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Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates. As we’ve said earlier on, we’re going through a major facelift just to make Oops! something that gets everyone talking. We know you’ve been waiting for so long just to see the next issue of Oops! coming out (we can’t help it that it’s once per semester, yo. We are after all, students) but rest assured, Oops! returns on the 12th December with yet another big bang.

Meanwhile, a new and improved Oops! website is on its way. Look out for it! I’ve taken a sneak peek at it, and it looks awesome. =) So happy waiting, have fun finishing your assignments and treasure your weekend!

-Webmaster.

Photographs by
Justin Yeo
Oops! Photographer 

Cultural Crossovers at FUSION!

Guten Tag! Ni Hao! Bonjour! Ohayo Gozaimasu! Ahn Nyeong!

It’s simply incredible that there are so many ways to say ‘Hello’ in the world, and on the 26^th of September, a little part of the world set up shop outside Singapore Polytechnic’s Main Library. Enter Fusion, a vibrant Cultural Fair organized by students and lecturers from the Foreign Language Learning Center (FLLC) to increase the cultural awareness of SP students, displaying five cultures and languages offered by the Department of Language and Communication.

Booths of happiness

The happy, smiling faces

Our writer with Lee Yee, an LC lecturer

The cultures and languages were well represented thanks to the hard work and dedication of both students and lecturers whom presented Malay, Korean, Chinese, French, German and Japanese cultures with the help of traditional games, food (a major highlight) and costumes. No later than 2.30pm the booths set up were already attracting a crowd as students passing by the library found themselves attracted to the sights, sounds and smells (of the food) prompting the organizers to start the festivities a little earlier than planned.

Lydia, our pretty MC!

With the charismatic MC Lydia at the microphone, Fusion began in earnest. Students were invited to participate in a number of quizzes and games which had them listening intently to the presentations of language students who happily provided hints for the right answers as over a thousand dollars worth of prizes were up for grabs in the Cultural Fair’s Lucky Draw. But, they had to get the right answers from each and every booth, in fact the completion of a cultural learning journey was undoubtedly the objective of the fair.

First stop, a culture that is no stranger to any Singaporean. The Malay booth, headed by Malay language teacher Mr. Anuwar went back to basics with his presentation of Singapore’s oldest culture by reintroducing schoolyard favourite games such as Chapteh, Batu Serembat (Five Stones) and of course the classic Gasing in all its solid wooden glory. No sooner did the Fair start; male students had begun trying out the bright feathered Chaptehs provided by the Malay booth, playing the simple yet addictive traditional game which no doubt brought back memories from their primary and secondary school days. Yes even Justin and I found ourselves distracted from our assignment as we tried to show off our mad ‘skillz’ but ended up looking like total “dweebs” as we kept kicking the Chaptehs away. As the Malays would say we pretty much ‘Tak boleh angkat!’ (Direct translation: ‘Cannot carry!’). Malay Kueh was sadly absent from the event but with the month of Ramadan in full swing, one could say that its absence was part of the Malay culture. The Gasing was pretty cool though.

Enjoy the Chapteh at the Malay booth

Never too old to begin!                        The Chapteh junkie!

Watch your step……

The Korean Wave was in full swing with students crowding around the Korean booth to partake in some Korean delicacies such as the sticky Tteokbokki made of sliced fish cake, the recognizable Kimchi and some Korean Ginseng tea to wash it down. With the booth’s two lovely Korean teachers dressed in the colourful Hanbok costumes and a chance to be dressed in one, it seemed only natural that the Korean section got as much patronage as it did. I took the opportunity to ask one of the students, Zi Yin about the popularity of Korean culture as well as the large number of students learning Korean. “Basically one of the main reasons many students took Korean is because of the increasingly popular Korean dramas and the unique culture,” she offered, referring to hit shows like Winter Sonata and A Jewel in the Palace, which have taken most of by storm. With the rise of K-Pop and other aspects of Korean culture, the Korean language course boasts a full 40-student cohort that is still growing, rivaling the once Japanese dominated TV drama culture.

Scenery in disguise?

Jewels in SP?

Speaking of the Japanese, the Japanese students spared no expense at decorating their booth with classic Japanese lacquerware such as Japanese teacups, paper fans and presented the unusual Kendama, an old Japanese toy that is similar to Paddleball. With Sensei and Deshi (‘teacher’ and ‘pupil’) both decked in traditional Kimonos, the Japanese booth attracted a crowd that proved that the popularity of Japanese culture among SP students had not diminished. Simple quizzes and games based on Japanese culture were played. The event’s Lucky Draw which tested the students’ understanding of Japanese etiquette was also a huge hit. You wouldn’t believe how many steps it take to make a cup of Japanese tea, each step rich in ritual and symbolism. It makes preparing ‘Teh Tarik’ look simple in comparison.

Konichiwa Ohayo!

Advertising at its best!

European Language students who ended up sharing a booth did well to represent their chosen languages – French and German, by decorating their booths with fact sheets, posters of French and German landmarks. Alas, traditional costumes were sorely lacking on the European front but the students made up for it with their friendly manner, willingness to answer questions and the invitation to taste simple delicacies such as French chocolates, biscuits and German sausages. There is however a stark difference in the two languages in a sense that French students far outnumber the German students whom are more career driven whilst French students leaned more to a Francophile attitude towards their chosen language. Either way the students showed great commitment to their language courses and did well to make the event fun and successful.

Our final stop, the Mandarin section, headed by Taiwanese-born lecturer Madam Chang whom along with her students decorated her booth with posters of old Chinese stories and poems. With the Mid-Autumn Festival having concluded a day earlier, Madam Chang decided to make the Moon Cake Festival one of her main themes, offering moon cakes and other Chinese sweets for her visitors. When asked about whether Singaporean Chinese students could compete with Chinese students in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Madam Chang replied that Singaporean Chinese were hampered down by local dialects and the key use of English. Still, our Chinese counterparts made a good show by participating in the Mandarin booth’s game, which was a flash card game of ‘Name that Character!’ where students had to identify the Chinese character flashed on cards. No easy task, especially when one fine stroke made the difference between two characters. Still, many managed to complete the booths’ many games to participate in the event’s lucky draw.

A taste of China

An Eastern interview with Madam Chang

Also present was a makeshift ‘Neo-Print’ stall where student could superimposed their likeliness onto pictures of traditional outfits from several countries at a low price of $3. The stall received much patronage after some advertising by Lydia, where students got their pictures taken with a Digital camera which were then Photoshop-ed. Many went home that day with Neo-prints that would have cost them $7 to $8 elsewhere.

As the stalls were buzzing, MC Lydia was busy recruiting people to participate in Fusion’s other two contests: The Fashion Parade and a Singing Contest. With a smile that is impossible to say no to, Lydia managed to snare 5 brave competitors for the Singing Contest, which turned out to be pretty entertaining as competitors chose which language they would sing in. First up was Aung Thum Moe, a Burmese student who decided to go with a song from his home country of Myanmar. Singing in an upbeat manner, Aung made a lasting impression on the crowd, most of which had never heard a Burmese song before. Next up was suave French student Dannel George who stepped up to the plate with a rendition of Farrer Jacques for about a stanza but still qualified since it was in French. Ever confident, when asked the meaning of the song, Dannel simply replied: “I’ll tell you when I win.” Following Dannel’s performance came William who picked things up with a familiar Chinese folksong that had the crowd clapping to his tune. Concluding the contest was the team of Kim Jun and Amanda who decided on a Korean song but the girls’ shyness was a major blow to their audibility and performance.

Students in full force at Fusion

All had a fun time and as the judges went to determine the winners, the recruitment for the Fashion Parade continued. Moments later, the judges had their results. In 3^rd place was Dannel George whom true to his word (in a sense) did NOT tell us what his song meant. Aung was placed 2^nd with his unique Burmese folksong but it would be William who would be crowned King of the Singing Contest. With the crowd’s approval, the competitors were handed their prizes and the judges prepared for the next competition.

                    Aung Thum Moe                  William with his Chinese folksong – the WINNER

The ‘French’ singer

The Fashion Parade saw the ‘return’ of Aung Thum Moe and Dannel George, the latter entering the contest dressed in questionable ‘Eurasian’ costume. Kimono-clad Sin Han from the Japanese booth joined in along with the Hanbok-dressed pair of Marilyn and Siew Boon. The rules were simple enough, ‘Sashay along the entrance of the Library before the panel of judges and the crowd as coolly and fashionably as possible’. Being sporting as before, Aung Thum Moe was up first as he strutted his stuff in a fusion fashion of a white shirt and a Burmese sarong adorned with small Buddhist swastikas, bowing to the judges with respect as he ended his run. Dannel George, confident as ever was next up dressed in…well…t-Shirt and jeans. Still, he made an impact as he sashayed before the judges, gaining some points with a few handshakes to the judges. Would that little touch earn him first place though? Marilyn and Siew Boon were up next, dressed in brightly coloured Korean Hanboks paraded before the judges with seemingly ceremonial grace. Finally, Sin Han displayed his costume, bowing formally towards the judges to end his run, perhaps a little too quickly in his manner. This time the judges took a little more time to decide the winners. As the judges finalized their decisions, the event began to die down. Lydia announced that the Lucky Draw was officially closed and the results were to be announced soon. Moments later, the judges came back with their results: In 3^rd place, Sin Han of the Japanese Language booth. Aung captured 2^nd place yet again gaining a ‘Double Silver’ and in first place was the team of Marilyn and Siew Boon in their traditional Korean garb. Dannel George took this defeat rather well as he accepted a consolation prize.

A plethora of costumes at the Fashion Parade

With the contests over, the organizers prepared for their main event: the Lucky Draw. Along with the three top prizes, nine consolation prizes were up for grabs. However, as Lydia announced the winners, some of the Lucky Draw participants had decided to forgo the event and thus forfeited their winnings with a prompt “Going once, going twice? Gone!” After a number of forfeits, the 9 consolation winners had been chosen thus the remaining entries were eligible for the top three prizes. 3^rd place went to Fashion parade winner Marilyn, proving that some people have all the luck, winning a gift voucher of $50. 2^nd place went to Tan Ju Hong who walked away with another prize voucher and one Zhang Wen Jie won first place, winning a gift voucher worth $100. 

With that, Fusion came to an end with organizers thanking the students and lecturers involved with the event’s preparation as well as the students who had taken the time to participate in the event. As the crowd began to dissipate, I caught up with one of the organizers, a Language and Communication lecturer, Mdm Helen Mok, energetic and classy as usual, for a comment but shrewdly diverted us towards Mdm Raquel Gochioco, Section Head of the FLLC and one of the main organizers of the event. When asked if she felt that Fusion was a success, Mdm Gochioco caught us by surprise with a question of her own: “I don’t know. Do you think it was a success?” which had Justin and myself noting the good crowd reaction, taking into consideration that the CCA fair was also going on at the same time. Mdm Gochioco stated she was still pleased with the level of student participation as well as reminding us that the main objective of the fair was to promote cultural awareness. When asked if we would see another Fusion event in the near future, Mdm Gochioco replied with a laugh which hinted a ‘We’ll see!’ more than anything else. Thanking the students, lecturers, the Main Library’s managers and us Oops! writers for covering the event, Mdm Gochioco went to join her fellow Fusion organizers in a much-deserved buffet.

Raquel Gochioco and Helen Mok, hard at work

Happy faces at FUSION!

Having spent the afternoon in the presence of so many cultures, I decided to borrow a French movie called The Challenge from the library. Popping it into my DVD, I eagerly awaited for some pretty French girls to speak in their alluring language in some saucy scenes. Imagine my surprise when the movie started with some Chinese triad guys speaking French as a couple of French speaking Ninjas stole a Golden statue of sorts. It’s symbolic in a sense: language barriers are falling thanks to foreign cultures making their way here through Music, Movies and Television shows. We see movies like Rush Hour where Chinese and English are being spoken side by side and in J Pop and K Pop, which have gained huge followings here in Singapore as well as around the world. Through the Internet we can search for foreign swear words to add to our ever-increasing vocabulary. It’s quite an undertaking of course, learning another language, but seeing how it opens up your life to a number of possibilities: from meeting new friends to gaining better employment prospects, it’s worth the effort.

With that, I bid you Selamat tinggal (Goodbye in Malay) and till next time!

Pretty faces at the Fair!

To kick off the new semester, Oops! welcomed students back to school with ‘lollipop giveaways’! As part of the publicity, SP students also posed as ‘human mannequins’ who were seen holding on to gigantic Oops! teaser magazines in every food court. Definitely a show-stopping performance!

Oops! is BACK!

You get what you want!

This semester, Oops! is back with ‘more of what you want’, do look out for lots of exciting events coming your way! The next issue of Oops! will be launched in December, packed with lots of interesting articles, tons of feature spreads and exciting giveaways. Oops! the magazine that gives you a wild ride – Cuz you asked for it!

 
Oops! at the canteen

Oops! human mannequins

Photographs by
Alec Goh Tee Chin
Oops! Photographer

On your mark, get set, GO!                              SP Team

The sound of screeching tyres could be heard a mile away from the SP basketball court on Saturday morning, 29th September 2007as the SP-NP Interschool RC Drifting Competition 2007 begins in asphalt burning earnest.

There were many models of remote control cars on display, from Subaru Impreza to Ford Mustang GT and even Initial D’s Toyota AE86, they all battled it out on the tracks.

                             Cars having a blast on the tracks

There were two categories in the competition, the Open and School category. The Open category was open to anyone, including SP alumni and mainly dominated by the SP drifters. In the School category, however, it was a very close race between the SP and NP drifters. At the end of the friendly competition, NP emerged as the overall winner. SPRCD did not go home empty-handed as Zi Heng, our very own DARE student came in second with his amazing drifts.

             Intense concentration                        Cars on the line

Results:

Open Category
1^st- Alan (SP Alumni)
2^nd- Eugene (SP)
3^rd- John (SP)

School Category (Best Drifter)

1^st- Yuan He (NP)
2^nd- Zi Heng (SP)
3^rd- Wei Jie (NP)

Overall School Winner
Ngee Ann Polytechnic

SP Team

NP Team

Oops! interviewed SPRCD President and SG Drifter Member, Billy Lim.

What is RC drifting all about?
A number of things, but basically it is applying motor styles using the remote control.

What equipment do you need and how much money is invested in a car?
We divide them into two levels – beginner’s and advanced. For beginner’s, it is about $400. You will receive all the parts needed for an RC car. For advanced levels, it would be around $700-$800. For the real complex car, it would cost a lot more. So in a way, we saved a ton. 

How big is RC drifting in Singapore
It’s quite new in Singapore; it started 3 years ago.

How do you feel when drifting?
The most exciting part, to me at least, is when two cars get really close to each other, and start battling fiercely. That is when you get high.

How is drifting judged?
Unlike traditional racing which is judged by time, drifting is judged by style and overall presentation of the car. Special characteristics such as smoke effects made by the car would add points to the score.

Do you think the SPRCD team has what it takes for the inter school challenge?
I have confidence my guys will win. I see them perform over and over, and I can safely say they’re very good. Their knowledge on RC is inspiring; they search the Internet to enhance their knowledge on RC. I am very proud of them.

What are your future hopes for RC drifting?
My future priority is to expand this special interest group and have more of these competitions between schools in Singapore.

To sum it up, RC drifting is more about aesthetics than speed. For you guys who are interested, more information on RC Drifting and video of the event is available in SG Drifters Forum at http://www.sgdrifters.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum.php

Jasmine Koo
Oops! Writer
OOPS!
A Singapore Polytechnic publication for students by students
Supported by the Department of Language and Communication, Singapore Polytechnic

DJ Alec Empire, the experimental German artist will showcase his finest works in a 3-hour set at the Alternation party at DXO on 20^th September. He last played here at Zouk in 1996. Empire was just on tour with NINE INCH NAILS right before coming to Singapore.

The founder of Digital Hardcore Records and Atari Teenage Riot (ATR), Empire is probably known as the most controversial electronic artist in the world.

His works span different genres of music, though he is more well-known for digital hardcore, a term coined by Empire himself to describe the sound made by ATR. Digital hardcore fuses elements of punk and electronica characterized with Empire’s trademark, spoken/shouted English vocals.

Oops! did a phone interview with Alec Empire in Germany, where he just finished a great show in Munich on 6^th Sept at 3am, German time.

Q: For your upcoming performance in Singapore, how do you feel about being in a city that is more known for being straight-laced and her adherence to strict rules and fines?

Empire: The last time I played in Singapore was 1996. When I played, there were rules and I don’t go too crazy. I played in so many parts of the world, and what I do is, I just play with it. 

Q: What you feel about the Singapore Music Scene?

Empire: What I know is only a fractional. All I heard about them were through emails and the Internet. Singapore music has always, in my opinion, (been more) American techno.

What I realized was that people in Asia do not realize that sound takes a very different perspective in my view. However, I hope that the people I meet will help in the creation of my music. 

Q. In trying to reach out to more people, how do you plan to stay true to your musical ideals and not compromise what you believe in without being seen as a negative influence in more ‘traditional societies’ that are not as forward thinking?

Empire: I see myself as a musician, I create how I feel about the world, and I don’t really look down on people. I think it is appropriate for certain freedom and space for criticism.

At some points, things will change and move forward and it is just a matter of time. I feel really relaxed and I have to make criticism to help them realize.

To stay true to my musical ideals, it takes self determination, not to live up to other traditional rules that was made by people who are not even our generation. It is every generation’s job to judge what is suitable for them.  

Q3. You once mentioned in an interview (to Gothtronic in 2005) that your ‘perfect society’ should be one ‘unlike the American dream, of being a capitalist’, how do you think your idea stands in this world now where the chase for materialism is seen as being a need and not a want?

Empire: I think it’s a complex question. That point, a lot of people question me. Think about the effects of globalization. The profits are being made by a very small minority of the world and many people don’t see the profit going back to the majority. There is already a radical change in the way the system works now. However, unemployment is getting higher in Germany and there is an increase in social problems. It is a complex issue but personally, I feel that things have to change to a totally different direction. Injustice cannot go on. Many companies make money, costing people’s life in the 3^rd world countries.  

Some people in the world have 30 cars, but then, there are some who cannot even afford to bring their children to the doctors’ when they are sick. 

Q4. What do you think of the current music scene and is any there music talents now that you think have managed to stay true to their music and yet are able to reach the masses?

Empire: Music industry is very reflective and it reflects the society. The problem is with downloads. In my discussion with other musicians, independent labels are always innovators. They kept building new stuff and new bands before commercialization. The independent scene keeps coming up with new ideas. However, this kind of evolution slowed down so much. UK and England have very conservative music coming up. If you look at myspace, you can discover very interesting music.

The music industry now is something risky, seems like watching a movie again and again. 

Q5. On a lighter note, what are your plans while in Singapore, besides enjoying some shopping perhaps?

Empire: I want to see how the city has changed in the last ten years. I think it’ll be very interesting to see the place, it feels to me that I’ll remember the place. 10 years makes a big difference.

Q6. Finally, something you want to say to the youths in Singapore…..

Empire: COME TO THE CLUB ON THAT NIGHT. Who knows when is the next time. Anything can happen when we are on the space together. We can create a very special night with very intense music. It is like almost an experience. So come down to DXO on 20^th Sep ’07. 

For more information about Alec Empire, visit www.alec-empire.com
For ticketing information, visit www.dxo.com.sg

The Student Personal Development Programme (SDPD) is held twice a year during every semester break. This installment of the programme marks the 30^th run of the SDPD which was first launched in November 1992.

Each run of the SDPD features 70 different classes such as nail painting, cooking classes, horse-riding sessions all the way to ski classes and is designed to enrich students’ life at the Polytechnic. Through the SPDP, students become more socially competent by developing their civic and cultural awareness and adopting healthy lifestyles. With these life skills, they would be better equipped as they graduate from SP to the working world.

Oops! managed to be part of this run of the SDPD and attended two classes where we went skiing as well as cable wakeboarding.

Read on to find out more!

Ski Class at Snow City
by Dong Tianzhao

Moving to the starting line!              Waiting for my turn!

Let’s ski away!

I have visited snow covered Alps but have never been fortunate enough to try skiing down those glorious hills. So when we were asked to cover the ski class at Snow City as part of the Personal Development Programme (SPDP), I jumped at the chance to learn the basics of how to ski.

The class which took place on 4^th September on the slope of Snow City was around two and a half hours long. It featured the basics of how to glide and also how to stop on skis besides just having fun in the snow! Plus a lucky few members of the class got the chance to learn how to slalom and also ski down from the top of the slope.

I must say that I have always had the perception that skiing was about as easy as just crouching down to balance while the ski glides smoothly along but I think many of us were proven wrong that night.

Ready and waiting                        When can we go?

This is the way you do it!

To get moving on the skis was rather easy, the majority of the class were able to glide down a short distance of the slope while only a few could barely even stand. Braking on skis took a decent amount of effort and for myself, falling down was definitely a more effective way to stop moving!

Getting ready to go! Just do it this way!

You are getting it right!             Woah!

This is not the way it looks!            I’m having fun!

Overall, the enthusiasm of the class and the friendships that bonded over the short duration of the class, I would say it was a success as most of us went in with zero knowledge of skiing but came out with enough to enjoy a holiday at a ski resort.

“I came for the class with my friends and to have some fun learning how to ski, I would love to go to Switzerland for a ski trip after this class if I had the chance to” said Aaron Ng, 19, a DARE student from the School of MM.

I also spoke to one of the instructors Joel Lian and here is a breakdown of a basic ski kit just in case anyone is interested in purchasing their own.

That’s me in the cool gear!

Costs
Jacket – $350
Pants – $350
Gloves – $100
Boots – $500
Board – $1000

A total whopping amount of $2300 to fork out to kickstart the hobby!

As expensive as it may seem to some, it is explained that skiing is not only a sport, but also a lifestyle to many. So before you start splurging on equipment, make sure that you have a deep interest in it and are ready to be dedicated enough to make it a lifestyle choice!

 
It’s not all about learning!

It’s also about having fun the traditional way!

SP students at SNOW CITY!

What a blast!

Aside from skiing in sub-zero temperature, we moved on to a different climate with the same sport on a different surface – Cable Skiing and Wakeboarding at the East Coast Park Cable Ski Park.

Cable Skiing and Wakeboarding at East Coast Park Cable Ski Park
by Jacob Yeo

Getting ready to hit the waters!

Strapping on the board gave me a sense of excitement as others ahead of me watched in awe as wakeboarders as young as seven grasped the cable confident and ready to go! Executing their launch perfectly, they were soon cutting through the waves of the lagoon. We were not the only ones impressed though, I overheard a couple of twelve year old kids whom were so amazed at seeing boys younger than them being so skillful such that they went to ask him how old he was. Seeing them showing off their skills motivated us.

Singapore Poly invades the cable ski park!

When it came to my turn, I prepared myself when the person before me went off and flipped over and fell into the sea. Thinking I was ready for anything as I am quite the sportsmen, I thought I could execute this perfectly. I only realized how wrong I was when the front of my board dipped into the water and sent me flying face down. Although it is a difficult sport to master, I am sure that It would bring about lots of satisfaction when you have it down pat. In fact, seeing those professionals doing it so effortlessly sure got me excited!

Ready to launch!

Although most of us were not able to stay on the surface of the water long enough to ski the whole lap, we understood the basics of keeping our balance on the board. This sport definitely involves a lot of good balance and coordination of your hands and legs. Many of us whom attended the course may not have grasped the concept of balancing on the board as well as we had hoped, but at the end of the day we sure did feel a sense of achievement, knowing that we were brave enough to attempt extreme sports!

Oops!’s very own Jacob Yeo – I did it!

“Even though we may have chosen to spend the holidays in Singapore, we sure went to the extremes to have fun!”

Oops! team at Army OH 2007

This year’s Army Open House (AOH 07) was held at Pasir Lebar Camp from 30^th August to 3^rd September. The AOH 07 was held as part of the NS40 celebrations, honouring Singaporeans who have served with loyalty and dedication throughout the years. Aimed at showcasing the Army to their key stakeholders and also the people of Singapore, AOH 07 was filled with fun and informative activities for people of all ages!

The Primus – We got the skies covered!

Jacob, Sammy and myself from the Oops! team went down to Pasir Lebar Camp to get a first hand look at army culture and experience. We were very fortunate to have met an officer, a graduate from Singapore Polytechnic, who took us on a personal tour of the whole camp and showed us the various activities that were happening as part of the army open house.

Sammy and Dong: Things we didn’t know about the army – interesting!

In the short time that we spent at the open house, we managed to visit the seven different worlds namely, the Combat World, Action World, Future World, Mission world, Battle World, ACE (Army Culture Experience) World and the Xtreme World. Each world showcased different aspects of the army and allowed visitors to take part in activities ranging from traveling in armored vehicles all the way to challenging themselves in an obstacle course.

The Primus: Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1
Our very own mean machine

Master Alex with his magic box!

Singapore Polytechnic’s Convention Hall was filled with cheers as Dr. A. Alexander a.k.a. ‘Master Magician Alex’ appeared on stage defying gravity. It was an impressive touch of special effect as mist was also used, adding to the overall grand spectacle of his appearance. The levitation however, dragged on for far too long, and broke the spell for some. Minor details like this, mar the essential beauty of his first ever 3-day Live performance from 11-13 August in Singapore. Show highlights included acts based on unusual magic tricks, hypnotism, illusions, black art, and gravity defying wonders and scintillating demonstration of mental magic. 

Master Alex with the moving head – freaky!

Master Magician Alex is a winning combination of doctor, actor and magician. He has a Doctorate in the Social Sciences, and has acted in 80 Tamil movies to date. This is undoubtedly reflected in his ability to refocus the audience’s attention to new magic treats, right after they start losing interest in one of the many magic items he showcased. It is no wonder that he broke into the Guinness World Record for having the longest Magic show, the first Indian magician to do so while pulling off 3,342 tricks non-stop in a time period of 24 hours in 2005.

Hypnotizing his assistants – they float in mid-air!

Though he has only 5 years experience in performing magic, he attributes most of what he knows about magic from the magicians he met during his travels. This shows in the execution of his tricks, which are generally smooth. The problem however, lies with the tricks itself. Even though most of the effects were pretty original, some over-used tricks that are repackaged to ‘look’ different still do not score many points with the more ‘magic literate’ folks. 

Master Alex walking on water…

In Monday’s show however, Master Magician Alex together with his team of 27 reputed artistes in a variety of extravagant illusions managed to thrill the audience made up of largely school going kids, from the Global Indian School. You would think that a huge star was in the house going by the rapturous applause and wild enthusiasm during audience participation and chocolate give-aways! There was even a long line of autograph seekers when Oops! interviewed the man himself. As Dilpa, an 11 year-old student at the

Master Alex with his death-defying tricks

Global Indian School revealed, “I want his autograph. I love his magic!” Well, if fervent admiration and affirmation from the more than the 300 young fans do not ‘levitate’ the Master Magician to a ‘pop-star’ idol status, maybe the use of hit songs such as Black Eyes Peas’ ‘Don’t funk with my heart’ set to 80’s dance moves ensure that his act remains relevant in this ‘Back to the 80’s’ homage that is invading our shores, the other being the first day of the SINGfest music festival at Fort Canning Park. 

The audience lapping it all up!

But the final say had to be from the audience themselves: Sandip, a 12 year old student said that Master Magician was, “Very good. (He was) amazing. My favourite was the one where there was a talking head.” Priya, a 12 year old student said, “He keeps making me laugh. I think everyone likes his performance!” 

Master Magician Dr Alex – what an incredible performance!

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Master Magician Alex himself:

Question: Did you have any inspiration that led you to practice Magic?
Answer: I believe magic is an important skill. It is loved by people of all ages and has the power to make everybody happy, as it is an internationally understood language. So everyone can just sit back and enjoy themselves.

Question: Does being an actor from India give you an edge in Magic?
Answer: Yes, definitely. As an actor of course you learn what the audience loves. Magic and acting however draws a different crowd each.

Question: Do you have any advice for the people who would like to enter the whole magic scene?
Answer: Magic is an art that depends a lot on practice. There is no better advice I can give than non-stop practice. As long as you’re interested in it, it is an art that you should never get discouraged from.

(Click on the images to find out more)

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