The Eye special edition

THE EYE THE EYE

SINGAPOREAMERICANSCHOOL

SPECIAL EDITION

Eye In Focus: Sophomore op-eds on page 3, 4, 5

Art and Photography on page 7

Goodbye Seniors

Has it really been that long? The four year cycle of High School ends in less than a week for our fellow Seniors. With the departure of the Senior grade, SAS is once again met with a new wave of rising freshman, eager to follow the steps of our seniors

It is certainly a busy time; finals are just around the corner However, let us take a moment to honor those who are leaving.

To Seniors, thank you for being a deep part of our SAS community Thank you and congratulations! The SAS body wishes you good luck and wishes you only the very best.

Some may have attended SAS since primary school, some even since Kindergarten. Although it is not easy to leave behind what was once deemed as your whole life, the excitement in the air is unmistakeable

By: Yunah Joe Sophmore, Reporter

Advice Seniors have left us:

"To all the underclassmen out there, I strongly encourage you to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try things you aren't sure you'll be good at. High school is a great place to fail or make mistakes -- in the grand scheme of things, what happens here at SAS doesn't really matter. Try out for that sports team, or join that club you think about! It seems obvious, but if you are doing things you enjoy, high school is much, much more fun and enjoyable. You'll meet people who share your interests and passion, and gain so many new experiences along the way!"

JessicaKim(12)

"I came to SAS in eighth grade, so I came into high school knowing a lot of my friends Covid struck my freshmen year, and even a lot of my junior year was impacted by covid. However, Senior year was very fun because we could do lots of things we couldn’t do during covid. In freshman year, don’t stress too much Everyone was very academically driven back in freshman year, but now that I look back, it really doesn’t matter that much. Going through High School, please have fun, because you don’t really have that much of an opportunity in college as you would in High School. So just enjoy your time in High School, cherish it, have fun with your friends."

Rachel Lee (12)

Layout by Yunah ("Yujin") Joe

OPINION ESSAY FEATURE (10 ENGLISH)

The Truth About ‘Representation Inclusive’ Media

By: Shreya Chirravuri Sophmore

When we were young, and watching shows like ‘Jessie’ where characters like Ravi would, from time to time, show up in front of us, as an Indian child of descent I never thought much of it An hour of watching a show on a kids channel couldn't possibly do any harm The situational comedy, script, and tone of each character beckoning giggles from the audience paints an extremely positive view of the media This applied to me as well

The scripts, and the humor appealed to me, however I later realized that I had underestimated my then naive mind as to how much of an advantage of knowledge I had for being Indian For me, Ravi was seen as a humorous character, and his Indian accent never truly bothered me, but for others it was easy for them to take his character and run with its stereotypes Growing up, and hearing most of the things I heard portrayed through characters on TV, I realized that people actually believed this stereotype and categorized all Indians into one giant bucket The worst part is, you can't blame them At a young age seeing a personality that you otherwise would not know about, being portrayed in a certain way, many biases and ideologies start to form on how this particular culture behaves. Not only this, but looking closely at this issue, it doesn't seem to just be modes of entertainment that perpetuate false stereotypes. The reality is, that when anything regarding India comes up in western media, it almost always perpetuates harmful stereotypes, further inciting discrimination.

One of the most impressionable forms of media which largely perpetuates this issue are TV shows and movies A study conducted by Samantha Lynne Muffuletto, a Harvard Researcher, has commentary from American (predominantly Indian American) participants They brought up characters from hit shows like, The Simpsons Characters such as Apu, brought up much opinion His main controversy mainly being his overwhelming Indian accent In his documentary, ‘The Problem with Apu', Indian comedian Hari Kondabolu, highlights the reason why controversy regarding Apu is valid “It’s in the repetition of that mocking accent hearing it over and over, being asked your opinion of it that Kondabalu’s ire grows,” (Hsu) Kondabolu elaborates on the effect Apu had on many individuals growing up in America, and how their love for the Simpsons as a show exists, but their disappointment in Apu as a character does as well Not only was he also played with a heavy Indian accent, but this voice over was not portrayed by an Indian voice actor, but a white, British man

This is an example of “brown voice” (Muffelleto), which reinforces the idea of an Indian accent existing, is for comedic purposes; therefore, the fact that it may even be played by non Indian individuals makes it even more condescending In the long run, this is significant because American media is so largely consumed This leads to misrepresentation and stereotypes about Indians

Professionals in the news industry notice this issue in their field This is an example of how harmful ideologies regarding Indians can also be perpetuated in the news, which, I believe, is even worse According to FirstPost, an Indian news outlet who merged with the Indian edition of Forbes, 82% of individuals working in the news industry believed that covid-19 coverage in India by western media was biased, and 69% saying that it decreased India's positive image

These may just seem like bland statistics, but the message is much more significant. More than entertainment on TV which can still be weakly defended by an argument of comedy and simple humor, news reports are a different story. News on a daily basis shapes our perception of the world, requiring news to be reported accurately. However, news correspondents are generally located in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. Reporting on India and its nuanced situations from two major cities, leads to “half truths” as quoted by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and has a large impact on what the public would think about India, which essentially allows stereotypes to get built onto a negative image

This argument is less excusable

Lack of effort to report on a country is not something that should be excused for the amount of misperceptions that Indians face from people who wouldn't know any better One more ‘half truth’ and it's one more Indian person having to answer a ridiculing question One more ‘half truth’ and its one more person asking if India is the dirtiest, most discriminatory country in the world These may seem dramatic, but in reality the responsibility lies with people who deliver information If news can't deliver non-discriminatory perceptions, I, and many others like me, have to justify our culture and identity based on incorrect perceptions and poor journalism

But not everything is so cut and dry Coming back to the entertainment world, many people believe that characters such as Apu fit well, arguing that all characters in the show (The Simpsons) are stereotypical (Biswas) Sidharth Bhatia, Mumbai-based founder-editor of The Wire, loves Apu and believes that, “The controversy about the stereotyping is classist snobbery - Indians in America don't want to be reminded of a certain kind of immigrant from their country - the shopkeepers, the taxi drivers, the burger flippers ” Implying that people only want successful Indians to be portrayed in TV shows This begs the question whether or not characters of color should even be included in these kinds of humorously offensive shows

While many believe that we may all be too sensitive, Apu did have a much more deep rooted affect on many Indians growing up in America Apu worked at a convenience store, not a bad thing, but the image of Indians being perceived only in this perspective can be harmful, as there is a clear lack of versatility when it comes to portraying an Indian individual. Indian accents do exist, but when this is the only aspect consistently highlighted by western media for humorous value for the more predominantly white audience, it can be degrading for Indians watching themselves mischaracterized.

Ultimately, while many question whether or not some may be sensitive when people of color appear on comedic TV shows, there is a different story occurring in our reality Scriptless, and off screen What happens on screen for our entertainment shouldn't be prioritized and justified over the misperceptions countless Indian individuals have to face on a daily basis at school, in the workplace, etc Objectively viewed, it is undeniable that, in almost every form of western media, it never seems to be easy for Indians watching people like themselves on screen In TV shows, Indians are painted as amusing, frustratingly traditional, and unappealing News at the same time, forces Indians who (although they shouldn't have to) justify their culture to those without an Indian background This matter is notably more nuanced than it seems, as there is no right or wrong lifestyle that can be depicted in the media when it comes to anyone of any race; nevertheless, no one would like to see themselves portrayed the way a young Indian child may, sitting in front of the TV, watching a ‘harmless’ children's TV show

Why money shouldn't determine success

By: Solee Ngah Sophmore

Finding success is undoubtedly what many people dream of achieving. Who wouldn’t want to be looked at as a role model and have countless people yearning to follow in your footsteps? When you're successful people suddenly want to know everything about you. What was your background? What positive characteristics do they have? How much money do you make? Unfortunately, when the ideas of financial gain and success intertwine, the true definition of what success really is tends to be lost. When money becomes the expected result of one's success, people tend to develop narrower and narrower mindsets as to how they could succeed in order to do almost anything to get the result they want out of their success. The result being immense financial gain. Although it's seen as a motivator for people to work towards their own achievements, money alone should not be the measurement of success, because if money is the sole factor determining people’s quality of life, desperation for it will grow which could lead to harmful consequences.

Many people in today's society believe that success is defined by purely monetary terms. (Cole,2019) The mindset that we have towards success, in general, is very limiting in many different ways. Unfortunately with a mindset focused towards money it’s difficult to see success being achieved through a wider lens of careers and opportunities for the average person. It fails to acknowledge other important aspects of success besides financial gain. When looking into what someone has gained from their success, only when we focus away from their financial gain do we see the respect they have gained from their community and beyond and the meaningful life they have either created or maintained. If society’s view of success was eventually able to shift away from money, many would realize that respect and a stable life are two big aspects of success that can be gained without loads of finances to stand behind them. A big way that respect is commonly achieved is through jobs that give back to your community and primarily focus on the well-being of others. It would be difficult to walk up to a nurse, a non-profit charity member, or a public defender and only judge them based on what's in their bank account. How much does that really matter? Many people owe their thanks and even their lives to those whose jobs are to maintain the well-being of others within a local community. That alone can gain someone lots of respect from those around them and they could even be seen as a role model depending on how far their influence can spread within their occupation. For anyone to look at someone like that and only take into consideration what’s in their bank account is an unfair judgment to make. While they may not have ridiculously high-paying jobs, it's important to remember that lots of money isn’t exactly necessary in order to have a successful life, which brings me to another limitation of society’s current mindset. Most people can't see success going behind someone's career, whether it may be the impact that they have within their own community or going back to how much money they have made within their occupation. Contrary to popular belief a stable and well-maintained personal life is also an important aspect of success that is often overlooked. Money may be able to pay bills and provide stability, but that is only a small portion of what truly defines success in this aspect. Creating a meaningful life looks different for everyone but common examples for most would be, starting a family, maintaining healthy friendships, and finding what makes you truly happy in life. If we were eventually able to shift away from this mindset, it would be beneficial for society as more and more people will be recognized for their success as society’s definition expands beyond money.

Not only is a money-based mindset for success limiting, it also has the potential to harbor consequences that bring more harm than good to society. Money is not a good motivator for many things, especially success, as John Katenbach states that “Trouble strikes when the prospect of a lot of money becomes the primary goal. That usually feeds a very self-serving emotion, greed.” It is already bad enough that when money is the primary motivation for somebody to achieve success it isn’t a problem to most people. However, if we continue thinking of success in this way it is possible that money can become the only motivation and seem to be the only result that can come out of success, and if society ever reaches that point it may be too late to change that. There are many reasons why money shouldn’t be the main motivation or the expected result of success. For example, it isn’t easily accessible to everybody, and depending on the situation somebody was born into their path to success will look drastically different to everybody else's. Someone's background and upbringing play a huge role in life as to what opportunities you will be presented with, what kind of schools you may be able to attend as well as many other things, and in today's society there are “immense wealth disparities and social inequalities''. (Cheng) If people who have had easy access to money let greed overcome their goals and motivations in the name of success, what happens to all the people who aren't as lucky as them? A selfserving society could only be beneficial to a limited number of people which is why it is so important that society sees success as much more than financial gain. As mentioned before, respect is another effective way to measure success, and to earn respect you have to at the very least acknowledge others around you who may not be as fortunate and take their well-being into consideration, which cannot be done if money becomes too much of a motivation for most people.

It will be a very difficult process to unlearn a mindset that has been established for so long in society, but it is important to work towards this not for the greater good of any specific individual, but for the greater good of society as a whole. It may be difficult to put into perspective now, but the long-term effects of broadening our mindset to avoid money being the primary goal and motivation driving people towards success, it is easy to see how they will bring more good than harm. Firstly, careers that are seen as successful will lead to jobs that may not be as high paying, but provide beneficial impact on many communities. Secondly it will allow people to take into consideration other aspects of success such as achieving just as much respect as those who are published in lists like “top ten incomes” even without the immense wealth standing behind their respect. Finally, in order to prevent a grim future with harmful consequences for society, it is important to remove money as a primary motivator for people because a self-serving society based on financial gain will have a devastating impact on the majority of people.

Is Perpetual Peace Worth It?

By: Hayoon Joe Sophmore

“War is progress, peace is stagnation” (Hegel) Failing to recognize the context or meaning, many adamantly seek so-called ‘world peace ’ Yet compared to two hundred years ago, there are far fewer lethal wars, rebellions, and interstate conflicts (“Is the World Getting More Peaceful? ”) Believe it or not, our world is already quite peaceful This is not a good sign Peace not only the absence of war and violence, but a state of continuous tranquility Since I was little, I was taught not to disagree or argue with my peers because it would cause conflicts and ruin relationships As a result, I habitually chose to stay quiet during disputes Yet I’ve always wondered: does silence truly promote peace and harmony? Perhaps in the short term But does consistent peace and harmony bring advancement to humanity? Unfortunately not. Contrary to the common belief that peace achieves prosperity and success, peace can hinder innovation and development. In fact, wars and conflicts that disrupt peace should rather be viewed as catalysts for societal development Peace should not be the ultimate goal for world advancement: internationally, interpersonally, and intra-personally Here’s why

In the past, international conflicts have played an active role in bringing a nation together often expediting a society’s progress Michael Desch, the writer of War and Strong States, Peace and Weak States, described war as an effective process that centralized states and formed cohesive national policies One example is the 1861 American Civil War which drew an end to inflation by stimulating Congress to pass bills including the Legal Tender Act and Internal Revenue Act (Pham) The Civil War helped solve major economic problems and also inspired Congressional action, paving the way of forming the first solid political entity in America. The Civil War, therefore, can be construed as the fundamental cause of development in the current U.S. political structure. Another example is Japan after World War II, where Japan demilitarized and focused on manufacturing consumer goods to recover from devastating war Moreover, Japan benefited from the U S investment of 3 5 billion dollars to its manufacturing companies by serving as the U S base during the Korean War (Pham) In other words, by participating in conflict, Japan was able to successfully transform its economy Both examples above portray the long-term achievements war brought to society forging strong alliances amongst people of different races, ages, and socioeconomic groups under a common goal: to bring change Hence, the negative connotation of war and other forms of multinational conflicts should be redefined as key drivers to national unity and world development

In addition to international events, peace can negatively impact interpersonal relationships. Especially in workplaces, it has been proven that persistent peace harms human creativity and innovation. Researchers found that an “unanticipated exogenous shock or destabilizing force prompts a significant change” (O’Connel) This shows that a force is oftentimes needed to drive us in search of solutions and negotiations, which can often form new ideas used for change Designer Jerry Hirshberg also said, “friction can produce wonderful creative sparks ” We learn to accept and amend ideas when disagreements are present; thus, as long as disagreements occur in a safe environment, interruptions of peace are necessary for cognitive enlightenment This will ultimately contribute to our rapid learning and growth Most importantly, I believe that we learn important lessons when personal peace is interrupted In the fall of 2019, I underwent knee surgery due to a painful meniscus tear My daily life was interrupted when I was forced to be on crutches for several months, being restrained from many physical activities. But after years of persistent exercise and rehabilitation, I was able to recover. During this process, I learned that I must not take good health for granted. Knee surgery was an obstacle that ruined my peaceful life; yet it changed how I approach and view my circumstances today By gaining valuable lessons through overcoming obstacles and abandoning a peaceful life, we become refined, more grateful individuals

Despite its downsides, some may argue that everlasting peace is integral for global and individual development and that consequences of violent conflicts are unjust in all aspects Roshan Paul extends the benefits of peace in Peace as a Prerequisite for Development: “war hinders infrastructure development and wastes resources put in war ” However, through personal research, I found that the four most affluent countries (based on GDP per Capita): United States, China, Japan, and Germany, in fact, participated in the world’s most brutal and significant historical events (Rodriguez). The U.S. fought in the Vietnam War and World War One and Two; China experienced the Chinese Civil War; Japan and Germany were heavily involved in the Cold War. This shows that conflict which replaced a peaceful and tranquil life was central to the countries’ current success both socially and economically, disproving the claim that only peace encourages development At the same time, the damage and pain conflict brings can never be justified But what can be recognized is that the absence of peace has allowed the world to advance and become what it is today Through the presence of conflict, we develop diverse mindsets and become accepting, open-minded people Therefore, it is necessary to interrupt peace and make sacrifices: disagree, negotiate, and find solutions to bring change and develop ourselves

Many times, pursuing a conflictless life is considered healthy Yet a variety of evidence suggests that disruption of peace is necessary for a successful and progressive society. The advantages conflicts can bring are beneficial in the long run: internationally, wars have shown to improve a nation’s economy and values; interpersonally, disagreements spark innovative ideas; internally, we grow by overcoming obstacles. In the short run, peace and harmony might seem ideal But when observed closely, we are who we are because of all the conflicts we’ve gone through; with perpetual peace, this may never have been achieved Ironically, in the absence of peace, our world moves forward

XO, Kitty

“XO, Kitty” was released on May 19, 2023, creating a syndrome by hitting number 1 on Netflix U S A Another work of author Jenny Han, famous for writing “To All the Boys I Loved Before” and “The Summer I turned Pretty”, “XO, Kitty” incorporates Jenny Han’s trademark style of having diversity and culture Featuring the main actors Anna Cathcart, Choi Min-Young, Sang Heon Lee, Peter Thurnwald, Anthony Keyvan, and Gia Kim, the film takes place in Seoul, South Korea

The series follows the story of Kitty Covey, played by Anna Cathcart, who leaves home for an international boarding school in Korea As it is a prequel to the film “To All the Boys I Loved Before”, the plot has aspects of romance, identity, and teenage dilemma whilst navigating through High School life In some ways, it is quite nostalgic to see our Kitty Covey all grown up and following the footsteps of her sisters

There were a lot of new faces in the series In summary, Anna played the main protagonist Kitty, Min-Young played Dae, Kitty’s love interest, Sang Heon played Minho, Peter played Alex, Anthony played Q, and finally, Gia played Yuri

One thing I really enjoyed about the series was the way the film combined both Western and Korean aspects It was interesting to see how the directors would find a balance of Western and Korean throughout the film In the end, both Korean and English were thoroughly spoken, and diverse ethnicities were represented

There were many lessons learned from the series Personally, my biggest takeaway is to always remember your roots and keep close to them, just like how Kitty came to Korea to become closer to her mother

I would recommend the series to people who are in for a light watch If you are a fan of rom-com series and High School settings, then this series is for you I would not recommend it to anyone who enjoys documentaries, heavy films, action films, and those who hate romance. The MPAA rating of the movie is TV-14 In truth, the series was cringey in some parts, however it was definitely worth a watch

By: Yunah Joe Sophmore, Reporter

Born in 1980, September 3, Jenny Han is an American Author who specializes in writing YA (young adult) fiction She is a KoreanAmerican writer

She is best known for her writing her books: "To All the Boys I loved Before" and "The Summer I turned Pretty" trilogy Her works have been adapted to popular films, all sharing the key characteristic of having casts from diverse ethnic backgrounds

Her newest release "XO, Kitty" also became a massive hit on Netflix. Fans praise Jenny Han for her intriguing execution of the romance comedy genre

Yunah Joe Sophmore, Reporter

Jenny Han (42) American Author

Solee Ngah (Grade 10)

Kaitlyn Tran (Grade 9)

Kaitlyn Tran (Grade 9)

Kaitlyn Tran (Grade 9)

The art of crocheting your own clothing

Fingers busy with yarn, Sena Lee (11), wields the crochet stick in and out of small loops, constructing the sleeve of her own sweater In the span of a week, she was able to crochet her very own clothes in both an affordable and meaningful manner Sewing machines, costly fabrics, and heaps of fashion books are no longer needed to make a step into the world of fashion

“I began crocheting a couple months back after my friend started crocheting I was fascinated by her hand-made, practical, and aesthetic clothing, so I asked her to teach me how to make my own clothes,” said Sena Lee (11), “then, I searched for tutorials online Crocheting was a lot easier than I expected!”

The art of crocheting first emerged during the early 19th century, then characterized the 1960s and 70s with what was known as the Crochet Boom During this time, the crochet technique of the grandma square took over the fashion industry Recently, crocheting has been mass popularized once more What is this constant allure to the vogue of crocheting?

“I started crocheting when COVID 19 was still pretty much prevalent. I would describe this hobby as therapeutic and a great way to pass time. I think that crocheting has reemerged as a popular hobby as with the rise of fast fashion, people desire to make their own clothes. Not only is it sustainable, but it is a way for one to express themselves.”

Ever since the COVID lockdowns, old traditions, such as crocheting, are resurfacing due to the popular social media app TikTok. Teenagers are reviving the crochet boom by propagating the appeal that crocheted clothes are just as wearable as clothes bought in fast-fashion industries.

Through circulating trends by categorizing certain crochet designs to embody certain seasons like Summer or Spring, an increasing number of individuals are delving into the world of crochet

“Honestly, I would recommend crocheting to anyone who likes doing anything crafty Personally, I enjoy crocheting while watching a movie or whenever I have free time It is a fun and light way to spend your time,” said Sena Lee (11)

Sena advises crocheting for a number of reasons Whether one aspires to be a fashion designer, or just to expand their wardrobe, crocheting has a number of merits Next, Sena explains the basic procedures of crocheting

“I usually get my yarn online from Shopee or Amazon, however for the cheaper option, I would buy yarn whenever I go to the United States Although some yarn may be expensive, it depends on what type of yarn you get Finally, making my own clothes has made me appreciate my clothes more

According to Sena Lee, crocheting has been an enjoyable sport for her and her peers. Ending on a positive note, Sena shares the benefits of making one’s own clothes.

By: Yunah Joe Sophmore, Reporter

How to crochet:

Step 1: Hold crochet hook in right hand and make a slip knot on hook.

Step 2: Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook

Step 3: Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. ...

Step 4: Skip the first chain stitch.

Step 5: Insert hook into center of next chain stitch. craftyarncouncil.com

For more information:

by Yunah ("Yujin") Joe

Sena Lee (11), wearing crocheted sweater for Christmas

History of The Eye

The Eye, with decades worth of history, was the oldest SAS school newspaper. The Eye was discontinued in 2021.

Yujin Joe is looking forward to reviving the Eye Newspaper in August 2023. Interested?

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