Literary Arts, Talk/Workshop

A Lighter Side of History: Writing Singapore: Themes and Perspectives – a talk by Edwin Thumboo

Organised by: National Museum of Singapore
  • Date:
    22 Jul 2017
  • Time:
    11:00am
  • Duration:
    1h
  • Venue:
    Gallery Theatre, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
    Gallery Theatre, Basement, National Museum of SingaporeGallery Theatre, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
  • Language:
    English
  • Admission:
    Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Synopsis:

One of Singapore's most distinguished poets, Edwin Thumboo wrote his first poem, Kelong, in 1949. His work spans more than 50 years, and often chronicles significant moments in Singapore's history, illustrating our need "to re-inscribe ourselves; discover and, in certain areas, define ourselves as individuals, as groups in a multi-racial society". In this edition of A Lighter Side of History, Professor Thumboo will share his exploration of Singapore's social and national themes in his poetry, as well as the importance of our own literature as a nation. The programme also includes a poetry recital by Professor Thumboo himself.

About the poet
Edwin Thumboo is an Emeritus Professor and Professorial Fellow at the National University of Singapore. He has been involved in Singapore's literary developments since 1951, including editing, anthologising, initiating programmes such as the Creative Arts Programme with the Ministry of Education, running a poetry column in The Straits Times, and teaching a degree-level creative writing course.

He has published Rib of Earth (1956), Gods Can Die (1977), Ulysses by the Merlion (1979), A Third Map (1993), Friend (2003), Still Traveling (2008), and Bring the Sun (poems from out-of-print volumes; 2008). He is working on a volume of translations into Chinese, as well as Selected Poems due in 2018.

Professor Thumboo received the National Book Development Council of Singapore, Book Award for Poetry in English (1978, 1980 and 1994), Southeast Asian Writers Award (1979), Singapore's Cultural Medallion (1980), ASEAN Cultural and Communication Award in Literature (1987), the Raja Rao Award (2002), and the Meritorious Service Medal, Singapore (2006). A Fellow of the International Writing Program, University of Iowa (1977), he has given readings in various universities and international literary festivals and book fairs.

A Lighter Side of History: Writing Singapore: Themes and Perspectives – a talk by Edwin Thumboo


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