Given that the US is finally recognizing, officially in its census categories, the concept of mixed ethnicities, I thought it would be interesting to go to this museum.
The pictures of various Peranakan people were spectacular and each had a quote below it. There were also some excellent videos, beautifully placed on the walls, in frames as though they were pictures on the wall discussing the common connections that Peranakan felt with other Peranakan. But there weren't enough of these encounters with real people. Most of the displays are thiings - dishes, clothing, furniture. But there are also diaries, books, letters. 
But I'd say the museum has a way to go in terms of the depth it goes into. And the museum recognizes this in the narratives written on the walls. But this point it makes things seem all so rosy and wonderful. I didn't see anything that even hinted at the problems people probably faced in the past because they were of 'mixed blood.'
I also thought having an Anglo sounding narrator in the intro video talking about the Peranakan as "They" having a lot to teach "Us" to be a terrible choice. Even in their own museum they are not "us," but "them." The narrator should have been a Peranakan welcoming guests into their house.
Nice. My great grand mother and grandmother was a Peranakan Indians. My father and his siblings speak often in Malay to each other. My great grand mother and grand mother wore the kebaya and were never seen in anything else but. They cooked food and desserts that were a unique blend of Indian and Straits. I believe my family has been here in south east asia for the last 300 years but I dont see much specifically about the Peranakan Indian culture in the museum, and that is very sad indeed,
ReplyDeleteSheila, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I guess you are the person who can fix the lack of Indian Peranakan representation. Go talk to people in the Indian community and get a couple to go with you to talk to the director of the museum.
ReplyDeleteIf you have old stories, letters, or other treasures from your family, that would also help them consider increasing that side. Best of luck! Let me know what happens.
> But this point it makes things
ReplyDelete> seem all so rosy and wonderful.
> I didn't see anything that even
> hinted at the problems people
> probably faced in the past
> because they were of 'mixed
> blood.'
Why would they have problems? They were the left hand of the British and the rest of us had to bow to their wealth and influence.
Even today, they are known as the old families of Singapore.