understand the importance of English in a serious context such as a business meeting or to have a good first impression on someone.

- Furthermore, Singlish is only understandable by Singaporeans, showing us how our culture is only unique to us in this sense :)

Food: Hougang Beef Noodles: 13:20-13:25mins (Accurate)

Margaret: "Most unique most special most singaporean dish and i found it! Beef noodles penang style!"

- Only singaporeans will know of the Hougang beef noodles

- The idea of space, where only singaporeans know where the place is and the sense of place to it :)

- Singapore as a food paradise: very accurate as we are known for our wide variety of yummy food!

Multi-racial (Not accurate to some extent)

- Exclusion of other races (cast) in sitcom except Lynette's mother

- The rest are all Chinese family

- This is definitely not the case as Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-cultural society with many different races living in the same area :)

Some inaccurate representation of our culture

Exaggerated

- It is naturally exaggerated in this as it is a sitcom, however, due to the exaggeration, it may distort our true practices

- Such as spitting (22:22-22:40mins) anywhere we like (Singaporeans do not do that, especially when we are known as being a very clean and green city)

Generalization

- It will be problematic if we generalize Singaporean families into just this type, as it is just a over-simplified version.

Mockery

- It may also seems to be a mockery to our culture where we are unable to speak proper English (2:20-3.12mins) and have to take great efforts to be able to achieve that.

- 14:48-14:55mins where PCB is trying hard to spit and act like a "true Singaporean" which is not a true representation of the normal Singaporean.

Outdated

- Singapore is globalising along with the rest of the world and is getting more westernized. Times have changed and the actions that are portrayed in the sitcom may not be applicable or true representation of our country anymore.

In conclusion, the themes of the PCK sitcom episodes can be accurate in representing some parts of our culture, but yet some of it are already outdated as this sitcom was filmed many years ago.

PCK THE PARENT TRAP EPISODE

PCK MRT 'A happy journey starts like that' campaign poster analysis

The words “please give up this seat to those who need it” in the speech bubble acts as a denoted relay message (Barthe, 1977) that aids the image of Phua Chu Kang (PCK) used by SMRT. The open palms of PCK create a sense of invitation to entice commuters to proactively offer their seat to “those who need it”. The direct eye contact of PCK constructs the idea of him speaking directly to the commuters, such that one feels obligated to ‘obey’ the message of the image. There is also the idea of PCK being able to understand the importance of caring for the elderly, which implies to us that if he is able to do that, we, as educated citizens, should be able to do so too.

References:

http://smong.net/2009/06/pck-promoting-graciousness-on-mrt-in.html

French original, ‘Rhetorique de I’mage’, Communications 1, 1964; English translation by Stephen Health in R. Barthes: Image – Music – Text (Fontana, 1977)

PCK Sarvivor Rap

Lyrics:

Some say 'leh',some say 'lah'
Uncle Phua say time to fight SARS
Everybody, we have a part to play
To help fight SARS at the end of the day

Wash your hands whenever you can
Wash with soap, then at least got hope
When you get home, take a bath quickly
'kiasu' a bit- be safe not SAR-ry.

Try not to travel to SARS countries
Wait a few months, wait and see
Eh why you rush to catch to catch that plane
Use internet , use your brain

Getting protection from this virus
Means getting healthy - inside us
Don't work too much until you're sick
Get exercise and get yourself fit.


Good nutrition and vitamins
Help you to pass the immunity challenge
Eat Your proteins, carbo and fibre
Then you can be a SAR-vivor.

PCK say don't play play
Or this stupid SARS is here to stay
But we can fight this , you and me
Help fight SARS in our country

[Chorus]
SARS is the virus that i just want to minus
No more surprises if you use your brain,
use your brain, use your braaainnn.

Can't SARS me baby, and i don't mean maybe
You must be steady, just use your brain,
use your brain, use your braaainnn.

References:

http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/phua_chu_kang/sarvivor_rap-lyrics-614455.html last accessed 5 November 2011

ANALYSIS OF 'VIRTUAL REALITY' EPISODE - THEMATIC APPROACH

"Virtual Reality" Episode - Simulation

Phua Chu Beng (PCB) has a new device: VRHMD - Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Display where he is able to experience a simulation in a small device!

It is a device where we can be in a 'total immerse in a interactive computer simulated graphic environment' which gets to "show the client what the house looks like before it is being built".

Instead of just a drawing (2Dimension) of the house, he is able to experience stepping into the house (3Dimension) as he views the house from the VR HMD.

This is reflective of what we have learnt about the simulacra - a representation of the real which is different from the original. By viewing the simulation of the house from the VR HMD, PCB is able to get a feel of the house as if he has been there before.

Like what PCB says "total immerse in a interactive computer-simulated graphic environment!", "like the matrix movie", it gives us almost the same simulation as the real everywhere we go, and we do not need to be in the house to have a taste of what it is like!

This VR HMD blurs the line between the real and the virtual real, and PCB is unsure whether there is a fixed reality as the real is re-represented by another medium (in this case, the VR HMD) again.

"This actually puts you in the house... It is a computer simulation of the house.. Oh so it is not real.. No it is virtually real, that's why it is called virtual reality!"

There is also a case of irony where PCB remarks that "we are not talking about some stupid local TV show here, we're talking about the real thing! Or the virtual real thing..." However, the TV show is actually a simulation of the lives of a typical Singaporean family who is undergoing a simulation through a virtual reality device! So, do we consider it as a real thing, a virtual real thing or none?

Just some food for thoughts here :)

PCK VIRTUAL REALITY EPISODE

CHARACTER OVERVIEW

PHUA CHU KANG

- Acted by Gurmit Singh

- Portrayed as the typical blue collared worker (contractor) in Singapore with his trademark yellow boots, large facial mole and sloppy clothings

- Represents the typical 'uncles' in Singapore who frequent coffee shops and sit with a leg up on the chair

- Always boasting that he is the "Best in Singapore, JB, and some say Batam"

- Famous catchphrase: "Don't play play" and "Use your brain"

- Speaks only Singlish

PHUA CHU BENG

- Acted by Pierre Png

- Phua Chu Kang's brother

- Portrayed as the typical smart and much more educated character as compared to Phua Chu Kang, and is much more 'law by law'

- Represents the typical educated, humble or nerdy working adults

ROSIE

- Acted by Irene Ang

- Phua Chu Kang's wife

- Portrayed as the typical loud and expressive auntie around the block wholoves playing mahjong and wears loud striking clothing that stand out among the crowd

MARGARET PHUA

- Acted by Tan Keng Hua

- Phua Chu Beng's wife

- Portrayed as the typical modern woman that speaks fluent English and is independent and has her own mind, speaking up for many things especially against PCK

- Confident of herself and dresses prim and proper as compared to the rest of the family

- A vegetarian

AH MA

- Acted by Neo Swee Lin

- Portrayed as the typical caring ahma in a family

- Bubbly and cheerful

- Speaks in perfect english in the sitcom, but hokkien in the movie

- Tends to be ignored by the family but is still pretty happy with life

- Used to make “Ice Kachang” balls for a living (local delight à ball of crushed ice, with colourful syrup poured over

References:

1) Phua Chu Kang's photo: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phua-Chu-Kang-Sdn-Bhd/150327087890

2) Phua Chu Beng and Margaret Phua's photo: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/cyberpioneer/backissuesfeb2.htm

3) Rosie's photo: http://smong.net/2011/04/prada-of-proles-this-fashion-versus.html

4) Ahma's photo: http://www.pckthemovie.com/gallery.html

PHUA CHU KANG OVERVIEW

Phua Chu Kang is a Singapore sitcom that was highly received for the past years. It is a relatively exaggerated but related to the everyday lives of the average Singaporeans especially in the home setting. Many feels that it is a good representation of Singapore while some doubt so. In our point of view, our group feels that PCK used to be a relatively good representation of Singapore in the past. However, as globalisation is as always so fast-paced, the similarity of PCK in reflecting the average Singaporean lives has decreased. In this blog, we hope to be able to analyse PCK in terms of the characters which portrays some typical roles in Singapore, and in terms of some of the episodes that are highly reflective of our culture.

References:

1) http://www.cinemashops.com/sub/pck02.htm