Remember this popular local drama?
of course everyone remembers this. This show that had the highest ratings in recent history, the show that everyone is talking about.
It's none other than "The Little Nyonya"!
Yes yes, I know everyone loves it right?
However, there's one thing I just dont understand.
What exactly is the big hype about this programme that's got everybody talking about it?
The show just basically promotes the almost forgotten culture of these malay influenced chinese people, called Peranakans.
I would have to say that this show has definitely met its objectives of promoting this culture because now, peranakans have become overrated I would say. Thanks to this show, everyone now knows more about its culture and how people of their kind behave. Though this might be a good thing, allowing the culture to be widely known, but the media has been doing too much promoting about this culture that it has become mundane.
After the show was broadcasted, the media suddenly found an importance to follow up by creating other programmes that are inspired by this culture and emphasizing on how traditional this culture can be.
Take for example "Sayang Sayang"
Yes this show, it was aired right after The Little Nyonya. Once again another nyonya inspired programme. I wouldn't deny that I love this show, but because there are just too many nyonya shows that were airing at the same time, it kind of had me wondering if its all just too much.
If its just a taste of the culture, yes, it is actually quite refreshing, but too much of it, just spoils the whole outlook of things. Suddenly everyone in Singapore claim that they have Peranakan blood... and that their grandmother's great grandmother's father's mother was a Peranakan and what not. Also, the kebayas then became the trend that came together as a package with this culture. Suddenly there was this outburst of people wearing this for weddings and celebrations.(my aunt included)
I feel that if you are part of a culture, there's no need to announce to the world that you are one of them. Just because everyone else is doing it does not mean that you need to follow suit. It might be a sudden proud moment for you, just because you've finally found a place where you belong and maybe, just maybe, since that culture has become very popular with everyone, you might actually stand to gain a little more popularity and envy from others. Please, how much of that can you get? Soon everything would be a passe, and life will just return to normal. In the end, what's the whole basis of this hype? It will all be gone within a short span of time.
By the way, it is about time the media should stop emphasizing on the Peranakan culture before it gets too boring for all of us.
True! There was also this food channel that went around looking for Peranakans food.
ReplyDeleteAs what people would say, media influences. I do believe that media has the strongest influences around. Like how some actors dont smoke in real life but have to act like they do in shows and apparently that was the in thing at that time, to smoke. Be it good or bad, media does have the strongest influence in people's life.
And media always show things that people want or like to see. Like how the Little Nyonya show exploded and everyone was interested in Peranakan. so why not take this opportunity and sky-rock your tv viewing and ratings by showing people more about nyonya and peranakans? since that is what they are interesting in?
a business strategy i guess? haha.
people are very easily influenced by media, peer pressure and trends in the society.
how if someone dresses a particular way, and it becomes the "in" or "it" thing and you see every other people in the streets dressing like that.
personally i don't like it cos i feel it makes them look like they dont have a sense of their own identity.
oh well.
well that's why its called a "hype" ain it? :)
ReplyDeleteI think its still a good move to jump on the bandwagon of nonya culture, though a bit overused.
if it helps reap in extra revenue, why not?
and sayang sayang did survive to see its second season airing :)
and i guess our local broadcaster is just trying to increase its span of target audiences.
little nonya was aired in channel 8 for the chinese speaking population,
sayang sayang is catered to others like the english-speaking population or people of other races.
media has its good and bad effects on audiences, and its almost inevitable.
but at the end of the day, once ratings are hit and they've made a profit, mission accomplished for them broadcasters!
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteSurprise surprise isn't it? This isn't the first time Singapore media recycled popular material excessively.
Some shows are meant to be meorable after it ends, but when it gets heavily recycled, it'll turn out to be quite a drag. Indeed, such was the case for the Little Nonya. They even broadcasted a 'Cast Gathering' after the show ended. They practically squeezed dry Nonya to death.
No more Nonya for me. I've seen enough.
I suppose when there are new stuff going on, it will never stop.
ReplyDeletePeranakans culture has never been a highlight in Singapore because they are not being widely publicized and are considered a minority.
With the big hoo-ha of Little Nonya, Singaporeans start to pay more attention to this unique culture.
Everything related to Peranakan start appearing out of nowhere.
The food, costume, culture tour, tv drama and many others!
It's getting a bit out of hand because the media is trying so hard to " sell the culture ".
And personally, i think it is too much of a peranakan dose.
Well, honestly, i have never watched both shows before, cos i only watched the TV 2 hrs every week! and thats only when Man Utd is playing ?X hahaha! Anw down to business.
ReplyDeleteyes indeed, this sudden little nonya thingy is really over hyped. This is a perfect example of how the singapore media is critically stagnant in its publicity, which result in a steep decrease in viewers. However, the media is not all to be blamed, as culture and government policy significantly hinders and curbs its creativities. If much is not done soon, it will be of no surprise if viewers decide to permanently stereotype our local media as mundane and obsolete .
Haha true though it really is just a business model for them. Riding the wave. Peranakan themed shows I'm sure Mediacorp know is just the flavour of the week.
ReplyDeleteA study has shown that the faster a trend prises in popularity, the faster it falls too. Nary a trace of perakan culture on the screens anymore and I think we're quite thankful for that for now, till the next cultural cycle comes along in 20 years!