Hy2254 Pop Culture in Singapore Term Paper What Does the...

Question Number amp; the question: ------------------------------------------------- 4. What does the history of television demonstrate about the wider context of Singapore’s history in the post-1965 period? Roadmap for Analysis 1. Introduction 1 2. Television and Society’s Changing Values 2 3. Television as a mirror of the Government’s goals 5 4. Television as a reflection of Singapore society’s maturing preferences 6 5. Conclusion 7 6. Bibliography 7 ------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction Television was introduced to Singapore in 1963 by Radio and Television of Singapore, under close regulation by a department within the government’s Ministry of Culture. Today, local free-to-air television†¦show more content†¦As evidenced by the figures mentioned earlier, enjoying television shows were largely a communal affair between the 60s and 80s. As it progressed from being an activity enjoyed as a community (in community centres) to being an activity enjoyed with one’s family (at home), we see a shift in viewing habits, as television watching gradually became a more personal activity, as the average amount of people which the average person viewed television with became smaller. The number of channels available for viewing also increased, thus granting greater autonomy to television viewers. In 1963, there were 2 channels – Channel 5 and Channel 8, which broadcasted programmes in English and Chinese respectively. By 1985, there were four channels; Prime 12 and Premiere 12 were added, designed to offer public service and minority language programming. Thus there was a significant increase in the variety of choices which television viewers had at their disposal. With greater choice in selecting what they wanted to watch, the masses definitely became less united in the programmes they watched, as there were now specific channels to cater to a variety of needs, thus contributing to the gradual shift from collectivism to individualism in Singapore society. The shift from collectivism to