Then again, his day job is exhibiting human mannequins on the stage (also called a manikin, dummy, lay figure or dress form). Think cattle trade, fresh meat paraded on a catwalk.
When Cheng was President of Singapore's modelling association, his aim was to increase the pay and welfare of models in Singapore. Not protect the human dignity of a profession which is unregulated and relies on a compliant labor force of children. To this day, in an industry dominated by minors, there is no policy of informed consent for jobs involving full or partial nudity.
To be clear, we are not talking about scientific modelling, the aim of which is to make a particular part or feature of the anatomy, as in medical studies, easier to understand, define, quantify, visualize, or simulate. It requires selecting and identifying relevant aspects of a situation in the real world and then using different types of models to better understand, quantify, and visualize the subject. Modelling is an essential and inseparable part of scientific activity, and many scientific disciplines have their own ideas about specific types of modelling.
Cheng deals with the kind of model (from Middle French modelle), which is a person in a role either to promote, display, or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing). Acuity in mental faculties is not a prerequisite for the calling. Male, female or transgender models are valued for their clear skin, healthy hair, and attractive facial features. Sexual abuse in the industry is a pervasive problem. Consider just the last few years: in 2008, fashion designer Anand Jon was found guilty of rape and multiple counts assault on aspiring models, who ranged from 14 to 21 years old. Terry Richardson, one of the industry's most powerful photographers, has been accused of pressuring models to disrobe at castings and conducting shoots that involve what he claims are consensual sex acts performed on him by models.(Among Richardson's regular clients are H&M, Vogue, and GQ.)
Now you can appreciate why they are saying you don't need a university degree to succeed in life. All you need is a bit of guanxi, the right political connection, and maybe an amoral preparedness to go with the flow. Brains are definitely optional.
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Excellent piece. ASPIRE or aspiring models? There is a cattiness about this piece of sh...t that makes you wonder how he got into Oxford in the first place and even graduated.On a more serious note, the torrent of propaganda about ASPIRE is another example of how they turn decades of failed policies into a triumph of daring change of mindset. They do not seem to realise that the mindset that needed to be changed is theirs not that of the citizens. Even as late as the last GE they were touting the excellent academic qualifications of their candidates. The damage has been done and now they beat their breasts about how clever they are heading into this new venture. I bet they will soon beat a hasty retreat from this new policy which requires a sustained and genuine effort to reform.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed gd question - how indeed did all thse scums managed it to and thru Oxford and end up as a polite version of a pimp. Then again, a buffoon not only made it to Yale and Harvard Biz School but "served" during the Vietnam war era as fighter pilot without knowing how to fly, and the best - he later became president of the US of A. What really does an Oxbridge PPE mean?
DeleteTsk, Tsk, tsk... a learned man from the haloed halls of Oxford?
ReplyDelete"... and STILL lose your job to them?.."
speaks volumes about his thinking... shallow and infantile.
Now if immigrants come, and they don't speak English well, come from a developing country...
ReplyDeleteand STILL they are given jobs over educated, experienced and English speaking born and bred Singaporeans, then this is one screwed up government.
Many employers dont listen to employees anyway... so it does not matter if you speak english or speak at all.
DeleteCheap labour exist because employers love convoluted processes.. spreadsheets for anything & everything..
And yes, that means this Gov is the pits.
No worries....we reaching peak oil production now...in 10 years....everyone will be going to hell...whether rich or poor...powerful or not...Cheng included...then we see his hee and haw over why mankind is so stupid to end up in that seeable situation....Cheng only need to look at a mirror and know that it is because of self serving idiots like him who position themselves to be on top of everyone else...that cause such a situation to come about...as to saving the situation....the people who can do the saving...is long gone...cos done in by people like cheng and like-minded like him....zzz
ReplyDeleteWho is Calvin Cheng, did he serve NS? What is his vocation? Can anyone find out?
ReplyDeleteHe certainly quite the same mould as Yang Yin.
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Cheng
ReplyDeleteIsn't he a member of YPAP? How did he get "nominated"???
Delete@Anon 2:29PM
DeleteYou must be quite daft if you think NMPs are neutral, non-partisan folks.
I agree with Cheng that there is no "true blue" Singaporean. So many of us are descendants of immigrants; our historical ties to the land are shallower than a model's intellect.
ReplyDeleteBut his first point completely misses the mark. Cheng somehow disregards the reality that a local might lose his job to a foreigner not on account of his own ability - which Cheng suggests is the problem of the local - but on account of the foreigner's nationality (an angmoh company only wants to hire angmoh bosses) or willingness to accept a lower wage (workers from developing countries can work for less because things are cheaper back home).
Cheng is simply out of touch.
There is a true blue S'porean, much as there is a true blue American, German or French. Our fore fore fathers were from Africa, so does this mean that everybody is African???
ReplyDeleteThe really nonsensical concept is that of "NMP"!!
Well, well, well. The backtracking has already begun with the Minister in Parliament denying that parents are being dissuaded from getting their children into universities.
ReplyDeleteA lick-spittle spruiking for his masters. How predictable.
ReplyDelete