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Access Type

Campus Access

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Communication

Degree Type

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Year Degree Awarded

2013

Month Degree Awarded

February

Keywords

Censorship, Singapore, Piracy, Films

Abstract

The island state of Singapore in Southeast Asia has a history of film censorship, one of several techniques in state repression it uses as a furtherance of state power. Yet, Singapore's success also depends on being open to global information and cultural flows. Drawing from queer theory, this thesis examines a recent case study of film censorship in Singapore, the 2010 film, The Kids are All Right. The thesis examines laws and regulations in Singapore to understand how films are interpellated into objects of moral danger, and also the reaction of some progressive Singaporeans to the censorship. The thesis also discusses the contradictions between state censorship and the recognition of its circumvention through copyright infringement and piracy. Finally, the thesis makes some suggestions about steps that can be taken to resist against film censorship, as well as directions for future research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/3538253

First Advisor

Briankle G. Chang

Second Advisor

Lisa Henderson

COinS