Opinion

Arts, Op-Eds, Opinion

Identity in the Undistinguished: Singapore Writers Festival 2025
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A)

Identity is not a monolith. In our own self-identity lies many markers at play that, when met with the social conditions of today, create unique lived experiences for each of us. 

Whether we recognise it, these experiences are presented to us in all facets of our lives, across space and time—from the railways of Seoul to HDB void decks, even to the streets of 1960s Singapore. It is then often through such unseen little snippets of life that one’s expression of identity takes shape. Across the various panels in this year’s Singapore Writers Festival, this theme became apparent.

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Features, Op-Eds, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

A Shot at Capturing Singapore’s Best Photobooths
Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Ariann Khoo (26S06B), Christian Adriel Tan (26S07B) and Tara Teo (26A01D)

Special thanks to Teng Yifan (26S06H) and Nicole Lee (26S05A)

There’s something charmingly spontaneous about the photobooth experience. 

Whether it’s a flagship outlet at a shopping mall or tucked away in a discreet part of an alleyway, the sight of a photobooth always sparks a flicker of excitement. One moment you may just be walking by, and moments later you’re crammed into a tiny booth, fumbling with props as the flash goes off. In seconds, your strip prints out, displaying that moment of chaos or authenticity.

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Op-Eds, Opinion

No one Mourns the Performative Male: A Reflection
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By: Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A) and Tara Sim Yue (26A01C)

The term “performative male” is one that has been inescapable for the past few months—uttered from the lips of the friends around us and a hot topic of conversation in every corner of the internet, the performative male has become an iconic caricature on social media of a specific archetype of men.

Known for drinking matcha lattes, wearing wired earphones while they listen to Beabadoobee and Clairo, and reading feminist literature, why is this particular breed of men being metaphorically pelted with tomatoes?

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Commentary, Features, Go Where?, Raffles Reviews

The City Of Others: Asian Artists in Paris
Reading Time: 10 minutes

By Ariann Khoo (26S06B) and Jaden Lum (26S05A)

Walking into City of Others, City of Migrants: Art in Paris, 1920-1940s at our National Gallery feels less like entering the closed doors of a museum, and more like stepping into the hidden alleys of history, a world of intricacies of its own. The exhibition, which was held from April to August, turned our gaze toward the quiet sufferings faced by Asian immigrants as they explored the city of love—a city sadly not their own. Their stories reflected here are fragments of their memory: faded photographs, sculptures and landscapes, like whispered recollections of their lives. To walk through City of Others, City of Migrants: Art in Paris, 1920-1940s is to be confronted with the idea of remembering Paris through the eyes of Asian migrant artists. 

“The speakers will examine how artistic consciousness shifts when Asian artists encounter a new city and culture while rediscovering the cultures of their origins.”

National Gallery Singapore
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Music Reviews, Raffles Reviews, Rank It!

Every Beatles Album, From Worst To Best
Reading Time: 13 minutes

By Jaden Lum (26S05A) and Sonia Chang (26A01A)

Thirteen studio albums and half a century later, the Beatles remain the most influential act in music ever. From revolutionising songwriting and production techniques to solidifying youths as a dominant cultural force, they would dramatically alter the course of world history—all in just seven brief years.

But as the sheer magnificence of their discography towers over and peers down at us, which of their works are truly demanding of our time? Technically, the answer is all of them, but regardless, here is our take on the definitive ranking of every Beatles album, from worst to best: 

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