Hi Jac,

Happy American Thanksgiving to all! I've tried to
avoid e-mail all day long, but decided to cave in
and send a message anyhow, since most of you
probably don't celebrate the occasion. 

I like your proposal to explore "dark tourism" in
relation to the "dark sites" of Asia, and especially
in relation to the "dark stereotypes" that visitors
and locals bring to these sites. I think that
examining the specific cultural stereotypes that
inform people's engagements with the macabre might
be very fruitful. Do Americans and Singaporeans find
the same sorts of things to be 'dark?' One man's
darkness might be another man's way of life.

Like other exotic aspects of tourism, the notion of
the 'forbidden' is a deeply compelling one. As a
first time visitor to Singapore, I was constantly
wondering what was forbidden, and what was allowed.
That sense of not knowing the possible taboos was
very exciting, but also kind of nerve-wracking. 

Despite all my initial apprehensions about being
accosted by the secret police for crimes I had
unwittingly committed, I loved my time in Singapore!
I'm dying (no dark pun intended) for an opportunity
to go back there. I especially liked the Night Zoo,
where there are no cages for the animals. I couldn't
figure out how they are able to keep the tigers and
lions next to the gazelles and the antelopes, though! 

I also liked the Merlion statues (one downtown on
the harbour front, and one huge one on Sentosa
Island). The night markets were excellent and almost
like being at a carnival. And one evening, I sang
kareoke with some Singaporeans whose favorite song
was "Bye Bye Miss American Pie." And of course there
are those pungent, prickly fruits whose shells smell
like death itself!
 
Actually, I had an opportunity to see a lot of
theatre and performance art while in Singapore
because that was the purpose of my visit. And *that*
was really the "darkest" part of the visit, because
the cultural aesthetics and modes of embodying
tragic stories were so different in Singapore than
in the West. I was really struck by the ways in
which actors from Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and
other Asian countries performed certain histories of
sorrow. There were few 'happy endings' and few of
the customs of making audiences feel safely
entertained that one might find in NYC. I was
particularly disturbed by some of the performances
pertaining to domestic violence.

But I was disturbed by those performances in a good
way, in that they made me aware of my own western
modes of seeing, and my own western expectations. 

Anyhow, I must be off now, but I hope you send us
more details about your research plans as thye
unfold. Your topic sounds very cool!

----- Original Message -----
From: Jac Liew <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2005 3:22 pm
Subject: Re: Dark Tourism in Asia!

> Theresa,
> 
> Indeed, as a Singaporean myself, I was flooded
with questions on 
> the rules 
> and regulation about Singapore when I first
arrived in Switzerland. 
> However, I do understand the 'perception' others
have on us. They 
> are just 
> some misconception on it. Alot have changed since
independence. :) 
> 
> And with regards to these "dark" sterotyping, it
might be 
> interesting for 
> me to link "dark tourism", "dark site" and "dark
perception" of/in 
> Asia?
> With regard to 'secret police' in Singapore, all I
can say its 
> depends on 
> your luck. Haha! But I hope you enjoyed your trip
in Singapore?
> 
> Jac
>