2023 Modules

Meritocracy, strength or flaw | SL206 

Meritocracy in Singapore has been touted as something that awards effort, encourages self-development and glorifies equality. Meritocracy has widely been known by us as a system that is fair. However, is this really true? Although beneficial in the past, can the same be said for the present? Join us as we dive deeper into the system of meritocracy, its strengths and its flaws, its benefits and its implications. Is this fair starting line, hailed as fair, really fair?

Is Singapore Truly Safe? | SL207 

Singapore is known as one of the safest places in the world, but we often forget that as a small city, we face many vulnerabilities everyday, such as threats of terrorism, racial/political unease. We will use a Futures Thinking Framework to study various vulnerabilities that Singapore is facing/has faced before.

Myths and Realities in Portrayals of War: Unravelling the truth behind wars | SL208

The soldier rushes forward, desperate to protect the lands that their forefathers fought for. In all their glory, the soldier stabs the last opposition standing, declaring victory to their fellow patriots. It is no surprise to us that soldiers are portrayed as brave and glorious patriots, and war is often seen as an aggressive bout of force in films, killing millions in an adrenaline-pumping conflict over territory and sovereignty. Yet, that is not always the singular face of this story; join us in examining different portrayals meant to evoke different emotions and reactions and gain insights into the originators’ hidden purposes, and decipher the truths of war yourself.

Movie Mania: a study of the Mind and Self in animated movies | SL209 

Have you ever wondered what is it about our most beloved animated movies that makes us laugh and cry, while provoking deep reflection about our lives? Join us on an exciting ride as we delve into the intricacies of the mind and self in your favorite animated movies like Monsters University, Big Hero 6 and more! In this module, we will be exploring topics such as Dreams, Ambition, Trauma and its effect on the mind and self. Ultimately, we will uncover how we can draw parallels from these movies to our real lives to help us navigate the complexities of human thought and emotion. 

Through the Looking Glass: An Intersectional Examination of Gender Equality | SL210 

“And that is part of the problem. That many men do not actively think about gender or notice gender. That many men say that things might have been bad in the past but everything is fine now. And that many men do nothing to change it.”

- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists

In a developed country like Singapore, individuals may not feel the drastic differences between the rights of a man and woman. However, the deep-seated issue of gender inequality has been prevalent all throughout the world, past and present. Upon closer examination of issues through a feminist lens, we may find that we see the world in a different light – through the looking glass. In this module, we will examine the feminist movement and its 4 waves by studying various prominent texts and key events of each wave, to gain an understanding of how the feminist movement has progressed and become more intersectional over the years. Subsequently, we will apply this theoretical knowledge when exploring current feminist issues around the world which highlight how the blatant discrimination that used to plague women has generally morphed into a more insidious version which is exemplified by medical biases and workplace discrimination. We will also examine the more evident issues such as bodily autonomy, using case studies such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which has had extensive ramifications on women’s abortion rights in the USA. From an intersectional perspective, we will explore how gender inequality disproportionately impacts women with intersectional identities who are part of other marginalised groups. Participants can expect discussions on contentious questions such as “Do feminists hate men?” and “Why do people support gender equality but reject feminism if feminism advocates for the equality of the sexes?”

War and Its Impacts | SL312

 
War has been something that has plagued us for centuries, especially given humans’ destructive nature. But how exactly does global events such as wars affect you and me in Singapore? This module will look at analyzing four different types of wars - Conventional Warfare, Proxy Wars, Trade Wars and Cyber Warfare and its impact on us today.