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LUMEN | “ ERGO ” SJI ’ S GLOBAL ISSUES FESTIVAL
“ ERGO ”
SJI ’ s Global Issues Festival
by Elizabeth Mosbergen
Weish , local musician and dynamo , speaks to our Y5 students .
On 10 November , the IB Academy ’ s English Department organized Ergo , a Global Issues Festival , which centred around the theme of identity . A fraught area full of tensions and fault lines , the theme promised much room for debate and discussion . To create such necessary frisson , the event included a range of guest speakers — local musician Weish , Singaporean writer Joshua Ip and local film director , Mark Tan . There were also workshops led by both staff and students of SJI . Ergo invited Year 5 students and visitors from the School of the Arts to consider the question , “ Who am I ?” and to think about what constitutes their identities and how the individual is defined not just by self but also by community , society , history and culture .
The event kicked off with a luminous plenary by multidisciplinary artist , Weish , who spoke to the students about the role of music in forming her identity and the evolving nature of one ’ s identity . Through her eerie and beautiful vocalizations and electronic “ looping ”, the lecture theatre was turned into an intimate and resonant chamber , giving students a personal perspective on identity and how it can evolve . Students were enraptured - “ Weish ( gave ) truly one of the best presentations that I have ever heard ,” enthused Darius Lye Ze Qi .
Singaporean writer Joshua Ip shares his take on the Singaporean identity in local literature .
After the plenary , the Year 5 students moved off to various venues to attend their chosen workshops comprising forms such as interactive theatre , interactive debate , a workshop on food and identity , a panel of international teachers from SJI , workshops on art and literature , and youth subcultures . Through the workshops , Alexander Damien Muthu commented that he had learnt “( not ) to be afraid to discover ( his ) own identity ”. Whether it was leading participants through dramatic postures and dialogue or letting participants “ taste ” culture through ethnic food or sharing personal perspectives on diaspora or talking about the intersections between art and poetry , the workshops were wonderful opportunities to talk about how identity matters and continue to wield invisible influences on all that we do .
performed their own poems with much seriousness and attention to nuance , much to the delight of their classmates and friends . This was accompanied by the launch of Introspection , a collection of poems written by members of LitSoc . Of the festival , Alicia Ong Yen Li said that “ it was engaging , with the many videos , performances and sharing of views .” Students enjoyed the event , with some calling it a “ mind-opener ” and inspiring while most appreciated the diversity of perspectives that was present throughout the Global Issues Festival .
One of the highlights of this year ’ s festival was the scary but thoroughly fun “ Afterdark ” programme , a studentinitiated literary experience . Based on the literary works , Dracula by Bram Stoker , Beloved by Toni Morrison and Arthur Miller ’ s The Crucible , students were thrilled by the created space with its “ bumps ” in the dark and vivid renditions of scenes from these texts , which also addressed the hidden aspects of identity . Through the efforts and participation of both SJI ’ s Year 5 students and teachers , the IBAM English department brought new enjoyment to learning . The Global Issues Festival was relevant , thought-provoking yet fun and enjoyable at the same time . Mr Alan Johnson summed it up nicely , “ This festival has been a showcase of the best of what SJI students and teachers have to share . We ’ ve all enjoyed a wonderful collaborative expression of literary talent and interest . I ’ m certainly looking forward to next year ’ s programme .”
Ms Doreen Mak holds court , together with Ms Zheng Qin , Mr Paolo Bugarin and Mr Alex Muntane , in the “ international ” panel chaired by Mrs Maggie Yam .
Ms Zoe Liana Vincent performs her poem , along with other members of the Literary Society , in the closing segment of the festival .
After attending the hour-long workshops , students reconvened for a final poetry recitation performed by SJI ’ s very own Literary Society ( LitSoc ). Students
Member of audience offering a rebuttal at the interactive debate on the subject of a global language .