志异 Draft by Drama box december 2013 (english) | Page 37

It is only in recent times that memory
has entered contemporary life in
Singapore on a scale not seen in past
decades. This is evident in the many
ways that individuals and groups have
sought to publicise the continuing
relevance of historically-laden sites,
for example, in the old housing estate
of Queenstown and the Bukit Brown
cemetery, and the commemoration of the
sacrifices of those who served during
the wartime period. In addition,
there are also numerous online sites
remembering and recollecting what
is perceived as lost in Singapore.
Given this surge, the topic of memory
is a pertinent field to explore
especially when memory has arguably
become public discourse. This article
will attempt to make a preliminary
analysis of a topography of memory
and the utility of memory in linking
people, landscape, and the future with
reference to contemporary Singapore.