SG's way  in handling social problems

SingLit vs. global titles

Writing school essays about winter and autumn

Is Singlish still considered "bad English"?

What do we miss if we only read social media?

Is there still room to read for enjoyment?

Paying to read, forcing kids to eat vegetables

Is being a writer in SG an economic dead end? 

Gwee writes for readers 50 years ahead

Is self-censorship a worry for local writers?

Why do Singaporean kids write about winter? Gwee Li Sui on AI, Singlish & why culture cannot be rushed. 

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

A year after the launch of our Culture Pass credits, take-up rates sit at just 10 per cent. Meanwhile, Singapore’s new national reading movement, ReadSG, now aims to pay people to try building a consistent reading habit.

What does this say about us as a people? Is it such a bad thing if we stop reading long-form fiction and just read social media? And why bother with SingLit when we are already so familiar with Singapore’s culture?

In this episode, assistant opinion editor Lianne Chia speaks to poet, graphic artist, and literary critic Gwee Li Sui on why focusing too much on hitting KPIs in our quest for culture often backfires. They discuss how doomscrolling and short-form text change our capacity for empathy and nuance, and uncover the brutal economic reality of being a creative writer in Singapore.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:50 Singapore's pragmatic way in handling social problems

8:00 Why is SingLit a hard sell for readers compared to global titles?

8:57 Why do Singaporean students still write school essays about winter and autumn?

22:12 Is Singlish still considered "bad English" today? 

27:06 What do we miss if we only read social media?

34:43 With AI summarising everything, is there still room to read for enjoyment?

38:02 Why paying people to read is like forcing kids to eat vegetables

44:50 Is being a creative writer in Singapore an economic dead end? 

51:50 Why Gwee prefers to write for readers 50 years in the future

53:47 Is self-censorship among local writers a worry?

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lianne Chia (liannechia@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

YouTube: https://str.sg/GjMT

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#inyouropinion

Why do Singaporean kids write about winter? Gwee Li Sui on AI, Singlish &amp; why culture cannot be rushed.&nbsp;
Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
A year after the launch of our Culture Pass credits, take-up rates sit at just 10 per cent. Meanwhile, Singapore&rsquo;s new national reading movement, ReadSG, now aims to pay people to try building a consistent reading habit.
What does this say about us as a people? Is it such a bad thing if we stop reading long-form fiction and just read social media? And why bother with SingLit when we are already so familiar with Singapore&rsquo;s culture?
In this episode, assistant opinion editor Lianne Chia speaks to poet, graphic artist, and literary critic Gwee Li Sui on why focusing too much on hitting KPIs in our quest for culture often backfires. They discuss how doomscrolling and short-form text change our capacity for empathy and nuance, and uncover the brutal economic reality of being a creative writer in Singapore.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:50 Singapore's pragmatic way in handling social problems
8:00 Why is SingLit a hard sell for readers compared to global titles?
8:57 Why do Singaporean students still write school essays about winter and autumn?
22:12 Is Singlish still considered "bad English" today?&nbsp;
27:06 What do we miss if we only read social media?
34:43 With AI summarising everything, is there still room to read for enjoyment?
38:02 Why paying people to read is like forcing kids to eat vegetables
44:50 Is being a creative writer in Singapore an economic dead end?&nbsp;
51:50 Why Gwee prefers to write for readers 50 years in the future
53:47 Is self-censorship among local writers a worry?
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section: <a href="https://str.sg/w7sH?ref=inline-article">https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Host: Lianne Chia (<a href="mailto:liannechia@sph.com.sg">liannechia@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Danson Cheong &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">&nbsp;https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb">&nbsp;https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV">&nbsp;https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/GjMT">https://str.sg/GjMT</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
Get more updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">&nbsp;https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Danson Cheong &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.