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 Posted By kaychin on 7 Jan 10, Thu | Permalink

First and foremost, it was a cliché idea done to death.

Don't guess, I am talking about the recent saga over the post box graffiti.

Now, exactly what seems to be the big problem here?

If the postal boxes indeed belong to SingPost, then why can't it do what it wants, as long as public interest is not compromised?

In my humble opinion, no human being or animal would have been harmed with those spray-painting.

Similarly, if the chief of SCDF decides next Christmas to dress one of its fire engines up with glittering lights, without jeopardizing its operations, so be it.

For an organization as big as SingPost, I am very sure the top executives of the company must have thought hard about the details regarding the publicity stunt.

I am sure it was not clamour but glamour that SingPost wanted.

But alas, it backfired, in my opinion, not just because we as a nation do not know how to really be creative about anything.

Because, in the first place, had we been flowing with natural arty artsy juices, we would not have celebrated over and over again the same modus operandi of fake liberalism - often (mis)represented by graffiti.

Just try to recall how many times national arts organizations have used graffiti-related methodologies in trying to say "We Are Cool". (Note that this also applies to civil servants rapping and MPs doing the high-fives.)

Sure, we probably have an underground culture.

But can someone just remind the authority that the minute that underground thingy is mainstreamed, or allowed to surface in its controlled format, it will immediately lose most of the edgy feeling?

I think it backfired also because people who dare to dream of being funny or creative are often not prepared to say out loud, to the authority, "Really, what's wrong with a little bit of fun?"

Sorry, this blog is going nowhere, just like SingPost, although its CEO has resigned (I am sure it has nothing to do with the graffiti) and is going to find some greener pastures soon.

And I can't teach you how to be creative.

Go figure it out yourself because that is 90% of the fun.

Just try not to do that spray-paint-thingy* again, at least not until next century, OK?



*Argh, rapping also.

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