Image by Joanne Goh
TALKS
*NEW* SINGAPORE HISTORY IN 10 BOOKS AND 10 FOODS
For: secondary, junior college; 5 - 60 pax (also suitable for assemblies)
Availability: 1 hour, 1.5 hours; single session
Description: Want a crash course on Singapore’s cultural history? In this talk, writer Ng Yi-Sheng brings you on a whirlwind tour of the city’s complex, multi-ethnic past and present, with a focus on books and literature, but also highlighting movements in film, theatre, art, and popular music.
Learning Outcomes: Students will have a renewed understanding of the trajectory of Singapore’s history, and have a better grasp of the impact historical events have on the creative world and on everyday culture.
*NEW* THE MERLION AND THE PONTIANAK: CREATING A UNIQUELY SINGAPOREAN MYTHOLOGY
For: secondary, junior college; 5 - 25 pax
Availability: 1 hour, 1.5 hours; single session
Description: Ng Yi-Sheng explains the fascinating history of Singaporean fantasy, science fiction and horror writing. From its pre-colonial roots in myth and legend to today’s internationally successful novels, writers have used their wildest imaginations to explore our cultural identity, exploring what it means to be from this mixed-up, ever-changing city-state.
Learning Outcomes: Students will have a deeper understanding of how historical and multicultural influences have shaped Singaporean culture and identity, and will be better prepared to write fantastical stories based on local rather than exclusively foreign inspirations.
ABOUT
Ng Yi-Sheng is a writer of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and theatre, with a keen interest in the forgotten histories and mythologies of Southeast Asia. His books include the fantasy/science fiction short story collection Lion City, the poetry collection last boy (both winners of the Singapore Literature Prize), as well as A Book of Hims, Loud Poems for a Very Obliging Audience and Black Waters, Pink Sands. He recently served as editor of A Mosque in the Jungle: Classic Ghost Stories by Othman Wok. He can be found on X and Instagram at @yishkabob and at ngyisheng.com.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2020 – Black Waters, Pink Sands (Singapore: Math Paper Press)
2018 - Lion City (Singapore: Epigram Books)
2017 - A Book of Hims (Singapore: Math Paper Press)
2016 - Loud Poems for a Very Obliging Audience (Singapore: Math Paper Press)
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME / OUR WRITERS / OUR WORKSHOPS / OUR CAMP / F.A.Q.
Book A Writer is Sing Lit Station's workshop-for-schools programme, featuring a roster of Singapore's most important writers at work today. *Do you want to Book A Writer? For enquiries on Ng Yi-Sheng's availability and workshop rates in Sing Lit Station's Book A Writer programme, do fill in the form below.