Synopsis:

The study of history was never monopolised by historians. The state, society, an array of groups and organisations, families and individuals have all "looked back" and remembered the past. From being a rather belittled source for the study of history, "memory" has since become a major subject of historical enquiry. But the notion remains elusive, complicated by several overlapping formulations – collective memory, social memory, public memory, historical memory, and cultural memory. How do we "remember"? What does this say about how we study history, and who "owns" it?

The defence and fall of Singapore during World War Two and the subsequent Japanese occupation is an effective topic within the wider study of Singapore history that we can use to explore these questions. This talk will discuss when, how and why the defence and fall of Singapore became a central topic in the wider study of memory, heritage and history relating to Singapore. It will present observations about how these studies evolved over time and from place to place, and where they seem to be heading today, as well as discuss what shapes memories in history across different vantage points.

This edition of HistoriaSG is presented in collaboration with the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore.

About HistoriaSG
HistoriaSG is a lecture series at National Museum of Singapore that focusses on important but lesser-known aspects of Singapore's history. With in-depth presentations by local and international academics on a range of topics viewed through a variety of lens from business to science and technology, the environment and specific communities, the series sheds new light on Singapore's culture, history and heritage.