Waiyee Loh
Associate Professor of World Literature
Singapore Fiction and Film
(AY 2026/2027)
Spring Semester
Week 1. Introduction
What is "Singapore Literature"?
Week 2. A brief history of modern Singapore
Week 3. National identity
Reading: Thumboo, “Ulysses by the Merlion”
Week 4. Nick's family: Singaporeans
Reading: Kwan, extracts from Crazy Rich Asians
Week 5. Nick's family: Chinese diaspora
Reading: Kwan, extracts from Crazy Rich Asians
Week 6. Rachel's family: Chinese Americans
Reading: Kwan, extracts from Crazy Rich Asians
Week 7. Nick's family: "Flexible citizens"
Reading: Kwan, extracts from Crazy Rich Asians
Week 8. Kitty Pong: Mainland Chinese
Reading: Kwan, extracts from Crazy Rich Asians
Week 9. How "Singaporean" is Crazy Rich Asians?: Some thoughts on the novel
Reading: General Introduction to the Writing Singapore anthology
Week 10. Film screening
Reading: Chu, Crazy Rich Asians
Week 11. Representing Singapore on screen
Reading: Chu, Crazy Rich Asians
Week 12. How "Singaporean" is Crazy Rich Asians?: Reading the reviews
Reading: Selected film reviews and commentaries
Presentation
Week 13. How "Singaporean" is Crazy Rich Asians?: Some thoughts on the film
Reading: Chu, Crazy Rich Asians
Week 14. Conclusion
Review of the course
Written assignment due
Fall Semester
Week 1. Introduction
What is "Singapore Literature"?
Week 2. A brief history of modern Singapore
Week 3. Nation and Narration
Reading: Extracts from Hong and Huang, The Scripting of a National History: Singapore and its Pasts
Week 4. Alternative Singaporeans: Plot
Reading: Lee Koe, "Laundromat"
Week 5. Alternative Singaporeans: Socio-economic class
Reading: Lee Koe, "Laundromat"
Week 6. Alternative Singaporeans: Plot
Reading: Lee Koe, "Siren"
Week 7. Alternative Singaporeans: Gender and sexuality
Reading: Lee Koe, "Siren"
Week 8. How to read graphic novels
Reading: Chapters 2 and 3 from McCloud, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
Week 9. Alternative historical narratives: Prologue, Ch 1
Reading: Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
Week 10. Alternative historical narratives: Ch 2, 3
Reading: Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
Week 11. Alternative historical narratives: Ch 4, 5
Reading: Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
Week 12. Alternative historical narratives: Ch 6, 7
Reading: Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
Week 13. Alternative historical narratives: Ch 8, Epilogue
Reading: Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
Week 14. Conclusion
Review of the course
Written assignment due