A Study on Chinese Singaporean Modernist Literary Movement

Our research fellow, Ms Phoon Kwee Hian, of the Year 2008 Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship (LKCRF) awarded by National Library Board has completed her 6 months of full-time research. She will be giving a public talk in Mandarin to present her research findings. The topic of the talk is A Study on Chinese Singaporean Modernist Literary Movement.

Owing to institutional controversy and literary politics, not so many critics have attempted to write about the position of Modernist Literature in post-independence Chinese Singaporean literary history. The years between 1967 and 1983 are almost an unexplored land. However, this was also the critical time period of the development of Modernist Literature in Singapore.

Ms Phoon’s research involves the analysis of the literary supplements of Nanyang Siang Pau, including Youth’s Corner, Literary Miscellany, Literary Page, Café and Window, published in Singapore from 1967 to 1983 and Chao Foon Monthly in Malaysia from 1969 to 1974, available in microfilms in the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. Her dissertation, with a firm foundation in the number of words, extensively and analytically studies the origin, development and influence of Chinese Singaporean Modernist literary movement which was helmed by 2 important promoters, Leang Meng Kwang and Tan Swie Hian. This is a talk on a path-breaking research study that you should not miss.

We sincerely invite you and your friends to attend this public talk. Details as follows:

Date: 11 November 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30pm
Registration: click here
Language: Mandarin
Venue: Multi-purpose Room, Central Public Library, Basement 1, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064

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亲爱的读者：
新加坡国家图书馆管理局2008年的李光前研究奖研究员方桂香，已经在新加坡国家图书馆完成为期半年的全职研究工作，她将就研究成果在国家图书馆作一场华语公开演讲，讲题是《新加坡华文现代主义文学运动研究》。

　　方桂香的演讲提纲如下：

（一）新加坡华文现代主义文学运动的特殊人文历史情境
1. 西方文化思潮的冲击
2. 对革命现实主义文学的反叛
3. 现代主义文学的文化资产

（二）新加坡华文现代主义文学发展的政治社会与文化背景
1. 共产主义份子渗透新加坡华社
2. 新加坡左翼政党社阵以文艺作为统战的武器
3. 现代主义文学对新马年轻作者的启蒙意义

（三）新加坡华文现代主义文学运动概况与特征
1. 新加坡华文现代主义文学是文化传译的佳例
2. 恢复文学创作的自由本质精神
3. 革命现实主义文学的僵化与现代主义作家的崛起
4. 新加坡华文现代主义文学运动推动者的文艺理论与思想
5. 新加坡华文现代主义文学推动者的革新策略

　　 方桂香从李光前参考图书馆搜集到《南洋商报》副刊《文艺》、《文丛》、《咖啡座》和《窗》，以及马来西亚文学月刊《蕉风》跨16年（1967-1983）的缩微胶卷原始材料。论文在有力的数字基础上，全面论析以梁明广和陈瑞献为首的新加坡现代主义文学运动的起源、发展与影响。这个具开拓性价值的学术演讲，不容错过。

诚邀你和朋友出席研究员方桂香的这个演讲，详情如下：

日期： 2008年11月11日（星期二）
时间： 6.30pm
报名： http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/Event.aspx?EventID=26567
语言： 华语
地点： 新加坡国家图书馆
Multipurpose Hall, Central Public Library, Basement 1
100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064

Symposium on Singapore Literature, 7 Nov 2008 @ National Library

The National Library and the NTU Centre for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (represented by Prof Koh Tai Ann) is co-convening a Symposium on Singapore Literature (Sing Lit) on 7 November, 2008 at the National library.

The Symposium is being held in connection with the launch of a new Annotated Bibliography of Singapore Literature in English. Meant for the general public, students and teachers, the objective of this free-admission symposium is to raise the profile of Singapore Literature in English. The programme is designed to be largely non-academic with only one session devoted to academic papers.

The planning for the symposium is currently underway and NLB would like to invite local publishers to take part in a showcase as part of the programme. The Symposium will be held from 9am to 5pm at the Possibility Room, Level 5 of the National Library Building, followed by a cocktail reception at the Pod from 5pm. All tea breaks and lunch will be held in the adjacent Imagination Room, where the publishers’ showcase will be held. Publishers are also welcome to continue with their showcase during the cocktail reception at the Pod.

A programme outline is available here.

SBPA members interested in this symposium should contact Sharon Chen of NLB by 17 Oct 2008.

National Library Board establishes a family of identities

National Library Board establishes a family of identities to reinforce the difference in functions between the National Library and the network of Public Libraries

The National Library Board (NLB) has recently established a family of identities to raise the public’s awareness of the two main groups of libraries that the Board oversees. With better public awareness and greater appreciation of the different functions of these, NLB looks forward to fulfilling its mission with greater effectiveness.

Effective 1st September 2008, our Board will use the family of identities (below) to educate the public on the different functions and roles of the National Library and Public Libraries.

National Library Board – Corporate Identity

National Library Singapore’s Identity

Public Libraries Singapore’s Identity

The National Library of Singapore (NLS), situated at 100 Victoria Street, is a national knowledge institution empowering individuals and businesses with knowledge and information as it continuously expands its vast array of reference collections and services. The NLS is responsible for preserving and making accessible the nation’s literary and publishing heritage, and intellectual memory.

The Public Libraries Singapore (PLS) provides a professional and engaging public library service to Singaporeans in their pursuit of lifelong learning and discovery through the network of 22 Public Libraries (including three regional libraries) located conveniently across Singapore.

Should you require further information, kindly contact Ms Amy Gay, Dy Director (Corporate Communications) at Tel: 6332-3328 or Amy_GAY@nlb.gov.sg for clarification or assistance.