Hang Tuah in a Time of Independence: Malay Texts in the 1950s and 1960s
Hang Tuah in a Time of Independence: Malay Texts in the 1950s and 1960s
Hang Tuah in a Time of Independence: Malay Texts in the 1950s and 1960s
Speaker: Associate Professor Timothy P. Barnard
One of the great heroes of the Malay world, the legend of Hang Tuah centres on loyalty to family, friends and the ruler. The legend is found in numerous accounts in various manuscripts over the past 400 years. This talk will trace the development of Hang Tuah’s image in the original source materials through to comics and film in the mid-20th century.
In the modern genres of literature, Hang Tuah’s loyalty to the sultan – a symbol of traditional subservience – becomes controversial, making his role ambivalent. This development is particularly significant during a period in which colonialism, loyalty and individualism became contested values as Singapore and Malaya moved towards independence.
This programme is held in conjunction with the exhibition 'Tales of the Malay World: Manuscripts and Early Books'.
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Event Details
- Level 5, Possibility Room, National Library Buidling
- 21 Oct 2017
- 2.00pm - 3.00pm
- Free Admission