Citizens Against Titan

in the Little Red Dot

Singapore is also known as a little red dot. She is

one of the richest nations in the world. However,
rich does not mean free. Internationally, her free
press ranking is one of the lowest in the world. This
contra leads to opinions conflict. Strike and public
protest are not allowed here.
Alternative views on rich-poor gap, income inequality,
housing, immigration and other policies are common in
social media.

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OF COMIC
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BOOKS

WEEK 1
CREATE YOUR SUPERHEROS MYTHIC INSPIRATION
INSTRUCTION
S
Upload
an image of your mythic god/goddess and use it to replace the placeholder image on the left. Then,
enter the characteristics about your god/goddess and your rationale for choosing this mythic figure.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
NAME OF INTERNET HERO
Amos Yee
GENDER Male

CULTURE OF ORIGIN
Asian

RATIONALE

PERSONALITY TRAITS youth

Key and Rational

KEY
NAME OF INTERNET HERO Amos Yee and other social media participants
GENDER Male (and female and even LGBT)
CULTURE OF ORIGIN Asian
PERSONALITY TRAITS youth - the youngest political prisoner in Singapore
RATIONAL

Social media creates political pressure to the authoritarian state like the Little
Red Dot. Arab Spring shows the power of internet and has threatened many
states that do not have freedom of speech.

Description of issue
The Little Red Dot governments mishandling of Amos Yee case has led to an
international embarrassment to the authoritarian state. Wikipedia now has a
write-up on Amos Yee. And Amnesty International has classified him as a
Prisoner of Conscience.
Freedom of speech is always an issue in Little Red Dot. The Peoples Action
Party has been in power since 1959. The government does not consider the
Presss right to check on the administration. All media, from newspaper to
broadcasting, are controlled.
The social media has begun to break this information monopoly. Amos Yee is
the latest case that the government is taking issue with bloggers. This conflict
will continue. The mishandling also creates an instant internet hero. Will it turn
into another Arab Spring?

Link to relevant articles:

https://amosyee.wordpress.com/
www.wsj.com/articles/teen-youtube-rant-tests-singaporescensorship-limits-1431081983
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-3260413.
http://sonofadud.com/2015/06/12/breaking-news-amosyee-is-the-worlds-youngest-prisoner-of-conscience-to-berecognised-by-amnesty-international/
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/thearrest-of-a-teen-aged-youtube-star

Description of primary

Super power comes from good and creating writing, talking

and video presentation in social media.

Description of secondary
Without the support of internet and social media, Amos Yee
and other bloggers will not have the opportunity to get their
messages to readers and viewers.

Description of primary weakness

The government can ban a website. There are laws and regulations to execute
the ban and like the case of Amos Yee, one can be charged in Courts too.

Description of secondary weakness

All major internet/broadband providers are related to the government.. Social
media cannot function without the providers.

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Amos Yee and social media heroes

Super Powers and weaknesses

Superpowers: In the age of information, the mighty pen is
a powerful weapon in social media. Alternative news is a
threat to authoritarian state. Like Superheroes in comics,
creativity, good story, effective arguments and criticism are
essential skills.
Weaknesses: Social media is still a platform that the
government can control. If a creative story is banned in the
internet, readers will not be able to access it.

Origin story
It is a strange story, perhaps, it can only happen in an authoritarian
state. The internet heroes are created by accident. It is a conflict
between a minor and a giant - social media alternative news vs. the
state. The government wants to impose restrictions and sets their own
standard in social media. The internet heroes want to challenge the
authority and demand freedom of expression.
The story has just begun and it has attracted international attention.
The Little Red Dot, in the past, has made history in creating the longest
serving political prisoner without trial in the world. It is now a step closer
to create another history - the youngest political prisoner in the world.
Is this interesting?

Personal Traits
Born in 1998, Amos Yee was a Catholic but left the church. He completed his
secondary education but refuses to continue his study. He has keen interest in
filming and video making. His latest Youtube video, about a dead political
leader in Singapore, got him into trouble with the authority.

Occupation
He is a teenager, just left school. As a Singaporean, when he reaches 18 and
above, he will need to serve National Service.

Back story
A humble young adult accidently becomes an internet hero.
In fact, there are many such heroes in the social media.
Amos Yee is just a neighbourhood boy. However, the
unique circumstance in Little Red Dot makes him famous
and known internationally.
This conflict can be avoided but the authoritarian state feels
they want to put a stop in irresponsible social media
behaviour.
It divides the society into pro- and anti-government camps.

WEEEEKK 42
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The Silver Age

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Build-up - conflict between citizens and a

powerful state
Little Red Dot is a wealthy state. Government ministers are earning million
dollars, many times more than that of Obama. The state machinery is efficient
and it is always rated as the best place for business. Western powers support
the Little Red Dot and are willing to put democracy and freedom aside for
political/economic gains.
It is a place strike and protest are illegal and under the Internal Security Act, the
government can detain a person without trial. Media is highly controlled and
government propaganda is a daily routine. It has a tradition to dislike alternative
views. The state is a giant and titan in many ways.
On the other hand, Amos Yee and other social media players are too weak to
compete with the government. Fear, threat, legal sues, and even arrest are not
uncommon. Their only strength is their writing and the social media.

Conflict - between old and new media

The new media has changed the rule of game. Traditionally, the government is
able to use print media and broadcasting to convince people their action.
However, the new media is now challenging the government.
The conflict or battle ground is in social media where young and educated
citizens put their criticisms and opinions there. Topics can range from reserves
management, CPF (pension fund), jobs, inequality, education, housing,
transport, immigration, etc. The government thinks these criticisms are invalid
as they are the best run government in the world and have always put the
citizens interest first. As we learn from the Golden/Silver/Bronze Age of
Superheroes comics in the USA, each period has its social and political issues.
Each Age also has different technology input to add colors to the conflict.
Can social media create big change in Little Red Dot?

Resolution - the show continues

No matter how authoritarian a country be, the younger generation will one day
take over the government. Currently, the Little Red Dot government still has
many upper hands. It claims it has 60% support in the last election. The
government has built Singapore - from third world to first world in less than 50
years.
It is a fight between old and new media, traditional way of running a country vs.
alternative views.
It is now in transition politically, economically and socially. The conflict will go
on. The ruling Peoples Action Party has put forward their 4th generation
leaders in the soon to be held General Election. Will social media heroes upset
their plan? We will have a clearer picture when the GE is over. The election
result will show the resolution and the winners.

Amos Yee and other social media heroes

Social media heroes are created by accident. If there is no internet, information
and freedom of speech will be under control. Social media has made news
control in Little Red Dot difficult.
The government dislikes alternative views. However, easy access to social
media poses challenges to the authority. The instant messages over the
internet have threatened the traditional media. Alternative news is available 24
hours once it is uploaded with no censorship.
As an international financial centre, Little Red Dot has good internet
infrastructure. It is different from North Korea where reliable broadband and
international companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube are absent.
This present of international internet giants can prevent the government for
over acting or over control the internet. The authoritarian titan makes the
heroes possible.

Authoritarian state government

Little Red Dot is known to be an authoritarian state with efficient state
machinery. Laws and rules are very strict. Social media and online news
providers are constantly monitored. Once a website has more than x pageviews
per time period, it needs to register with the authority. Foreign funding of local
online news providers are not allowed.
Bloggers can be charged in Courts if their views are deemed not suitable or
creating threat to the society harmony. Wikipedia describes it as follows:
The government in Singapore has broad powers to limit citizens' rights and to
inhibit political opposition.[1] In 2015, Singapore was ranked 153rd out of 175
nations by Reporters Without Borders in the Worldwide Press Freedom Index.
Despite the human rights record, Little Red Dot continues to attract
international investment and foreign visitors.

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THE RISE OF SUPERHEROES AND THEIR IMPACT ON POP CULTURE // SUPERHERO SKETCHPAD

WEEK 5
1
FINALIZE YOUR SCENE: PANEL 1
INSTRUCTIONS
Now, use the story and scene you wrote in Week 4 to create some original panels of your comic concept. You should
complete at least 3 panels, but may add more by copying this slide or using the Scratch Pages. Also, if youd like to create
different sized panels you may do so by clicking on the corner of the square to resize them. Weve also included 3 types of
dialogue/thought bubbles you may drag them into your panel or delete them and create your own.

Am I the youngest political

prisoner in Singapore?
View my video at https://www.
youtube.com/watch?
v=6TZPdM3xn24

Do you feel upset

after viewing the
video? Am I a
threat to society?

28

THE RISE OF SUPERHEROES AND THEIR IMPACT ON POP CULTURE // SUPERHERO SKETCHPAD

WEEK 5
1
FINALIZE YOUR SCENE: PANEL 2
INSTRUCTIONS
Now, use the story and scene you wrote in Week 4 to create some original panels of your comic concept. You should
complete at least 3 panels, but may add more by copying this slide or using the Scratch Pages. Also, if youd like to create
different sized panels you may do so by clicking on the corner of the square to resize them. Weve also included 3 types of
dialogue/thought bubbles you may drag them into your panel or delete them and create your own.

There are many Amos alike in

social media. Can all be caught?

Why different opinions

and alternative views
are not welcome?
This is just a citizen
engagement and
public participation.

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THE RISE OF SUPERHEROES AND THEIR IMPACT ON POP CULTURE // SUPERHERO SKETCHPAD

WEEK 5
1
FINALIZE YOUR SCENE: PANEL 3
INSTRUCTIONS
Now, use the story and scene you wrote in Week 4 to create some original panels of your comic concept. You should
complete at least 3 panels, but may add more by copying this slide or using the Scratch Pages. Also, if youd like to create
different sized panels you may do so by clicking on the corner of the square to resize them. Weve also included 3 types of
dialogue/thought bubbles you may drag them into your panel or delete them and create your own.

II set the rule and order. Obey

my instruction!
I can detain you without
trial. Am I powerful?
Old and new media
are all under my
control. Alternative
views are nonsense.

30

THE RISE OF SUPERHEROES AND THEIR IMPACT ON POP CULTURE // SUPERHERO SKETCHPAD

WEEK 5
1
FINALIZE YOUR SCENE: PANEL 3
INSTRUCTIONS
Now, use the story and scene you wrote in Week 4 to create some original panels of your comic concept. You should
complete at least 3 panels, but may add more by copying this slide or using the Scratch Pages. Also, if youd like to create
different sized panels you may do so by clicking on the corner of the square to resize them. Weve also included 3 types of
dialogue/thought bubbles you may drag them into your panel or delete them and create your own.

I have many faces. Even your

friends may work for me.I
I have good international
reputation supported by
the West and China. goo
I run an efficient
government and have
good policies.

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Notes:
Week 5 artworks are created using processing js. It takes time to create
and draw good comics. I am learning this software from another edX
online course. Comics can be created using different software such as
processing js. It can be 3D and interacting with users. I am trying to put
the artworks here. A smart programmer can do a better job and even
design a game for the story. I am not able to do it with my current skills.
I am happy to see this possible combination. Perhaps, Smithsonian can
further develop it.

- End of Project -