Confucian Rappers and Rockers? Singaporean Youth in the Nineties

Abstract

Rapid economic development in Singapore has spawned a wealthy generation of youth possessing nearly all the material trappings of Western pop culture. Indeed, when looked at in terms of their musical and fashion preferences, teens in Singapore are virtually indistinguishable from their Western counterparts. As a number of observers have noted, however, despite their outward appearances, youth in Singapore have remained profoundly conservative, rejecting the more liberal values associated with the music and fashions of the West, and choosing to retain their traditional ‘Asian’ values. This paper attempts to provide some insights into why this is the case.